Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1881-11-09

again"
The old Countess Fedotovna was
seated in her room before the mirror.
Her maids surrounded her, holding
rouge, powder and patches. The ancient
belle had no longer any habits of her
youth Her companion was engaged IN
fancy work.
Grandmother, said young officer,
as he entered the room, "I have favor
to ASK and he stopped and kissed her
withered hand.
"What is it, Paul?"
ct want to present one of my brother
officers, and to beg an invitation for him
to your next ball."
ssBring him to the ball and present
him there. Were you at the princess
last night?"
eyes; splendid entertainment; we
danced until five o'clock. What charm
ing creature is the Countess Eletzki -
sob, my dear Paul, you are easily
pleased. You should have seen her
grandmother, the Princess Petrovna
She must be very old now"
"The Princess Petrovna!' cried Tom
ski, unwittingly; "why, she has been
dead these seven years p
He checked himself Immediately.
Lisabeta, the companion, was making
signs to him. He had forgotten that it
was forbidden to speak of the death of
the countess aged friend.
"Dead!" said she; "well, well. did
not know it. We were ladies of honor
together when we were girls, remem-
Der the first time we waited upon the
empress, and the old lady sighed as she
thought of her vanished youth and
beauty. Then, her mood changing,
"Paul, said she, "talk with Lisabeta
while am dressing Tisanka, where is
my snuf-box? Lisabeta, help me to
get up" and the old countess passed be-
hind the screen.
"Who is the officer you wish to
present to the countess ?" asked Lisabeta
Ivanovna. els he i'll the engineers %
emo, in the hussars. His name is
Naroumoff. But why do you ask?"
The companion smiled, but did not
answer.
"Well, I must be off. Goodbye,
grandmother. Goodbye, Lisabeta.
Why did you ask if he was in the en-
gineers?" And, smiling knowingly, the
young officer withdrew.
Lisabeta sighed and recommended her
work.
The young girls life was an unhappy
one. To eat another's bread is always
bitter, but who could paint the miseries
of companion to lady of quality :?
When she made the tea, the countess
abused her because the servants stole
the sugar. When she read to her the
countess held her responsible for the
authors dullness. When she went out
with her, the countess scolded her if the
weather was bad Often she would re-
tire after a day of misery to her little
room and weep bitterly over the affronts
she had endured.
One morning, few days before the
scene just related, she was seated at her
window working, when she perceived
handsome young officer gazing at her
from the street. She averted her gaze,
and applied herself with redoubled as
siduity to her work. After a few mo-
ments she looked M, and he was still
there. For some time he continued to
gaze at her window, and finally disap-
peared. The next day he was there
again. The next day, as she and the
countess were getting into the carriage,
she saw him standing. muffied in a large
fur cloak, watching her. His bright
eyes follow her every movement. Lisa
beta smiled, despite herself. From that
moment a correspondence of chances was
begun.
Hermann (for the reader will have
guessed it was he) had small fortune,
but for an officer, was poor. In order to
preserve himself from debt, he had reso-
luteiy determined never to play, and
lived within his income. He was very
ambitious and very taciturn. Under his
reserve, however, smouldered the most
violent passions. He possessed great
self-control, and, though born gambler,
he never touched card. He often
passed feverish nights before the green
table, devoured by the passion for play,
but never indulging in it. The story of
the Comte de Saint Germans three
cards had made vivid impression upon
his mind. He could think of nothing
else.
"Ah," he said to himself, eff the old
countess would only tell me her secret
if she would but tell me the names of the
three winning cards! I must be pre-
sented to her. I must gain her conf
dence. She is eighty-seven years old
eighty-seven? She might die this week
she might die to-morrow-and her
secret with her!' And he dug his nails
into the palms of his hands as he thought
of it.
But he was a man of iron will and did
not falter in his determination to possess
himself of the secret. He observed the
pretty young girl who acted as compan-
ion to the countess, and resolved to use
her as tool to further his ends. Not
for moment did the thought of the
misery he might cause her make him fall
ter. He used every means to open cor
respondence with her. He bribed the
servants. He confded notes to the
modlstes who waited upon the countess
fer orders. At length his perseverance
was rewarded. Lisabeta answered him.
Her first letter was a somewhat cold note.
Gliding him for his rash persistence.