Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-11-16

lOW-creafureS fct tnere were timc3
when, with the utmost simplicity, he went
into details regarding tho manner in
which Holy Russia treated her refrac-
tory subjects which made our blood run
cold and our hair stand up in honor. OF
course he had a reason for his visits, and
affected to be in treaty for q large
| tract Of forest land some sixty miles in
land, which had come into the posses
SION Of the bank, and upon which lac
proposed 10 erect his saw-mill il he could
come TO terms Negotiations, however,
dropped off for rather lengthy period,
and one day, after Serge Petrouski had
not made his appearance for three con
sccutive mornings, | was sent TO the
lodgings be occupied with q letter, in
which he was informed that some set
Element must be definitely concluded
without loss of time. 1 bad never
visited the old man in his tenn
porary home and was rather curious
70 see in what style he lived. |
according made my way towards the
large and rambling house which he oc-
cupiod on the outskirts Of Belize. l
passed through the gap IN the low mud
wall, where the gate had formerly stood,
and tho neglected garden until l reached
the broad veranda which ran round the
house. / could soc no one stirring, and
was about to make voyage OF explora-
ton, when was startled by burst OF
exquisite melody, which came through
the half-opened door Of room o little
TO tho right OF me. The voice
was that Of woman, evidently
possessed Of the highest musical Gull
ture. The words were IN some tongue
utterly unknown 10 me. but exquisitely
soft and liquid. | stood entranced. UNI
able TO move hand or foot, with my
eyes fixed upon the spot, from which
the sweet words poured forth like cas-
cade Of melody. All at once the door
opened, and the most beautiful face |
had ever seen peeped forth. A fair, soft
face, with shining plaits OF fair balr
wreathed in artistic coils round a shapeiy
head, gentle blue eyes, and little rOso-
bud of a mouth round which a perpetual
smile seemed 10 hover. The whole
figure soon followed tho face. and | saw
standing before me tall, graceful girl.
clad in n quaint attire, forming com
promise between western civilization and
eastern spcndor a cream bodice Of
come soft fabric, trimmed with soqulns
showed TO advantage her magnificent
bust. and was met by n skirt OF scarlet
band, descending some inches below her
arms. while her feet were clothed IN thin
colorod buckskiu, richly adorned with
silver embroidery.
'Have you come TO sec NJ. Petsou-
Ski ?" asked she. in the French tongue.
was so dazzled by the beauty OF the
unsupported apparition that it was some
moments before ] could answer in the
affirmative.
"Come with me then" said she, when
7 stammored out my reply. "My father
is not very well, but ! nm sure ho will
see you"
"Why should hop" You do not
know who / am" replied I.
q" Oh, yes ! do. " answered she, with n
bright smile. "My father has described
an his friends TO me, and am sure that
YOU are Mr.. Courtney, of the bank.
Come along LET Us lose no more time, "
and reckoning me &c follow, she tripped
away with the elastic gait OF a woodland
nymph. In a few moments ] was
ushered into n half-dafkened room, in
the centre Of which Petroush lay
stretched upon a couch. There was a
table close at hand, and at il
was seated young man, eu-
IDENTIFY engaged in writing from die
tation. He was almost rs handsome "a
the Young girl who had acted as my
guide, although his beauty was OF a diff
ferent type, for he was very dark and
had something sinister about IT. In the
obscurity Of the room ! could see his
owes flash like that of an angry leopard,
when he perceived me enter under the
guidance of Mile Petrouski. The old
man greeted me cordially, andintroduced
his companion as Ladeslas Vanicheff, his
secretary, who. at q sign from his mas
ter. left the ROOM and in a few minutes
returned followed by servant, carrying
tray containing fruit, cooling sherbet
and cigarettes all of which were pressed
upon me in the most hospitable manner.
81 am what You will call little
seedv." remarked the old gentleman,
"but hope 70 be myself in a day or two
when | shall settle the business, for |
intend to buy your property on the Rio
Muerte: that is, if ] could settle with your
good manager. Do you think that he
would come and see poor old Serge
Peuouski ?"
He had to repeat his question, for ]
Was needless of good manners, gazing
with undisguiscd admiration at the fair
face Of the Young lady, who, | must
say, seemed perfectly unabashed at my
fixed stare.
ooh, YES" uttered ], blushing ut my
rudoncss. "Shall ask him 10 come 2"
elf you please" answered he "and
now. Olga. LET Us have some OF those
Circassian songs YOU sing so well Her
mother was a Tcherkes, added be in an
undortone, "but it is several years SINCE
| lost her" ,
without any hesitation Olga glided
from the room and III a brief space
of time returned with an Oriental must
cal instrument called, believe gu2lee.
Seating herself on low stool, she swept
her fingers over tho strings and poured
forth once more those rich floods OF
melody which had heard upon my first
arrival. Certainly the girl was born
coquette tho pose she had adopted
was the one 'most calculated to ex-
hibit oil the graceful lines of her form
and rs she sang her blue eyes were fixed
upon me with look of lAngulshing ten
| derness. 1t was some time before l
could tear myself away and when l did
so | hardly noticed the look of fierce dis
favor cast upon me by Ladeslas Vani-
choiL
Our manager, John Mordante, called
on the old Russian, and influenced, as |
shall always believe, 10y Olga's charms,
let the property so on very favorable
| terms.