The morning call., 1891-01-11

which every one was accustomed and which
no one feared. were no longer heard about
the house. He was visible to everyone
wife, children, seryants-but no ore seemed
to be visible to him. Between him and
them rested a veil OF abstraction He moved
ABOUT the mouse like man imprisoned in a
narrow cell and yet apparently unconscious
OF IT, AT times the children forgot them
selves and broke ont into noisy Trangling,
but single one of kiTills lowering glances
sufflced to bring them back to silence At
first the gentle 1atiana accused herself of
some neglect and strove to win a smile from
her Isband by the use of her old-time bits
of coquetry and devices to please, but she
soon abandoned the task. The truth seemed
Io2th to break upon her How could her
thoughts dare. after fifteen years of happi-
ness and devotion, to turn toward such
terrible suspicion as her husbands infidel-
itv? And yet they did, and suddenly. too.
The fact came home to her with cruel and
desOlatlng violence. 1t struck her like a
bludgeon She looked up and Sophie Sa-
ylchna, the scheolmistress stood before her
n vision of loneliness. Tatiana gasped and
instinctiyely reached out to lay hold of this
creature OF her oVerwrought imagination,
but il was gone
oh, God SOPHIE SavichnaW murmured
Tatiana, thou art the woman he loves ="
Tatiana was right He loved the school
mistress with passion that was devilish in
its intensity. Who she was, to what family
u
might be, all this was nothing to him. He
coveted the possession of her love with a
ferceneSs that bordered on insanity. At GER
tain moments this passion took on n muir
deroas tendency and he yearned for an OPP
portunity 10 strike her down, 10 irampie
upon her.
Sophie Savichna bad dismissed the army
officer from her mind, save silently to vent
her lll-wlli upon him for being the cause of
an Illness which confined her in bed for three
If Low had MT
been potent enough to touch her vanity.
He seemed ridiculous to hel.
love you, love you'll" she repeated
mockingiy; "a pleasant prospect for mel
What good would the love of this old officer
do me! A married mani
But as her illness spent its force. she
softened a bit After all, lie was an object
| of pity, poor man. She was still very Young.
She had been in love herself once with a
| student who didn't even condescend to feel
dain.
For two weeks now she had not met Ia
tiana'S husband. A vague instinct re-
strained her from INDUCING in her favorte
pastlme OF trainpng about the country. She
felt that this man was logging her foot
steps. One day, however, she forgot her
sell. 1t was sort of half hoiday-one of
those saints days which you may keep or
not, just as you please. The weather was
beautiful. The deep azure of the sky was
great Sn0w-balls.
Come, Fekloncha," she cried to her little
servant, girl of 10 years, let's 20 out and
see them gather flax"
Away the two went across the fields, bare
footed, like the peasants. A broad-brimmed
straw hat, wild and rustic, shaded Sophie's
features and added deeper mystery to her
round, wlde-opened eyes. There was an
| indescribabe charm in the woman's per-
sonality, aud II was heightened by the pres
n 70 In vAl1
which. like an attendant sprite, walked be"
| side her glorious mistress.
Inc working people greeted Sophie
friendly, yet timidly, for they instinctively
| beauty.
The open air acted like an intoxicant upon
| Sophle SaVlchna. She stood on tiptoe and
drank it eagerly in, as a convalescent might
| empty goblet OF life-giying cordial, aud
| then bending her 1.-THE and slender BODY. She
| caught up some Of the fax and burst out
INTO song, caroling one of the popular har-
vest chants:
Fax, little fax. love the sunshine bright
And thou'lt grow to be linen fine and white.
But this flow Of spirits soon exhausted her
store OF strength, Slapped as it had been by
her recent illness, and such a feeling of
lassitude came over her that she was forced
TO lean upon the frail shoulder of her attend
ant upon turning her steps homeward.
The sun was nearing the horizon aud long
udIh SIauOWS d1Teauy lay across ntr path
way. But suddenly a figure emerged from
one. of these outposts of night 1t was
Tatiana's husband.
Sophie Savichna," said he, come and
take supper with us. You have not been to
see US for long time" Then his voice
seemed to sink in his throat, and with an
effort he added: MY wife expects you"
The covert craft of these words seemed to
sung Sophie, for she broke out with:
.Have you told her Why don't go to the
| house any more?"
Rouskine's swarthy face hardened and he
glanced nervOusly at the maid, whose
presence seemed to parslyze him. But the
| ingenuity OF the evil-doer came to his
rescue.
so you speak French ?" he inquired in
| that language.
Sophie hssitated. She was about to say
no. Rouskine saw her honest eyes take on
| a troubled look.
Oh Sophie Sayiehna, l love you, love
you; do not harden your heart against me-"
They were now nearing the village, and
| had it not been that the house were already
| lighted up by the blaze of the wood fires,
| the inmates might have seen the officer and
| school mistress together.
Sophie was unwilling to take another step
| in RoUskine's company, and, turning to her
| little maid, she called out: