The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-01-11

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sport Of II. For the last three months es-
pecia!ly. he had laughed heartily at all Of
BellO's freaks. BeIlo, errsged by his enc
my's good nature, changed his YudeneEs
into abuse. IL WAS Of no use. Vadinc
laughed more heartily than ever, and his
laughter had q way OF exasperating the tao
turn officer.
Thus matters stood when Vadine's sud
den change Of fortune became knOwn. Now.
at the fcgimental dinner Nadine WAS given
q place at table beside his enemy. All went
we'll until DESSERT. BelIo WAS talking with
the slightest attention TO the prince, whom
OF the colonies, having emptied his
glass Of champagne and noticing q full bot
tic standing between Eello and Nadine, said
to the latter:
."Gromofk. will you please pass me that
champagne, II yon do not care for III"
"With pleasure. colonel"
Gromof was obliged to touch Bello ON
tho arm. The latter faced quickly about
with q furious look, and Vadine burst out
laughing, while Beilo turned pale.
"Wllat do you wantr' cried he.
mof, with extreme courtesy. please allow
me-"
mo. want to drink"
Very well," answered Nadine, laughing;
you hear, colonel"
"Oh. it is for the colonel, 10 it!'' said
Bellc, quickly. II beg pardon. here it Il"
and he offered the bottle. seizing it by the
neck.
Bello's hate Of Nadine WIS known to all
tho officers Of the regiment. The colonel.
80 he took the bottle, could not keep from
smiling. As for GrOmoR. he broke into a
peal Of laughter 30 ~resounding that it start
cd the captain from his chair.
"What are YOU laughing at?'' cried he in
a furious voice.
"At you, because you amluse me-"
Beilo restrained his rage. He knew how
contrary to usage an aggressive act would
be on this day, and growled between his
teeth: II amuse you! / hope you will soon
deliver me from your presence. I detest
you. as you very we'll know; if you dared
challenge me"
You are s~eyere.'' replied Gromof, laugh
ing. 81 have done you no harm, and a duel
might ruin my career and yours. ] shall
wait for O to challenge me-"
"Ohw said Bello. your career: yes, your
career in the horse guards. our fortune
now permits you 70 despise us. You are 60
ing to leave uSs By-bye, for you must leave
US, must you nOt?"
THAT does not concern you, said Nadine.
laughing more heartily. Il shall do as l
please"
II should like 80 much to get rid of you.''
Nadine lost his self control. His eyes
shone with malice.
-" do not care to get rid of you. Ycu are
very diverting. Honestly, now, do you
know what feeling | have toward you,
and my stomach full? / am very fond Of
you. You delight me-"
"Sir!" muttsred BeIlo.
"Yes,' continued Nadine, carried away
BY the hiiarity his bearing excited among
the guests: -! shall be happy to see you
Come. shall ask you to be my best man if
ever l get married."
A sudden burst Of laughter made Bello
tremble. His face assumed a iiyid hue and
his lips twitched convulsiveIy.
II shall accept" he said in a deep voice,
nrdra Lanine. for then / should take part
in an event that would break up the un-
bearable monotony of yonr good luck.'
At this name, Lsnine. pronounced rude
Iy. GrOmOff's gayety fled, and it WAS in a
very sharp tone that he asked his enemy:
"What name did you mentIon?"
"Why, the name of your cousin, to whose
hand you may now ASPIRE"
Vadine was irritattd. How did you be-
come acquainted with my family relations,
Sir; we are not friends.'
IT seems We are" answered Bello, tri-
your best man. an offer which / again ac-
cept with pleasure, for l shall see you con-
tract an alliance with this young girl of Ii.
who made her debut in society at the Iu-
dian Nabob's ball, though she had already
appeared before, probably ut a servants
bail"
Nadine had risen. He was deadly pale.
"Sir. these words"
"Oh. / am only repeating what people
say. For my part j have seen nothing. /
am not one of those who are invited to
nabobs' palaces, but it seems that the sight
Of our cousin or Of her friend causes GER
tain lackeys to swoOn. for / do not exactly
kuOU whethQr IL was Mia Joufpa ~. Az
other-what's her name? Louise de Schelm-
berg, ! think-whOc caused this scandal. Oh.
they are very precocious in your circle,
Prince Gromof."
Suddenly a general hush ensued and the
sound Of q slap was heard. Gromof had
struck Bello in the face. After such an Of
Tense n duel was practically unavoidable for
military men. On the eve of the duel the
day following the above scene Nadine came
to spend the evening with the Lanines.
lana had scolded Nadine for his violence,
but Vladimir had justified him. Alexandra
Lanine Was the princes near relative and
it was perfectly natural that he should de-
fend her. More h that, Vladimir offered
himself az his nephew's second. an offer
which the young man accepted with cnthu-
siasm. But when Vadnie pronounced his
adversary's name, Count Lanine started.
ut is not you whom that man pursues
with his hate" said he: lit il J."
''YOu." exclaimed Nadine amazed.
'.Yes. he has an antipathy against you be.
cause he knows that You are my relative.'
But what grudge does he have against
your"
Bello was mediator in one of the western
provinces.
This name Mediator was given after
the freeing OF the serfs in the early years
of the reign OF Alexander H.. to arbitrators
who had charge of the division of the land
between the peasants and the mobiles of
Russia, and it was consequently his duty to
make an amicabie division between the
newly emancipated serfs and the former
proprietors. Now, this Relic il n furious
socialist. He had solicited employment in
the western provinces, TO which il was the
policy OF the government to remove land
owners of Polish nationality. There he
could give full sway TO his revolutionary
instincts. He favored the peasants with
such partiality that it became scandalous.
FOUR fathers sister, the one who married
the Polish Count X, happened 10 own land
in the very district where this man was
mediator. Bello. not knowing That the
countess was a Russian, at first favored the
peasants 70 evidently that his ili-wiil
soon rendered the relations between
him and my cousin utterly hostile.
l was at this time-it was in 1S64-in
spector of caynlry in that district. and
went to visit my relatives. ! WAS with your
aunt III the study; the connt was talking
hsrainoaa u. tha rnaAtatAr -, fho ...-I..