The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 18??-1882, 1881-08-26


cient in a sense of humor, and by NJ
means appreciative of practical joke
sent him one fine morning the order tt
retire to his estate and there to remain
the space of one month, ito give him.
self time for reflection as the order
was wOrded.
Kamoutsine was allowed three days
to make all his arrangements and tC
reach his destination. The place OF
exile was twenty-four miles distant
from Saint Petersburg by post-chaise
He began by spending two days in bid
ding gOOd-by to his friends.
/ He had been promised four gen.
ldarmes as a guard of honor; the ante
cedents of the young prince quite justi-
fed this precaution, apparently so in
sulting; he having passed his last period
of Punishment in well known restau-
rant in the costume of q waiter, where
he had been seen and recognized by all
of his brother officers, who had laughed
while keeping the secret, until the ex-
-piration of the sentence.
Kamoutsine went from house to
house, receiving here the irOnical con-
gratulations of one, there the laughing
condolences of another. Toward the
evening of the second day he presented
himself to take leave of the Countess
Damerof, one of the most popular and
charming of the court beauties.
will you not dine with us?' said the
pretty countess, as he rose from his
chair after few minutes cOnversa-
ton. -fT
"A thousand thanks! but it is quite
impossible, unless you extend the invi-
tation to my gendarmes.'
Your gendarmes2 What can you
possibly meanY
My body guard, for which 1 am in
debted te the imperial munificence.
They ought now to be at my house. In
an hour we shall, all five of us, be roll
ing along the road to Kamoutska, the
home of my ancestors. When say we
shall roll l am wrong, should have
said we shall glide; with this beautiful
snow the sleighing is delightful. 1t
will not be a long journey; l shall dine
at home tomorrow
Unhappy Princep said tie Countess
with merry laugh. You are not pol
itic in allowing yourself to be banished
at the height of the carnival season.
The Governors ball will have to go on
without you, it seems.'a M
sAh the ball-true enough, l had
utterly forgotten it; you see, Countess,
the depth Of my disgrace. It is to-mor-
row?
Tomorrow evening at 10 we shall
all be dancing without you. Now,
pray, do not go and hang YOURSELF ad
ded the pitiless tease.
Kamoutsine stood silent, twisting
his moustache with thoughtful air.
You are goingY he asked, abruptly.
AS If there were doubt of It'll All
Petersburg will be there. The new
Governor makes his debut. He is
from Irkoulsk, you know, and his en-
tertainments there were celebrated far
and wide. 1t will be superb ball.
The imperial family will be there, and
| mean to be on the spot to see them
arrive ssa H, rt7 E,v ~,
Countess said Kamoutsine, tender
ly, leaning on the arm of her chair,
will you give me the honor of the first
waltZY ~ @
Are you mad?' said the Countess,
throwing herself back in the chair.
No more than usual; but L repeat
my question, for you have not answer
ed me, win you do me the honor
but, my dear Prince, you will be at
home at that time. You will be sleep
ing the sweet sleep which always fol-
lows winter journey; your hOusekeep-
er will have made your tea, and you
will have taken it, and
'All this little detailed interior,
Countess, rests on the hypothesis that
1 shall be at home. But am not at
home, and if l am at the Governors
ball, will you give me the first waltz?'
The Countess, very much puzzled,
looked inquiringly at Kamoutsine. She
saw he was seriOus-a most unusual
thing with him-and she was touched
by it.
with pleasure, she answered grave
ly.
You will not give it to anyone else.
At the first sound of the music l shall
be there to claim it.
Prince said the Countess, in a voice
full of terror and tenderness, you are
stalking your head 7
Which is hardly worth waltz with
you. 1 shall be more than paid if you
only keep your promises murmured
Kamoutsine, as he rose.
81 hope all this is only JEST" said
the Countess with troubled smile.
"Will you lay me wager that /
will not be there y said the yonng man
with low bow, 81 ~ &%GE ~
"No-yes-I do not know. Onenev-
er knows with you."g
81 trust to your generosity, Countess,
and like to think you will hold to the
wager. Good-by till to-morrow;" and
STOPPING he touched his lips to her
hand and disappeared, without CIV
| ing her the opportunity of replying.
As he had prophesied, the Gendarmes
were awaiting his return. A kibitka, a
sort of close-covered sleigh, stood be-
fore the door, and he entered it with
out giving these four representatives
Of armed force any opportunity Of din
ing, at which they grumbled little,
but quite in a respectful fashion, as
became them in the presence of a su-
perior; for, though Kamoutsine was
their prisoner, he was none the less
their superior Theoretically. g
Never was short journey so crowd