New-York tribune., 1882-02-19

the Kings of France.
.Oh, think there would he no difficulty about
it, replied the General We have many Germans
among our officers. and few French. 4 Scotch
man would he welcome coming from the Queen of
Engiands Guards Let me see; you held brevet
blood
My grandfather was an earl responded Nc
And if your laws OF succession were the same as
ours you would be an earl TOO. All the sons Of a
count are with us counts. You viii be galettel as
Count McEWcn Let me manage tie matter lot
yOu.
Archie McEwen did not say Yes 10 the Russian
Generals proposal but he did not say No lie gave
the matter few dayS thought aud consulted his
relatives. They advised him that it would be pct
ter he should spend the next ten wears of his life at
least, IN some profitable occupation than loteriug
as an idle man about town. They hinted that he
might marry "a wealthy Russian princess, which
Would ne more sen IOe than dang ing after Lady
Amabel, who would never give her hand to
younger son. At the same time McEwen's relations
used all their interest in his favor so that his
passage into the Russian army might he effected
under the most honorable conditions possible. Thus
1t happened that the valOrOus yOEng scot one day
found himself enrolled as Captain Count MakuIne,
IN the Grand Duchess Paullnas Cuirassler Guards
one OF the finest regiments ia the Russian service.
ana one which was always quartered near court
residences.
1t was about year after he had received his
commlsSlon--a year spent very agreeabY-that
Archie McEwen was one night told OH Just such
a service he had had to perform Dublin Castle.
BY this Time he had perfected hhiseH IN frenoh'
and by dnt of laily lessons had come to SPEAK
Russian tolcraby well. There was ball at ihe
Winter Palace. and McEWen fOstCd IN a pas
sage leading 10 the EmperOTs private apartments,
with orders to let nobody pass on any account.
Remembering the trouble that had beiaHen MN
in Ireland about order of this kind. the young
Captain asked his Colonel who was thorough
soldier and gentlemanl whether this order was TO
be construed literally.
We'll. of course If member Of the Imperial
family presents himself. you must let nm GO by,
answered the Colonel; but | do hot think tnat IS
likely he order Is absolute, except ior ther I'M
perlal Hlghnesses'
Accordingly McEwen stood with the confidence
OF "a man VINO has explicit INSTRUCTIONS lie was
habIted in a white tUuIc, with gold epaulcts ana
aIgiets, white breeches. with knee boots aud gold
spurs. a silver breastplate, with a dOubie-neaded
golden eagle encTusted, ana SILVER helmet with
gilt eagle perched with spread wings Oh the crest
Thus brilliantly accOutred with troop OF men IN
the vestibule below 10 obey his behesls; and with
a lieutenant and cornet standing beside nun ID the
corridor to give him support. our young Scotchman
was IN Drawer circumstance than WLen ne hld Win,
stood the Chef secretary lor ireland III lue LoTd
Lleutenants palace. And yet. though his stay IN
Russia had been pleasant one though ms AuscO-
vite comrades had treated him with that Kindness
and consideration which Russians can render eX-
tTaOrlinarIly charming when they please, Archie
McEWeu looked back with passing regret on the
days when he wore red coat. aud when ms highest
ambition was 10 WIN slniIe from Lazy DeIIairs
sweet daughter Aua1el.
lie was immersed in his recolections Of aud
lang Syne when suddenly tail onlceT. wearing q
helmet and muiried in an ample cloak climbed the
staircase TWO steps at time. and stood before AIn
You cannot pass, slr SAID McEWeu lu tfe per
emptory tone more usual II Continental armies
than in our JWn
What Captain do you not know the Grand
Duke Nicholas aud the officer. throwing back his
cloak, revealed dark whIskered face and breast
covered with decorations.
i beg your Imperial Hehnass's pardon. said |
NcEWen. lowering the point Of his sword and he |
suffered the Grand Duke TO pass.
