Wichita eagle., 1888-05-27
POPOFF'S JOURNEY.

| without raising her eyes from the Life of
| the Saints" In which she seemed to be alb
| sorbed.
"But shall only be absent ten days in all,
my little soul-four to go, four to return
| andn-
| "Oh, be quiet,n said the "little SOUL" with
scant courtesy 'You seem to take me for
| an idiot. know your reason for wishing 10
meander off into foreign lands; you want to
| go on a carouse-to have good time! Don't
| tell me you don't. I'm ashamed Of you.
| Drink your tea and let ME alone"
Whereupon the little soul" plunged still
| deeper into her favorite work
| The above conversation occurred one fine
| Sunday at Moscow between Vassili Iwano-
witch Popof, q middle class notable" and
merchant, and his wife. Avdotia Iwenowne
The worthy couple were sitting after mass
at table, on which stood gigantic "samo-
var putting out jets OF vapor. For the ten
years preceding the same conversation,
| slightly varied, had occurred as regular as
| Sunday had come round, that being the only
| day of the week that the Popoffs were able to
see much of each other on account of the en-
| croachments of business cares; on the other
| days the husband going to his Office promptly
at z in the morning, and not returning until
evening.
| Avdotia Iwanowna was dark little wo-
| man, strongly resembling q withered olive
with sharp features and abrupt in her move
rnents. Her shrill voice made her servants
tremble and cut her husbands long speeches
very short. The latter was large, tall man,
with fat cheeks, heavy beard and eyes that
We're constantly winking. He was as timid
as he was big, and obeyed his wife as i'm
plicitly as one of the enormous r. rges that
arc sometimes seen on the river is responsive
| to the slightest motion of the little snorting
tug that is towing it along Apparently
they We're the matrimonial compliments Of
each other, for they had lived in this way
twenty years, during which period not
single cloud had arisen above the family
horizon
For the past ten years, however, an idea
had gradually invaded the circuInscribed
brain Of VassiH Iwanovitch and had at last
taken complete possession of that organ.
He wanted to see Paris. The narratives of
his friends regarding the wonders of that as
tonishing city, which they had visited either
on business or pleasure haunted him with
the pertinacity of an oft recurring dream,
and had finally aroused in him an Unsuitable
curiosity that he was unable, even if he
wished, to allay.
He had bought "Guide to Paris" which
he read secretly at his warehouse, and be-
came so absorbed and absent minded during
its perusal that be made the most absurd
mistakes. Not only did he give his clerks
wrong directions when under the influence
of his Gallo mania, but one day, when Gus
toner had asked him for the address of
merchant in st. Petersburg, he actually re-
piled, ''Place de la Concorde."
Avdotia Iwanowna, like good wife, did
ell she could to dispel what she called her
husbands madness" She kept her ''neu-
vaines;" burned candles before the miracle
working Virgin Of Tvers Kaya; consulted
three celebrated fortune tellers of the city;
made pilgrimage to the convent of Troitza,
not far from Moscow; prayed, threatened to
do many terrible things, but-did nothing
With the logged determination of weak
natures, Vassili Iwanovitch maintained a
stoical silence when assailed by his wifes re-
proaches; but as soon as the violence of the
storm was spent he would hazard few tiInid
observations on the general subject.
This journey, he would urge, might be the
means Of opening up relations with Franco
for his business. The great exhibition that
was about TO take place would give him in
formation regarding number of matters
concerning which he was profoundly igno-
rant: might, in fact, teach him much as to
many industries, etc.
Weary of discussion, Advotia Iwanowna
had ended by turning a deaf ear to all her
husbands references to the unwelcome sub
ject-a policy that caused the confding
Vassili, compelled to make a confidant of
some one, to pour out the fullness of his
heart into the bosom of his old servant,
Anissime.
The day following that on which the above
conversation occurred, that is to say, on
Monday, an unprecedented event took place in
the Popoff household Contrary to the Gus
tom of years, Vassili Iwanovitch came rush
ing home at noon, flushed with excitement,
out of breath, his face covered with perspira-
ton, and holding an open letter in his hand.
''Here, read this; it has just Gomez he
shouted as he caught sight of his better half.
The poor woman gazed ct him in amazement
and alarm. She believed her husband had
become suddenly insane.
The letter bore foreign stamp, and was
couched in the following terms:
''SIR-The numerous orders that we are
constantly receiving from Russia for our new
sewing machine, The Lightning have
caused US to decide to open an agency at
Moscow Our sales in your empire foot up
from 5000 to 5000 machines annually
Having consulted the American consul in
your city, he has mentioned you as being
one of the most honorable representatives of
Moscovite commerce, and therefore the best
adapted to fill the position of agent for our
incompatible invention.
1--WE therefore ask you TO accept the agency
and q commission Of 10 per cent. on all sales,
which would result in an annual profit to you
of not less than from 100000 10 300, 600
francs
THAT there should be no nisunderstand-
ing, personal interview is desirable. Our
Mr.. Spark will be at the Hotel du Louvre
until June 25 after which date he viii return
to New York.
1--WE have the honor 20 remain your obeii-
ent servants, WILLIAM SPARK s, Co.
''P. S.-If we do not hear from you prior
to the a5th we shall conclude arrangements
with another Moscow house that is awaiting
our answer"
Avdotia Iwanowna read the letter several
u4ties dltSuiiNeAg, Willie hef iAcSA'a4iu
the expression Of her face with intense an1-
iety. To his profound establishment, after
short silence Avdotia Iwanowna remarked IN
her calmest tones:
You must go, and should leave at once,
for today is the 18th, andH-
-Four days 70 so and"-interrupted Vas
sill Iwanovitch, as though he were repeating
some lesson learned by note
make haste and pack your trunks, end
don't waste time In talking nonsense, SAID
bis wife sternly.