Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-10-22
THE GOVERNORS BALL.

Prince KamoUtsine was one of the most
brilliant officers OF the court at Sc. Peters
burg. lie WIS seen at every review, reeep-
tioa and official ball. Everywhere, in fact,
where Young officer Of the Guards could
be seen with advantage TO himself, and
yet in eight years be had only captain s
rank, accompanied with the unenviable
reputation OF being the most incorsigible
fellow in the way Of practical jokes that
ever wore uniform. No one understood
better than he the art Ct carrying out sue
cessfully the most astounding, audacious
Joke. Already he had been three times
exiled from the capital for having gone a
trife too far, and had also received a Sc
we're reproof from high quarter, with the
advice to keep quiet and !" efi'sce himself, p"
that he might be forgotten. This to man
ike Kamoutsine was simply impossible ;
for, even at the risk Of losing rank, promo
ton and fortune, his jest was necessity
to him, and have it he must. All foreign
ers, provincial officers and ignorant country
people he acorned utterly, regarding them
as quite unworthy his attention. The
young captain flew at higher game, select
ing his victims from the AGHte uolee.
Our hero had SO far profited by this ad-
FiES llldL gttE l-LlJS-Ol LN4ChDAens NiiO
pears to have been somewhat deficient IN
a sense of humor and by no means appre-
ciative of practical joke, sent him one
fine morning the order TO retire to his es-
tate and there to remain the space Of one
month, to give himself time Tor reflec-
tion," as the order was worded.
Kamoutsine was allowed three days to
make all his arrangements and TO reach his
destination. The place of exile was twenty.
four miles distant from st. Petersburg by
post-chaise. He began by spending two
days IN bidding goodbye TO his friends.
He had been promised four gendarnes
as a guard of honor the antecedents Of the
young Prince quite justifYiDg this precau-
ton, apparently SO insulting; he having
passed his last period OF Punishment IN a
well. known restaurant In the costume of a
waiter, where he had been seen and recog-
nized by all his brother officers, who had
laughed while keeping the secret, until the
expiration of the sentence.
Kamoutsine went from house to house,
receiving here the ironical congratulations
of one, there the laughing condolences of
another. Toward the evening of the Sec
ond day he presented himself to take leave
of the Countess Dameref, one of the most
popular and charming of the court beau
ties.
'.Will you not dine with us ?" said the
pretty Countess, as he rose from his chair
after few minutes conversation.
"A thousand thanks but it is quite i'm.
possible, unless you extend the invitation
TO my gendarmes.
"Your gendarmes? What can you pos
sibly mean"
"My body guard, for which am in
debted to the Imperial munifcence. They
ought now to be at my house. In an hour
we shall, all five of us, be rolling along the
road to Kamoutska, the home of my an
cestors. When l say we shall roll, l am
wrong l should have said we shall glide I;
with this beautiful snow, the sleighing is
delightful. 1t will not be a long journey /;
] shall dine at home tomorrow.
Unhappy Prince !" said the Countess
with merry laugh. A." You are not polite
in allowing yourself to be banished at the
hight Of the carnival season. The Gov.
errors ball win have to so on without
you, it seems.
"Ah the ball-true enough, l had
utterly forgotten it you see, Countess,
thu depth of my disgrace. Is it to-mor-
ro9 p"
Tomorrow evening at 10 we shall all
be eancing without you. Now pray do not
go and hang yourself, added the pitileas
tease.
Kanoutsine stood silent, twisting his
moustashe with thoughtful air.
+" Yot are going?' he asked, abruptly.
" As i there were a doubt of it AL
Petersburg viii be there. The new Gov.
ernor makes his debut. He is from If.
l1oulsk, 70, know, and his entertainments
there were celebrated far and wide. Il
will be a euerb BALL The Imperial fam
lily viii be there, and | mean to be ON the
spot TO see thym arrive
Countess said Kamoutsine, tenderly,
leaning on th, arm OF her chair, will
You give me ththonor OF the first waltz 2
g Are you mad y said the Countess,
throwing herself back in the chair.
" No more thai usual, but | repeat my
question, for you ave not answered me,
will YOU do me the honor -"
g But, my dear Prince, you will be al
home at that time. You viii be sleeping
the sweet sleep which always follows q
winter journey Nur housekeeper viii
have made your tea, you viii have taken
it and -"
"All this little detailed interior, Count.
ess, rests on the hypothesis that l shall be
at home. But if l ampot at home, and il
am at the Governor lall, will you give
me the first waltz p
The Countess, very mTeh puzzled, locked
inquiringly at ksmoutsne. She saw he
was serious-a most unusual thing for him
and she was touched byit.
With pleasure" she answered gravely,
"You will not give Tito anyone else
At the first sound of the music shall be
there to claim it. +"
"Pnnce," said the Countess, in a voice
full of terror and tenderness, .'you are
stalking your head "
(which is hardly worth waltz with
you. | shall be more tim paid if yor
only keep your promis, murnured
Kamoutsine, as he rose.
'sI hope all this is only jest, said tht
Countess with troubled mile.
"Will you lay me wager that l vii
not be there? said the ypung man with 1
low bow.
"No-yes-I do not know. One nevel
knows with you"
81 trust to your generosity, Countess
and like to think you viii hold to the
wager. Goodbye till tomorrow, and
STOPPING he touched his lips to her hand
and disappeared, without giving her the
opportunity of replying.
As he prophesied, the g,ndarmes were
awaiting his return. A k6tka, sort o.
close-covered sleigh, stood before the door,
and be entered it without giring these foui
representatives of armed force any oppor.
tunity of dining. at which they grumbled
little, but quite IN respectful fashion,
as became them in the presence of a
superior for, though Kamoutsine was theiI