The morning call., 1891-01-11


Tatiana's husband. she said:
Speak in christian tongue, there is no
need OF our making use OF foreign jargon
You say you love me. To pronounce such
words is to insult me. If your wife sus
pected such thing she would wish me
dead, and as God is my witness, l wish her
no harm. Go, Kirill Kirilluitch. a married
man owes his whole allegiance to his wife.
Ii what you say to me is true, l pity you,
but can do nothing for you. Pm on my way
home. Return to yours and pray God for
help"
1t was now growing dark. Rouskine
seized Sophie's hand. It was almost crushed
in the convulsive grip with which he chung
to It, The young woman struggled to with
draw 1t, but it was impossible.
Listen, Sophie Savichna." he pleaded
piteousiy, you do wrong to mock at man
who is suffering as / am y
i do not mock at you" she replied; "re-
lease my hand"
But Rouskine was now beside himself.
III were handsome" he whispered half
threateningly; ;. " if were young you would
| not repulSe me"
Before high heaven l swear that
| would!' exclaimed Sophie. You are n
| married man.; that's the reason why must
repulse you"
THE only reason wby?" he murmured
making a terrible effort to get the words
| over his lips.
| :" How can | answer such question as
that?' she replied, stamping her foot with
| ever-increasing anger. 81 can only saw one
| thing,tor me married man has no exist
| ence; he Is not a man at all"
And if had not had wife Won wouId
have married me, wouldn't you?" he SIAM
| mered out in tone of apparent despair the
words rafting in his throat like the breath
OIL dying man, as he reeled backward a
| step or two, while his hands seemed to he
| groping behind him for a support. The
| wall of the building in front of which they
J mad Matted held him up or he would haya
| gone TO tile ground.
| How can l tell?" answered Sophie. with
| just an appreciate sottening in her man.
| ner. Can we tell what would happen il
the world should turn the wrong way? I
| am an honest girl, kirill kirilluiIch, and |
VIII not stand in the light of any one You
are marrled-ihat ends it. Don't let US say
1 ANYTHING more about it,"
But" still pleaded Rouskinp. "you have
no aversion for me-you do not hate me?"
i do not hate yOu," she replied, moved
| by the agonized look on the mans face al
| though would be Justified in doing so.
have nothing against you"
| Except that I'm a married man q"
breathed Rouskine. hardly daring to give
his words rising infection.
We'll yes. that's it," cried the school
| Kirill Kirlluiteh, but never speak to me-
again of this ridiculous matter. 1t bores
| me- and the first thing you know, people will
begin to talk about it Go! 90 home"
| VIII you not shake hands with me?''
| NO, you hurt me too much before" she
| answered with nervous little laugh
| But before she could raise a hand to stav
him, R0uSkine was on his knees before her.
| and the next instant she felt his lips pressed
| on one of her bare feet. The bristling
| moustaehe of the army officer as it touched
| her Skin sent shiver through her frame
and flied her mind with mdescribable
| horror.
''0h, this is shamefull'' she blurted ont.
| and sped away from the spot like an ar,
| row, while Ronsine staggered homewa rd
| with the uncertain steps of an animal es-
| capped from the shambles after an ill-directed
| blow Of the AK.
| From now on it seemed to ROuskine as if
| Sophie had left the village, so seldom did
| he succeed in catching glimpse of the
| girl. Once he caught sight of her in church
| but she evaded him in the crowd. Their ewes
1 didn't even meet.
But Kirill Kirilluitch's soul had not the
| strength to turn away from the danger
| which threatened IL.
| lie followed the movement of his uire
| with the glare of a wild beast in his deep
! set eyes. Tatiana had fallen away like q
| person stricken with some insdous all
| ment. Her roundness, her freshness was
| gone, but she was as active as ever; con-
| slant In her devotion to her husband and
| even punctilious in her ministration. She
| showed no sign of dying of the grief which
| consumed her, and Rouskine's breath sent
! forth harsh sound of rushing air as he
! watched her peaceful Slumber by his side.
| An, II were only widOwerl' thought he
IN these long hours OF wakefulness. If she
| should die, ! would be free and Sophie
| would marry me. She doesn't hate me-
| Who can tell, perhaps she loves me and a
| sense of duty alone stands between usp'
At last Tatiana fell i'll. The nervous
strain was too great. The long hours of
| prayer for the safety of her husbands soul
were wearing her down 10 a shadow. One
| morning Macha, alarmed by her absence
| IRON the table, entered her bedroom to find
| her stretched SenSeleSS before the images Of
| the saints. The servant lifted her in bed
| and Macha sent for the doctor on her own
| responsibility, for RouSkine had gone hunt
| ing and would not return till nghtfall.
| The doctor had made second visit and
| was seated by Tatiana's bedside when her
| husband entered the room.
" It's nothing dangerous" said the ply
| stefan. but your wife seems to have lost
her old-time strength She'll pull through,
| how ever, with good care"
| is she very ill?' asked RGuskine,
| brusquely.
No, but she might become So"
How long will it last?"
The doctor looked up somewhat sur
| prised at Rouskine's cold and Indifferent
| manner.
III she grows worse it will be quick
| work, he replied; for another such FAINT
ing fit may end her life"
| VERY WELL" growled the army officer: 81
| thank you"
For several days Rpuskine never Quilted
| his wlfes bedside. His attentions wearied
| her, and little Macha watched her fathers
| actions with an air of mingled bewilder-
ment and djsquietude.
On the third day the child said to him ::
Para, why don't you go hunting? You'll
| get i'll yourself if you don't take exercise .
The man made no reply, but taking down
| his towllng-pleCe ana gamebag left the house
1atiana soon began TO mend. IL seemed
to be mere will power that brought about
the change.
My children need me-" she murmured
81 mustn't die"
The first evening her husband found her
out OF bed his beetle brows wrnkled up
and he cast look of ill-concealed rage to-
ward her. He had been so sure that she
was going to die; but now there was no
more danger. She had deceived him
robbed him. She should pay dearly for
daring to live. The doctor had said: AN
other such fainting fit may end her life {"
He would do his best to bring things 10
that pass.
Rouskine's fury now broke forth with re-
newed force. He spoke no word save Ia
blame, to find fault 10 condemn. The chill
| dren ma away In the corners when he en-
tered the rOOm Macha alone had the
courage to lace that swarthy countenance
when 1t was distorted by impish rage. She
chung to her mothers bedside. stretching her
little arms out over that PROSTATE form and
took upon her stout little heart the respons i
biiity of everything that went wrong in the
household.
One dav the demon which was yexipg
hirill Kifillnitchs soul moved him to strike
mother and child, after which he stormed
out of the room, breaking the door in his
| fury.
ION, mamma" cried Macha, wrapping
her arms around her mothers neck, chow
wicked he has becomer
No. my daughter" replied the gentle
Tatiana, he is not wicked he is insanep'
The following day Rouskine pretended
not TO nave any recollection of the shameful
scene he had enacted, and he set out for the
city, promising to bring presents for all.
The dust raised by the officers britchks
had hardly settled before the school,
mistress was in Tatiana's bedroom. Al a