Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-10
kIRILL KIRILLUITCHS PERIL.
WRITTEN FOR THE EVENING STAB BY
MADAME HENRY eREvILLR
tCopyriehted-l
CHAPTER l.

True, ne mad mad the misfortune TO be porn
younger son, but his share in the paterna
estate had been sufficient to purchase com
Portable little property near Beriozi on the
banks Of the picsie>,que.S ouzla, and his pay a
IN officer Of infantry, although small, was sufh
cient to enable him to draw considerable salts
faction out of life had he been one Of the kind
TO do it. But he was not, and it would be idle
70 attempt to gloss over the fact. No matter
how hard his good wife Tatiana and his three
rosy-cheeked, softeyed children tried to get
into his heart, they couldn't effect it and mus,
needs content themselves with getting as close
TO il as possible.
Papa is an awful hard man to lover said
Macha, the eldest daughter, one day, and,
although the gentle Tatiana of the same
opinion. she didn't deem it wise to agree with
this little philosopher.
Kirin Kirilluiteh when lust this side Of forty,
while Tstiana was still in the very flower Of
vomanhood. had given his young wife a genu-
me scare. The ardor of his caresses suddenly
cooled. he had grown morose and absent
minded, and his shaggy eyebrows had SEEM
ingly become knitted in a permanent scowl.
TatiAna tortured herself for several long weeks
with all sorts of dread suspicious. Could it be
that ne had fallen in love with some other
woman and that henceforth her life was to be
blasted, her soul swept with the storms of jeal-
oUsy?
But at last the mystery came out. He had
fallen in love, but, fortunately for the young
wife. il was a beautiful black mare which he
coveted and which the dealer held at so high
price that il was weeks and weeks before the
army officer could bring himself to make the
sacrifice.
Il should have died if hadn't got her." said
Rouskine to his wife. 81 believe l should have
murdered that horse dealer if he hadn't let me
have the beautiful animal
In heavens name" cried Tatiana. "why
didn't you tell me what the matter WASP
Tell youi How could I?'' growled Rouskine.
''Some one seemed to have me by the throat; to
over with now! It's q wonder 1 didn't commit
some crime" he added, making the sign Of the
cross.
The lapse Of ten years had set the grizzle of
middle age on Rouskine's stubborn hair and
beard and intensified the gloomy expression of
his 6eep-set eyes. Although the Joyous Easter
holidays were at hand he returned home one
day in the worst of humors.
What has happened to you, Kirill Kirill-
uiteh?' asked TatiGna in her soft. low voice.
''3Iore than enough to roll me-" he made an
swer. crabbedly. what think you?'' he con-
timed, as he champed his briar wood pipe saw
agely. They are going to build a school
hOuse in the village; school house, of all
thlngs! What do we need a school house here
for?'
But. husband" urged Tatiana in her gen.
tlest manner. that doesn't seem to me to be a
misfortune. The children in the village are
running wild: they grow more and more
rebellious: they need restraint; a school will be
good thing"
You don't understand blurted out
Rousk.ne; "a school means a schoolmaster, a
pulled up sprig. a pretentious sayant, an
advanced thinker they call themselves who
vii. want to control things here. All. bahr'
The palace of science. as Rouskine contempt
uOusly called the rude structure, which was
soon in readiness for the anxiously awaited
professor, comprised. beside the school room
II I'll l.Sx
apartment being most scantily furnished.
well. said the army officer one day. with q
half cEuckle. halt sEeer. where's your learned
professor! HIS lordship is taking his time in
getting here"
The fact of the matter is Rousk:.e was DYING
of curiosity 20 meet this pretentious collegian
fGl, of tne phrases about reform and science.
and he was secretely making III his mind how
he should quickly proceed to take the conceit
out Of him
Oae afternoon in June, as Kirill Kirilluitch
had finished wedding one of his garden beds
and sat looking out upon the beauty o. the
landscape. the silent river the wooded bank in
the distance and the golden sheen Of the sun
Set. there Was a sudden sound of scampering
feet on the gravel walk and the three children
burst in upon their parents with amazement
pictured on their little faces
Papa. mamma. she is here, she has come ~
they fairly shrieked.
'.WhO?' inquire Rouskine rousing himself
from has reverie.
WHY. the teacher, the teacher She's a
woman" they exclaimed in chorus. ''She il
young. she is pretty. she looks like boy"
"A schOolmistress?' said Madam ROuskine
looking up from her needlework; you must
be mis- taken
No. no. we're not, mamma" replied Macha
The teacher Is q woman The government
has really sen. Us a woman; thew thought a
woman would be good enough for us ~ added
the little lady with Gron grimace.
"Awoman" sEeered kirill Ki-illuitch. well
well, that's the worst yetr' And then turning
to his wife. ROusklne remarked: However,
Iatiana, she ii be company for you"
For me?' repeated the wife, casting q
radiant look upon her handsome children. "a
have al the company care for"
The next day was Sunday, and many were
the rambles taken BY young and old in the di.
rectiOr Of the new school house in hopes OF
getting a look at the teacher, but the dignity
of his station kept Rouskine at hons. The day
was beautiful. and the table had been set in the
garden The children were busy with their
strawberries and cream when every head was
suddenly raised.
The sehOolmistress was approaching the
Rousklne residence.
Look, mamma, :" whispered Macha slyly pull.
ing her mothers sleeve; doesn't she look like
boy?'
The young woman approached the family
group with quick. nervous step. but with
certain unstudied grace of manner and vet
with an understandable something in her bear.
ing WHICH fAlSnt well De called a DOylsh
Charm Possibly il the shape of her head
around which her blue-black hair curled in
thick ringlets. short and close TO the head, or
the rather fearless and confident look in hel
large. round, dark eyes Her skin, however
was too delicate and beautiful for a boys face,
and when she smiled the slight tinge of mascu-
line boldness yielded to soft and glorious
femininity. Her hands and feet were large
but SO near the perfection OF antique ideals thai
1t was only apparent when they were set in con-
trast with others To watch her erect and
graceful bearing. the suppleness Of her slender
Inquire and the ease with which her long limbs
accomplished every task imposed upon them
as the young woman. surrounded by Rouskine'
children. darted hither and thither in the gar.
den, piucking fruit and flowers one moment or
Bonded knee. the next tiptoe or spriagina
lightly into the air. now tossing one of the
children aloft. now bending her plant figure
backward with inimitable grace to keep the
suns rays from her ewes. one would have
guessed she was some naiad masquerading in
bodice and skirts and likely at any moment to
burrs the combining robes and bound away
toward the forest with loud and ringing
hs hai
Tstiana looked timidly up at her husband
His eyes we're noting every moment Of the mys
ferrous stranger whom the children were fol
lowing about as il under a spell.
What q beautiful creature" murmurec
kirin Kirilluiteh, isn't she, Tatiana?''
Tatiana tried TO answer, but the words stucl
In her throat and she knew that she was turn
her cheeks. But gradually Tatiana shook of
Str a Al