The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1883-10-12


thinking the p.es'iings 81 : being go superior
must hIvo equal weight with the powers Of
heaven as with those Of earth.
Summer was already on the wane when the
noble mansion, habitnally 30 tranquil, was
suddenly filled with noise and gayety. The
before him; ssddle horses and hounds were
stamping and nsigliing IN their stalls and bark
ing In their kennels a., though tho one aim Of
life were to make the most noise possible in q
given time.
How handsome he is,. our young count, {"
away the tedious hourt in the silent workroom.
st was received him in my aims when he
was born"
And she repeated again and again, with iu-
exhaustive complacenoy, the history Of Serge's
birth, and the legend OF his boyhood up to the
had gone to JOIN the corps Of pages, his trunks
laden with cakes. jams and ell that could pos
sibly be eaten under heaven.
The workgirls have listless heed to these
undred-tmes-repeated variations, but Mavra
was never tired hearing them; it was like re-
good and revered protectress made all things
dear and venerated that touched her nearly,
and this only son, loved. sdored, longed for,
hecame q supernatural being, q kind OF Mes
sinh, to her.
One morning at tho end Of August as Mavra
yard to go waken up the laundress, who had
oversight hers II, she saw, galoping along the
Enclosure, q tro,ka Of black horses with their
heads covered with BELLS 'tlts the young
MASTER" thought the little servant, and without
giving herself time for reflection she ran to the
ponderous gate and threw it wide open. At
the same moment tho brilliant eauipage ar
rived; the coachman pulled together his noble
beasts, and, without slaokening their gallon.
they shot like an arrow past Mavra, aud ten
steps further on stood stock still at the foot of
the steps DazAd, her heart thrilled by she
received full IN the face tho gazs of two large
black amazed and amused eyes
'Ho& like his mother!" thought Mlavra, as
she closed the huge gate that shut with a
heavy bang.
She turned slowly toward the steps as Serge.
jumped down from the carriage, looked round
ut her again. He smiled when he mot her
blue eyes full of simple admiration, and Civ
ing her friendly nod, entered the house of
his fathers. A minute after he was by the
countess bedside, pressed lovingly in her
arms.
When they had chatted two whole hours. as
they finished their tea, Serge, recolIecting him
self, suddenly SAID to his IN ,tller.
What s this new acquisition you have
made, mo,hery A little fair-haired Raphael
opened the gate for me this morning."
The countess thought for q moment.
tue-mv dear child. A strange little creature
who adores NO."
''She is quite right" replied the son, respect
fully: what do you do with her!"
'she embroi1ers in the a'tarnoon, and in the
morning she attends on me; but Serge, you
must be prudent. My house is strictly kept;
don't you 60 and amuse yourself making gal
liant speeches. to my girls"
''Oh, mother! what do you take me for?"
carelrssy replied the young man. VI think of
woman only When she is in q casket suited to
her style of beauty Now hoe You may have
pearls. but the casket il totally wanting"
They burst out laughing together. Oaly
those who thoroughly understood these two
beings could have guessed beneath this light
talk the strict propriety of the mother aud the
cons respect for the maternal home. But
Russians Of the grand monde arc go constituted
that when they have no vice they take all
imaginable trouble to affect it
On leaving the dining room the countess and
her con directed their steps toward tue garden.
In front of the house, in the COURTYARD, they
met Mavra STOPPING under the weight Of an
enormous pile Of linen. which she was carry
under her crossed hands, reached 80 high that
sue had to raise her chin aud turn her head
sideways III order TO see before her.
"See, there she ISL said tho countess in
French. stopping to look at her.
sit is hard TO ray whether she is Raphael
had more tho look OF d Raphael with Russian
nose; it is hybrid style Of beauty, but it has
q certa charm"
They continued their walk, while Mavra en-
tered the workrOom with her pile of linen.
When her hands were free she sIo'd trembling
and SILENT as though she lad been guilty Of j
crime
SWELL what are you waiting for, said one of
the girls, pulling her by he apron.
II don't know, repl,e Mav,a 81 feel as if
had received blow, aud my hands keep on
trembling"
strength. Sit down, and you will see it will
pass off,"
And in fact it did pass away in q few min
rtes; bit from tlas moment Mavra was
haunted by pair Of black eyes that little sus-
pec'el it,
Her veneration for the countess was in no.
wise diminished by this. Ga the contrary, she
one idol she lad two BY little innocent tao
tics, that surpr sed herself, she succeeded in
having tho service OF the young counts room
assigned to her, and thence forth her happi-
ness was complete. The care of the wardrobe
was in the hands of the vaet-Ie- chambre, who
while Serge, on his magnificent black horse,
was galloping along under the vautel arches
OF tho pine forests that Intcrwove their long
branches above his head, Mavra. penetrated by
aswcet emotion, with profound gratitude to
God for making her lie so easy and happy,
was smoothing with her delicate hands HE
tine linen sheets of the camp bed on which hor
dear Young master slept, and passing her hest
tat,nS fingers over the pillow. "He will place
his bead there when night comes, and CLOSE
his eyes in sleep" This thought made tho
young girl raise her Land and blush US though J..
there had been q profa"at.on.
Serge WAS tho most breaknecll rider in the
rat
part he was alone when he performed his Wild
exploits, but from instructive contempt fer
eanSer Ono fine morning, cl, arng q hclys
Fix feet hish-tllere wcrs mono lower-tue
counts horse stumbled and fell on its side. ~
tonch Of the spur made it spring up. but when
Serge tried to spur the Other side that ON
which it had fallen, he suffered excrutianns
pain. Fortunately it was the last hedge, else
he would have had some difficulty in getting
home. He pushed ON, however, and reached
the entrance; but when he endeavored to rest
his foot Oh the s,irrup to alight he found it
absolutely impossible, and amid the lamenta-
lions Of the servants who had gathered around,
llo Lad to let himself be taken down from his
horse and be dragged, as he said, like q bundle
to his bed.
When he was duly unbootod and examined
the supreme indifference with which he al
lowed himself 10 le handled aud moved about,
spite Of the paeuts of his face, did not lessen
tho fact that lie had seriously fractured his
tlbia.
Tho bone-settor was sent for, in conformity
with precspt of the countess who preferred a
bone-st tier Ut hand to The best surgeon IN the
world 800 mi cs of. horribly complicated
dressing, bristiing with splints und bandages,
was applied to the leg with very respectful
Int formal injnnc:ous not to move, and to
remain iu bed tor six weeks.
Six waeks! anil the sporting season good, and
flights of cartridges started every minute by
the counts dogs, bunting now for their own
pleasure, the kennel being seldom closed; the
horses neighing from sheUr WEAKNESS, and tllo
grooms giving themselves lumbago brighten
ing up trnnpings that were now to lie unused.
The countess was good reader, spite OF her
eyeglass She read untireingy, the result Of
which was to send the natient TO sleep-infnlli-