The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1891-04-16
: A RUSSIAN STORY.

1t IS the morning OF the Epiphany.
The intense cold of the night has
moderated, but the barometer still
marks fifteen degrees below zero.
From the tall steeples of innumerable
churches the bells of st. Petersburg
ring in the sacred feast. In an ex-
quisitely appointed room of a palace,
where tender lights filter through the
golden shadows of siiken hangings,
sits a woman. Her attitude is one of
rcpose, deep, unruffled. From the
crown OF her little flame colored head
to the tip OF her dainty shoe, she is a
perfect bit Of dame natures art. If
she were standing we would call her
tall, but she sits crouching in her chair
with all the abandon Of a. doing IT,
gress. She gives a little yawn.
"Ah! late as usual" she says aloud.
AS she speaks the door opens and a
servant enters.
"Captain Repine." he announces.
He follows quickly on the mans
heels-.short, thick set, with dull Co.'S
sack face and kindly smile, wearing the
uniform of an officer of the imperial
body guard.
"Pardon, my dear Elisaveta. Have
I made you wait?''
She gives her shapely shoulders O.
slight shrug, but watches him with
contemplating eyes as he rattles on.
''Imagine, my beloved, thought
that should not be able to take you
to the races. was SO rushed at the
last moment. Oh, but they will be
superb! Never has the track been
more perfect-hard as rock, and not
a flake OF snow"
'Indeed," says the lady, languidly.
Putting out a lazy, beringed hand, she
draws back the curtain that hides her
window. cit is superb she assets.
"You know how difficult it is to ac-
complish that" continues the young
officer, stwith..th cursed wind drifting
the I4adoga snow. Still I must tell
you that 500 men have worked at it.
Brave fellows"
'"The journals say something of a
three horse race'''
eyes; the event of the day. But,
come"
"We have still an hour" she an
swers and motions him to a seat
beside her. "..
"No, no; at your feet, always at
your feet, Princess Veta," says the
young man gaily, finging his head
back to better look into the opal-tint-
ed eyes above him. With her little
pointed chin against the rose of her
palm she sits lost in a world of revire.
"Doyou remember Sergius Hotzka?"
she asks suddenly.
He shrugs his shoulders, accustomed
to the willful wanderings of the great
city's petted belle.
How could l ever forget him?' he
says in turn Was there ever a man
who left more ineffaceable traces be-
hind him? He was an original mad
man."
"Original!' echoed Elisaveta. "Ah!
what q cowardly word. Originate"
she repeats, as though interrogating
her own thought The young man
frowns slightly, but she goes on with
calm retrospection. Only three years
ago." she said, "and he appeared
among us like some brilliant meteor;
fabulously rich; astonishing the world
with his eccentric prodigalities. Then
all those clod-rooting swine, they
deserted him when he was no longer
wealthy.' s..-..
Her lovers white teeth are like a.
woltish danger signal as he turns to
look at her
"My DEAR he says, coldly, 'syou
can't expect the world to be faithful
to a proscript." .-@s .~. r..
"Proscript?" ..s...
EXACTLY. They say that political
complications We're his ruin. At any
rate he is banished from St. Peters
burg" - ~
"'Then he is in Siberia?" ,a~E e
With all a soldiers diplomacy he
says, indifferently: 81 believe not
The peasants tell a story OF a hermit
OF the Steppes, who mends kettles
and plows Tor the farmers. Many be-
lieve it to be Hotska, with the re-
mains of his own famous stud"
"Farmers-kettles," echoes Elisave-
Ia absently.
Suddenly she turns on her moody
swain.
''Come. Alexander" she cries; 'I can
see the crowds gather from here.
Quick-we must hurry"
1t is scarcely half hour later and
the race-course presents q brilliant
spectacle. The river Nevais now only
q colossal roadway between two walls
of splendid rose granite that line it's
.quays. 1t is q mirror Of polished
steel. Stands, richly decorated with
flags, occupy at least quarter OF the
Enclosure, and over q hundred thou
sand spectators surround the arena.
In the center Of everything q great pa
vilion draped npurple and gold shows
that royalty is expected to take part
in the city festival, A huge figure in
white uniform shows itself. The Inn