Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-06
I MUST SEE THE MINISTER.

Lanin fell on his knees before her and
covered her snow-white hand with ardent
Kisses Tears were in his eyes as he cried
Jana, do not say such things or you will
drive me mad with sheer happiness. i could
almost wish to be unhappy to find you near
me, to live for you and in you and then to
die at your feet, but 1 cannot imagine your
living in such condition. Luckily, it is all
a dream" he added, smiling, IAN idle
dream. that can never be realized, for if you
should ever follow me to foreign lands it
could only be to Paris or London, when
am appointed Secretary OF LegationP'
At this moment the doors opened and
Wernin entered, dressed in his gala uniform
AMI covered with stars and orders. He
shook hands with LanIn, kissed his daughter
and said:
"Your obedient father reminds you that
this is the last of the three days during
which your last admirer was not to be men
toned, and 1 was forbidden to make my ex-
cuses to the Minister. You see how your
slave obeys you, but longer dare not waitl"
"Dear father" replied jana, 'do what
you like; set you free. So that was the
Minister of the Interior! Count Perowski
was kind enough to be interested in my fate.
am exceedingly obliged to him.
"You are forever jesting child, because
YOU do not know what life is. You do not
know what trifes may suddenly become ot
the utmost importance. People who hold
the rGdder must never be offended!''
Jana interrupted him: "You can take my
excuses, too, when you call on the Count
and on Schelm: have just played a good
trick on the head of divIsion!"
Old Wernin was almost beside himself
"You are not in earnest. hope, when you
say that. You surely were not childish
enough to offend man who has never done
you any harm? What frivolity that would
ber'
"He has done me no harm, you say,
father? A man wko dares ask Tor my hand
through his Minister, without knowing me,
without ever having entered our house?
Who does he think L am? Dear father, you
almost make me angry"
"For four years Mr.. Schelm has been at
every ball given in our house, and two years
ago he hinted at his intentions, although so
/ obscurely that took it but for general po-
liteness.'
Then, suppose, he belongs to the ugly
old men who play whist during the ball or
watch OR dancing from afar off. All the
greater is his guilt"
"He is neither very old nor very ugly,
The Minister was kind enough to come in
person and to solicit your hand. 1 was not
at home. To-day shall explain the matter,
and beg you will not cause me any new
anxiety with your frivolltv."
but, dear father" said Jana, laughing
heartily, Il did not dream of jesting with
you. In answer to his demand tor my hand
I have sent Mr.. Schelm an invitation to nv
wedding, giving him carefully all the titles
on his ridiculous card"
did she really do that?" asked Councillor
WernIn.
Certainly, Councillor" replied Lanin,
smiling, land we have actually committed
that crime"
Old Wernin turned very pale.
Foolish. impudent childrenr' he ex.
claimed. do you know who that man
Schelm is? Do you know that from his
office in the Ministry OF the Interior he dis
poses of our fortunes and our lives? Do YOU
know that he decides questions which we
dare not allude to in conversation? You all
tremble when you hear the head Of the
gendarmes mentioned. Well, Schelm is a
hundred times more dangerous than Count
Orlof. Do your duty to the Gar and to
Russia, and you need not fear the high off,
cials. But tremble when those subordinate
people approach you who have such formid-
able powers in their hands; tremble when
you hear their names mentioned This man
Schelm disposes OF an equal power with the
head of the gendarmes, but ii is hidden,
mysterious, and he is capable of using his
power readily to crafty his ambition and
his revenge. You have offended Schelm,
and you laughl I tell you, if yeu have
wounded his self-love, we are lostl No