Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-05-18

He had no sooner entered than she raised
her eyes, and, although she pretended to
read on, she continued to observe closely
every movement of the exile. The inspector
came up to Vladimir and, familiarly pat
ting him on the shoulder, he said:
"At last have caught you'll l sent for
you to give you a new kind of work. You
are an educated man, and in vour former
position YOU learned to make phrases, such
as an unlearned man does not know. The
matter is this: have received orders from
1rkutsk TO report to the Governor General
of Siberia the condition of my district, and
at once. Write me, therefore, such report,
as we'll as YOU can"
Every willingly" said Vladimir. "What
IL to be in the report?"
The inspector laughed aloud.
Anything you choosel Nobody will ever
think of looking at it or seeing how far the
reality corresponds with the report No
higher officer ever strays into this accursed
region. 1t is quite enough if the Governor
sees it is we'll written and in good form.
Write, therefore, whatever YOU fancy, only
you must have pretty phrases and nice
terms. God is on high and the Gear far
awayi Here are pens and paper and every
thing you need. Begin now at once. 1 am
going into town, and shall not be back till
night. hope by that time you will nearly
have done your work"
AS YOU cOmmanQI' BalQ NlaQlmlE.
"But perhaps you will remember that you
permitted us to make an expedition against
the Tunguses, who steal our furs at night.
1t is to be undertaken tonight, and my
comrades are anxious to have me join
them"
"well, if come back in time you may
goat IL"
"But-"
mo another wordI What have said
have said"
The inspector took his cap and went
away. Vlandimir remained alone with
Caroline. He sat down at the little table
pointed out by the officer, and began to
write, paying no attention to the lady Of the
house, who pretended 10 be immersed In her
book.
Thus passed several minutes Caroline
watched Vladimir, and in her eyes shone
an unusual soitness. The colonist made
his pen travel rapidly over the paper and
did not look up. Suddenly the woman
seemed to have formed a resolution and
said:
Count do you know this district so we'll
that you can write so 1uently and so well?"
Lanin trembed as he heard himself
called by his title which he had not heard
for so long.
'rlf man works whole year in the
same region, goes hunting and fishing, it is
no wonder, madam, ii he finally learns to
know the land"
After this short interruption he continued
his work. Carolines face looked ill-con-
tent
Count she began once more, "you are
not amiable, at all. Leave your writing,
and let us converse"
Vladimir replied without looking up:
You have heard the orders which I re-
ceived. l must obeyp'
Caroline was angry.
"What are my husbands orders to me? 1
want to speak to you. The simplest polite
ness demands that you should do what 1
wish. Be so kind, therefore, as to put your
pen down and answer my questions 20
81 am very sorry 1 cannot do that" said
Vladimir, turning very little towards
her. "My task is to be finished as soon as
possible, and if am too late / could not ex-
cuse myself by saying that had to enter
tain you. You need not mind your hus-
bands orders, but am dependent on thenl."
"But count"
"And besides, beg you will not give me
q title which only reawakens painful men,
ories, and which has, moreover, been taken
from me-"
He began to write again, while she bit her
lips till the blood came. The inspectors
wife bad been pleased with Vladimir ever
since he had come into the village as O col
onist. She always had shown him little at
tentions, which he had noticed with aver
sion. The more this antIpathy grew the
more the officers wife insisted upon favor
ing him, till she was at last really in love
with him. As she used no precaution, the
count soon became aware of it. He only
took pains to avoid her whenever he could,
but he committed the imprudence that be
never looked her in the face. Had he done
that he would have read in her eyes the
unbridled malice that shone there.
Lanin did not see what was happening
close by, because his heart was SO (ull of
his love for jana and his yearning for her,
that it absorbed his whole attention.
An hour passed without further inter-
ruption, Lanin was writing and Caroline
seemed to be immersed in her book. 1t
struck z. Caroline laid her book down aud
cast glance at the exile
'It is time for tea," she said aloud. 'Tn-
terrupt your work moment Go into the
kitchen and prepare the samovar."
do you speak to me?" asked Vladimir,
Indignantly.
"Ol course. There is no one else here 70
lie shrugged his shoulders, and continued
20 write. Like panther she rushed down
upon him, seized him by the arm aud cried
furiously:
IL command you instantly 10 bring me
The samovar DO you hoRr7''
lie looked at her godly.
"Are you inad2 Pray, call one Of the
Cossaeks who are sleeping out there"
"lBut will that you shall walt on me 10.
day, you obstinate ofeRturel'
"Y6u know very we'll that | am not your
servant. Pray, leave me alone"
"Yeu are not MY servant, perhaps, but
subject 10 me, u subject OF the Gear, whom
j here represent. You must obey"
81 beg Of you calm yourself, madam; you
do not seem 20 be well"
"Do you think ] am jestlng? Hal hal
My husband has the right to ask OF you any
kind Of labor, and / share that right with
him. command you 10 bring me the tea
service, Have a care. Do not force me TO
repeat my command q third time viii
you obey me?
Certainly notp'
"But il ask it OF you as favor? II tits
O wish that you should do it for me" sine
continued in dull, threatening voice.
"Will you still refuse TO be civil?"
"Certainly," he replied, looking firmly at
her.
"Have a care repeat it third timer'
"No," he replied, ''tor see you must have
lost your senses!'
He began to write again.
Now Caroline turned furiously to the
door, and in her blind rage knocked her
head against beam that supported the
ceiling. Furious at the resistance she
uttered cry. She threw open the door
and cried "Helpp'
the room, and Vladimir once more con-
fronted an unforeseen danger. Without
stirring from his chair he patiently awaited
hat 1frh ho