Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1881-10-27

let him storm as loudly as he chose but
now, only look at me what poor cripple
/ am. How can fight against man
like that" And in truth Alexis Sergei-
witch had of late aged greatly; his eyes
now wore childish expression, and in
place of the intelligent smile that once
Int up his features, there played around
his lips that mild unconscious simper
which / have remarked that very old
people will preserve even in their sleep.
/ communicated the result of our in
terview TO Ivan, who had heard me in
silence with his head bent. fWell, he
at last exclaimed, lit is given to no one
to escape his fate. But | shall keep my
word there is only one thing to do and
1 will give him surprise. If You don't
mind sir, give me a little money to buy
some UOdkj gave him some, and that
day Ivan drank heavily but in the eve
ming he favored us with the "fsh-dance,
and danced so that the girls and women
were III ecstacies. Never before had /
seen him in such force.
The next day / returned home and
three months latter, when was in st.
Petersburg, / learned that Ivan had
kept his VOW. He was sent off to his
new master, who at once called HIM into
his study and informed him that he was
to act as coachman, that three of his Lay
horses would be given into his charge,
and that it would be the worse for him
if he did not look well after them, or in
any way neglect his duties. 81 am not
a man to be joked with, added he. Ivan
listened TO all his master had to say, and
then throwing himself at his feet de-
clared that, whatever his honor might
wish, he never could be his serf. ''Let
me go back, L beseech your honor or, if
you like, send me to be a soldier or be-
fore long evil will come upon you p
His master flew into furious passion,
"Oh, you are one of that sort, are you
How dare you talk to me in that way
First, please to know that am not your
honor, but your excellency; and next,
do not forget that You are long past the
age for soldier, even if they would take
such a dwarf; and lastly, pray, what is
it you threaten me with Dc you mean
to burn my house down ?" ''No, your
excellency, 1 shall never set fire to your
house" ''What then, are you going to
murder me?" Ivan made no reply. 81
will never be your serf, " he muttered at
last. 81 will just show you whether
you are my serf or not, roared
his master. And Ivan was severely
punished but for all that, the three bay
horses were put under his care. and he
received the place of ccachman.
Ivan appeared to submit to his fate,
and as he soon proved that he under
stood his business, he quickly won the
favor of his master, the more so because
in general he was quiet and civil in his
behavior, while the horses entrusted to
HIM were so well cared for that every
body declared 1t was treat to look at
them. His master evidently preferred
driving out with Ivan to going with any
of the other coachmen Sometimes he
would laugh, and say ''Well, Ivan, do
you recollect how badly we got on at our
first meeting? but L fancy we have
driven out the devil after all. " To these
words Ivan never made any answer. But
one day, just about Epiphany time, his
master drove to town with Ivan as coach
man, the bells iingling merrily from the
necks of the three horses. They were
just beginning to mount rather steep
hill at foot pace, when Ivan slid off the
box and went behind the sledge, az if to
pick up something he had let fall. 1t
was a sharp frost, and his master sat
huddled up in a thick fur, with warm
cap drawn close over his ears. Then
Ivan took from under his long coat
hatchet which he carried in his belt,
came close up behind his master, knock
ed off his cap, and with the words, 81
you have only yourself to thank, at one
blow cut his head open. He then stop
ped the horses, replaced the cap care
fully on the head of the dead man, and
taking his place again on the box drove
into town straight up to the police sta
tion.
81 have brought you General Suckin-
sky's dead body, it is I myself who kill
ed him. / told him 1 would, and have
done it. So, take me-. :"
He was arrested. brought to trial, and
sentenced to the knout, and then sent
for life to the mines in Siberia. And
thus Ivan, the gay-hearted dancer, dis
appeared forever from the world of
sight.
HOUSE LINEN Once a year the house
lin en- should be carefully looked over and
arranged. Such sheets and pillow cases