Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-07

down, take the first volume ana read Il
me-"
The companion took the book and read 8
few lines.
Louder" said the Countess. "What j,
the matter with you? Have you a cold:
Wait moment. bring me that stool. A
little closer; that will do.
Lisabeta read two pages of the book.
Throw that stupid book away" said the
Countess. "What nonsensel Send it bacS
to Prince Paul, and tell him l am much
obliged to him; and the carriage, is it never
coming?"
Here it is" replied Lisabeta, going tc
the window.
And now YOU are not dressed. WHY dc
Won always keep me waiting? 1t is intol.
erablei''
Lisabeta ran to her room. She had
scarcely been there two minutes when the
Countess rang with all her might. He,
maids rushed in at one door and her valet
at the other.
You DO not seem to hear me when ]
ring" she cried.
go and tell Lisabeta that I am waiting
for her,"
At this moment Lisabeta entered, wear
ing a new walking dress and fashionable
bonL let.
AT last. miss" cried the Countess. "But
what As that YOU have got on? and why?
For VIII on are you, dressing? What sort OF
weather is it? Quite stormy, l believe"
NO. v our Exeellency," said the valet;
1T is exc, edi2gly line"
"Wbat do YOU know about il? Open the
veutIIator. Just what l told YOU! A frigkt-
juI wind. ana as icy as can be. Unharness
tbe horses. Disabeta, my child, we will not
90 out to-day. 1t was scarcely worth while
10 dress 50 much
"What an existeacel'' said the companion
10 herself.
Lisbeta Ivauovna was, in fact, a most un-
banpy,creature "The bread of the stranger
Is bitter" " saws Dante land his staircase
hard to climb" But who can tell the tor
ments OF q poor little compa MON attached
TO an OLD lady OF qualitye The Countess
had all the caprices OF a woman spoilt by the
world She was avarHcious ind egoristical,
and thought all the more of he rself now that
she had ceased to play an active part in
society. She never missed a bail, and she
dressed and painted in the style of bygOae
ace. She remained in a corner of the room
where she seemed 10 have been placed
eynressIv TO serve as a scarecrow.
Isabeta passed her life in continual torture.
When she went into society her position
was sad. Everyone knew her; no one paid
her anv attention. AT a BALI she sometimes
danced, but only when vis-a-vis was
wanted. W omen "pulu COllG up 10 HeT,
take her bv the arm. and cad her out oil
the room ii their dress required attend
inr to. She had her portion of self
respect. and felt deeply the misery
Of her position. She looked with i'm
natience for a liberator TO break her
chain But the Young men, prudent in the
midst of their affected giddineSs, took care
not to honor her with their attentions;
though Lisabeta Iv2novna was hundred
times prettier than the shameless or stupid
girls whom they surrounded with their
homage.
One morninC-it was two days after the
parrv at Naroumoff7s and a week before the
scene we have just sketched-Lisabeta was
sitting at her embroidery before the
window, when, looking earel essly in
10 the street she saw AN officer,
in the uniform of the Engineers stand
ing motionless with his eyes fixed upon her.
She lowered her head, ana applied herself
10 her work more attentively than ever.
Five minutes afterward she looked chan
icailv into the street, and the officer was
still in the same place. Not being in the
habit of exchanging glances with young
men who passed by her window, she re-
mained with her eyes fixed on he- work TOR
nearly two hours, until she was told that
lunch was ready.
She thought no more of him. But two davs
a!terward, Just as he was getting into the
carriage with the Countess. she saw him
once more. standing straight before the door.
His face WAS half concealed BY fur collar,
but his black eyes sparkled beneath his
helmet Lisabeta was afraid, without know
ing WHY, and she trembled as she took her
seat in the carriage.
On returning home she rushed with a
beating heart toward the window. The Off
Ger was in his habitual place, with his eyes
fixed ardently upon her. She at once with
drew, burning at the same time with
curiosity. and moved by strange feeling,
which she now experienced Tor the first
time.
No dav row passed but the young officer
showed himself beneath the window. Be-
fore long d dumb acquaintance was estab-
lished between them. Sitting at her work
she felt his presence, and when she
raised her head she looked at him for long
time every day. The Young man seemed full
of gratitude for these innocent favors.
When Tomski asked his grandmothers
PERMISSION to present one OF his friends, the
heart Of the poor Young girl beat strongly,
and when she heard that it was Naroumoff,
she bitterly repented having compromised
her secret bv letting it out to giddy young
man like Paul.
Hermann was the son of German settled
In Russia, from whom he had inherited a
small sum Of money, Firmly resolved to
preserve his independence, he had made il a
principle not to touch his private income.
He lived on his pay and did not allow him
self the slightest luxury. He was not very
communicative and his reserve rendered it
difficult iof his comrades TO amuse them
selves at his expense.
Under an assumed calm he concealed
strong passions and a highly imaginative
disposition. But he was always master of
himself and kept himself free from the
ordinary faults of young men. Thus.
gambler by temperament, he never touched
card, feeling, as he himself said, that his
position did not allow him to risk the
necessary in view Of the superhuouS." Yet
he would pass entire nights before a card
table, watching with feveriSh anxiety the
rapid changes of the game. The anecdote of
Count st. Germain's three cards had struck
hi Imagination, and he did nothing but
link Of it ali that night.
IL, " he said 10 himself next day, as he
was VA king along the streets of st. Peters
burg, "if she would ouly tell Inc her secret
ii she would only name the three winning
caris! l must get presented to her. that 1
NAV pay my court aud gain her confidence.
Ye,! And she IS 81! She may die this week
tomorrow perhaps. But after all, is there
q word of truth in the story? No! Economy,
Temperance Work; these are my three win-
ming cards, With them / can double my
capital; increase il tenfold. They alone can
insure my independence and prosperity
Dreaming in this way he walked along,
hIs attention attracted bv house built
in an antquated style of architecture. The
street was iull of carriages, which passed