Half an hour elapsed; then the Grand-Duke /
reappeared hurredIy answered the salute OF the /
three officers, and ran downstairs. Scarcely had he |
gone whtn a tall form uarKcned the doorway al the /
end If tine passage, and McE wen raised his hand to
hi, helmet-peak on recognizing the Emperor
Captain sIid lis Majesty in vOl,e which /
trembcd from excitement, did you not receh |
orders 20 let nobody pas,
i dId, sire; but / thought the Grand-Duke |
Nicholas
That was not The Grand Duke replied the Car
with undmInlshed agitation. It is General /
Streuko. bali mad fellow who bears some resem-
Dlauce To his Imperial Hiehnes7. and who thruSts .
has company on me for the purpose Of giving me- /
annoyance with his crazy advice How came you
TO make such mistake
! am profoundly sorry. your In peria Majesty
replied Archie McEven, who truly ieIJ ashamed
cOutrte aud >OrIow1ul.
/ ab,oiye you from all bac Intention sad the
Emperor I'D geuter J'ns; but am III guarded
III my own palace IL my Sudr's 40 not hHo" lAe
men who snOuii he forbidden 10 approach ne.
Archie McLwcn thrilled all over a he heard
these words. The consequences of hi. mistake
mIght have been so awful that as soon a. be vas
relieved from duty that night, lac sat down. con-
Sc. eu.4 .trlczcu and wrote out hls res .rDatIgu
Next day Lis Colonel. who had heard an account of
the matter from the kmperors own lips good
uatuieGiv told hIm that MS VA estv had forgiven .
his udscretou. as be was inclined 10 lay the blame
on the officers VINO we're on EuarI ih the Vest 1GIe
and ho ought not 10 have allowed the crazy Gen.
eral to get SO tar IS the staircase. The Colonel
added thar 10 was The Oars desire 10 hash ND tue
matter. for General Strenko was man whom the
Count wished 10 humor, while keeping hin dt
distance.
But neither the kindness ot his Colonel nor tie
supp ia ions Of his brother officers, nor the gra-
c.0u>ly expressed wishes of the Emperor himself
@..I.f.N Nr.l He
perslstod n bis purpose OF Ignng; and OF cOuIse
MS application had at length 10 be aocGded to.
As soon. however. as ne had received the lutImd-
tIOn That he was out Of commission. Count qahuine
ls he was called. made Immediate use of uls liberty
10 don CIVILIAN attire and to pat Visit TO las
former Colonel, Of whom hc asked favor.
'Colone,' he SAID Il would beg YOU TO carry
challenge from me TO General >trenko. so lou- AS
was IN the service l cOald not fight him, for he
was my superior: but now / am a civilian can
send 20 him 10 say that he lied tOullv in telling me
that he was the Graud-Duke Nicholas. he is
either "a ma man or "a rascal
/ ah afraid lie is only a fool demurred the
Colonel.
Fools are rs dangerous as rogues,' retorted Nc
Even L had a fool OF a Co.ouel TO deal WITH IN
England. who would have been all the wiser If
luellIng had existed among US 10 teach him eau
ton.
Well, l don't think you will do General Strenko
any harm by reading him lesson IN yeracIty,
laughed the Colonel | Will take friend with NE
ana bear your challenge, my dear Court
General StrenkO could not refuse Count
Hakuiue's challenge. lie protested at nTst tried,
IS ith the taw-lng grace OF Russian, to explain
hat lie was under certain circumsiances not
ic that he was laborng for his countiy's good,
md that IN politics subteTiuCe was sometimes a
necessity; but finally he was Obliged to accept the
young SrOt $ cartel.
The two men met at early morning, the weapons
,husen being swords Before the duel commenced
general Streuko made last eli RI TO convince lis
luzzle-haaded antagonist that hO might some
line. be q laudabie thing.
/ have proved my courage often enough to say
LIS without appearing 10 fIter, he remarked,
sword IN hand. wished 10 see my Sovereign. and
ayailed my self OF tbe only means at my disposal
You told an internal lIe and YOU left me 10 bear
he consequences replied the coniemptuOus scot.
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