Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-05-13
TIE LAKE-BABY.

The Lake of Karka is large; gray sheet
of slow, scarcely ripping water, bordered al
around with sedgy marshes; and back of
these waste lands, the vivid green of the
silver boled birches, and the sombre verdure
of the aromatic pines.
1t is a country Of great space all about the
Lake of Karka a lonely livid land that looks
as if it were silently pulsating with the hope
and expectation Of humanity to crowd, and
till, and SOW. and reap its meagre soil
To be sure, there is the small village of
Oloi on the eastern shore OF the lake; hand
full of pink and green houses, surrounded by
deep soft meadows and rough rail fences;
the oat fields sloping down to the sluggish
waters edge, and, wind blown, lying over
with fresh kisses for the little tapping waves.
On sandy hillock stands the church, too,
the church of st. Isaac with its five gilded,
pear shaped cupolas that sparkle in the sun
shine; and within its two splendid pillars Of
malachite on either side the Iconostasis-
these, green and cleaning like dead emer-
aids are the gift Of Prince Okanin, whose
palace stands at the southern end of the Lake
OF karka-
What a grand, beautiful thing the palace
ali the peasants roundabout, and especially
all those who lived in the little village of
Oloi, because they saw it always.
1t was made of warm looking, creamy
terra Gotta bricks, and had a long front full
of wide windows and three tnrrets, one at
the east, one at the west and the highest in
the center 1t always looked as though
heaven loved it, and as if the sun ever shone
upon it by day, and the moon and stars by
night, because of its glowing yellowish tint.
Prince Okanin did not live there, however,
beautiful as his palace was, he spent most Of
his time, people said, III Petersburg and Mos
cow Last summer he came home and also
the princess, his wife, fraiL fair, sweet
lady. whom the peasants saw sometimes
standing on the balconies IL charming
white gown, holding her daughter in her
arms-a baby still in a wooden long coat and
furred sleeves, and hardly able 70 speak.
"Well, wellp Marianka, the wife Of Ivan
Ivanovitch. the carpenter, said as she famed
her smoking fire. at is indeed the luck for
some and the little for others. There is the
princess with riches, and palaces, and gems,
and, greatest of all, a babyl whilst | and
Ivan Ivanovitch, we have nothing. We do
nothing but fight the cold and the hunger in
winter, and the foods in spring, and the
drought in summer. And SO it goes, SO it
goesp
flush, tush. Mariankar' the good priest
answered her, as he stopped for draught Of
water, on his way; tits accounted a curse
to him that murmurs; and if all l hear be
true, the Princess Okanin is none too happy
q lady. after all"
And at this Marianka and Ivan, her hus-
band, both pricked up their ears and stopped
their work, with uplfted eyes.
''Yes, yes" murmured the priest.
''Stay, now, and tell US how that can beT'
they cried in a breath.
"Oh. never mind, never mind" and the
priest turned away.
swell, yes, but we do mind. Come tell
us, you are wise. Now tell US how it is
possible for a lady with good husband, and
riches, and warm palace here, and another
there, and so on, and large fires and many
furs, and servants, and the child we saw last
summer-why, it must be good two years or
three years Old now-how can such a happy,
God-loved lady be unhappy, say!"
The priest turned back again into the little
soddeu yard where Ivan and Marianka stood
before the door of their hut He looked
around fearfully Tor an instant, and then,
laying his finger across his lips, he whispered
quite low and very swiftly:
prince Okanin, have heard, is a Mill
list
Ivan Ivanovitch and Marianka, his wife,
shrank back TO their threshold, pale and dis
mayed
"And." continued the priest, following
them and knocking on the damp ground
with his cane, it III BELTS couple of hon
ezs, loyal peasants like you to De envying
an unfortunate lady whose lord E.ay before
long be on his weary way 10 S4Jerial"
Ivan and Marianka shuddered as they
crouched back still further into their cabin.
And the child" murmured AarIanka,
with a sigh.
"Yes, yes. the child, the miserable one
whose parent it may never see after its first
years OF lief"
"What woe what a woc" MarlanSa
falls upon her knees before the Icon IN the
corner, and murmurs short prayer
THAT Is oetter-uluch better" the good
priest says Is he goes on his way.
For some days after Marianka prayed for
the princess and Tor her child, and yet,
after al, she could not help, down in her in
most soul, thinking how much rlore agreeS
able ana fuh of wisdom it would have been
had the good Providence sent her a child and
left the princess without cue.
However, after a little Marianka had many
other things TO think Of to help 70 thresh
out the oats, to dry the seeds. 10 make her
own sacgues ard aprons, To visit her neigh
bors and to g,Ssip with them IN lov. myste-
rious whispers about the possible fate OF
Prince Okanin
Where was hes Well, no che knew.
At the palace there were nc lights in the
windows at night other than those that shone
there III the depth of winter. People shock
their heads and said he WAS not there. And
was the princess, they wondered, as white is
she was year agof And had the child
grown into a strong creatures
Wen. well, How Spcld they tell Heaven
knows. lie and labor we're hard enough, and
each went home % her own
One morning In the Summer. that is the
nre summer, wren u was reeIIy warm, ivan
Ivanoritch got up very esrly and st out on
q Journey about three leagues of where be
had piece OF WORK to dc. lie did not waksn
Marianka, but took square of bread and q
bottle of mils in the bag with MS tools and
left her sleeping. with her strong. handsome
white arm thrown up over her dark head
Awkwaryily ne stopped down snove her ard
kissed her shoulder with MS bearded lips. and
IS awkwsSilY there came into his uncouth