The morning call., 1891-01-11

settling in her cheeks. But gradually Ia
tiana shook off this strange dread, ana AFTER
the srhoolmislress had taken leave OF them
she turned with one OF her sweet piaclu
smiles tn her husband and said -,
"How do you like her. Kirill klrillnitchP'
'As if | could tell from only seeing oer
oncrw he made answer, WITHOUT ioohing
toward his wife.
That night he lay hour in and hour out
with wide-0pened eyes, while Tatlana slept
neacrfully beside him. He seemed to have
forgotten the existence of the SchoolmlstreSs
when. one day hearing the children deseant-
ing upon her many virtues, lie asked In an
absent-minded sort OF way;
Whats the name OF your feachefT
"SODme Savichna MaZGurof," replied
Macha. the little oracle of the household.
Sophie was not long in capturing the
hearts of the villagers. young and old. but
the Rouskine children easily kept their hold
upon hers. She came and went like one OF
the family, complimented and feted by
every one excepting ROuSklne himseif.
AS has been stated. the residence OF the
army officer stood upon the banks OF the
charming little SGuZla, not hundred yards
from the waters edge, and 1t was not sur
prjsing that his children should have learned
to be expert swimmers. Strange to say,
however, Sophie, although skilled in so
many kinds of bodily exercise, had never
been able to learn to swim. In spite, too,
of Macha's sapient and of-repeated diree-
llDl, 1dleSS luc hdbtl1 hbl htah ~, Ob-
phe could not succeed i'll acquiring the art.
1t was source of extreme modification to
her, but served IN no wise to keep her out OF
the water. In fact the river eXerted pc
cuiar fascination upon her, and often when
completely dressed she would throw herself
into it with joyous outcry and wade across
to the opposite bank, feat not to be accom-
plished without considerable risk, Tor she
might easily stray into some hole, lose her
foothold and be carried away by the current.
One evening toward the end OF july,
I Ruuskine sat smoking his after dinner pipe
upon the ver4nda. For several days he had
been unusually silent and penSige, but for
tunatey for Tatiann her household duties
had been so pressing that she had not had
time TO take special note OF 1t.
just then clear ringing, bell-llke voice
reached hiriH kirillutch's ears. 1t was
S0phie's.
- You know how to swim and yet you are
afraid to follow me, it cried.
Come back. come back, Sophie Sa-
vienna" was called out in shrill childish
tones ION, don't go. it's dangerous"
A burst OF laughter made answer.
Tie word dangerous sent q Shiver
through Rouskiue'S body. He rose to his
feet. lie laid his pipe down. he stood there
straining his eyes to pierce the foliage OF the
willows y hIch skirted the river bank.
Dangerous" he whispered; suppose
she shoald be drowned? Is it not my duty
to save her? Save her? Would | MT save
her if she were anyb dy else? Am l living
TO myself.
"Oh 80 came that instant in a Shrill scream
from Sophie.
Come back, little soul Term of endear-
menu. Come back, Sophie Savichna :"
pleaded Macha.
With a few mad strides RouSkiue had
reached the river ana pushed the willow
branches aside. The water was already up
10 the young woman's shoulders. which pro-
truded like carved ivory above the blue
surface of the river. She had made her
clothes into a bundle which she was bal
ancing upon her head with her left ha4d,
while her right grasped a long thin pole
and she was using it 10 feel her way safely
along on the bottom of the river. RouSkine
could hear his own breath come and go as
he stood there with his gaze riVeted upon
that eXqusitely nodded figure as it disap-
peared slowly from his sight Ike a Cytherea
returning TO the waves whence she had
sprung.
Now the water was ripping about her
neck ana ROW it had reached the very lobes
Of her ears, and now she had to throw bacl.
her beautiful head to keep it from careSsing
her lips.
Rouskine was in agony. The sweat ran
in cold drops of his brow. It seemed to
him as if he must die every instant, and
! yet something or someone forbade him to
| stir hand or foot. He was cursed to stand
| there and see the girl walk to her death.
| Oh, il was awful, and the light of day Row
| went out Of his eyes and all was iRky dark
! ness.
Suddenly q Loud, joyous. Ha. hal reached
his ears. He looked. Sophie had reached
| the other band Of The river and was dlsap-
pearinG in the forest. The moment the fig
ure had fitted out Of sight the Iell was
lifted. Rouskne felt the warmth come
back to his limbs again. and he started for
the waters edge. making for his boat which
had been pulled up on the sand. Tatiana's
col Yryf mr. nj a n pxIy
reached him and again mysterious fear
and trembling came upon him. He ratified
the cars so as TO drown his wife's voice. In
an instant he was out in the stream and
few vigorous strokes landed him on the
other side.
He felt ike thief caught in the very act.
His cheeks burned with shame, but glance
mp and down the river treasured him. 1t
was late. Everybody had gone home. He
threw himself in the bottom of the boat and
listened. Somethngwas calling him. Hark /!
1t was Tatiana. Again he ratified the oars,
but those soft. sweet tones made their way
into his ears in spite of him. 1t was dread
full. They burned him, they froze him, they
pinched him. But there came thought
which sent Engaging through his body a
thrill so delicious as to rob him Of his very
consciousness. She was there. Sophie was
| there, there hidden in the forest somewhere,
and in a brief moment she would come his
| way, pass close to him, stop, speak to him.
| be alone with him.
A strange and mysterious silence now
sank upon the forest and river RnuSkine
! could hear his heart beat with such distinct
| ness that he even caught the sound OF its
/ double strOke-a sound only audible when
| the ear is pressed against anOther'S breast
| The swapping Of a twig made his flesh
| creep. He knew it was Sophie aud yet he
| did not dare look up. The footsteps came
| nearer ana nearer. An odor Of wild flower;
! now reached his nos tTliS and then came a
! delicious fragrance of some herb or berry
! borne along on her breath.
What are you doing there?" asked the
| maiden, almost gruifiy
| Now for the first time, Rouskine raised his
| eyes. 1t was rapid glance, but he saw a
! great deal The wild flowers that he had
| smelled were pinned to her corsage. In her
hand she held a sprig of the fragant herb
she was eating; her dress was not buttoned
evenly, and a bit of her white undergarment
| showed through the opening, and her skin
mad that ruddy, transparent glow seen in a
healthy child after its bath.
| i have come after you," stammered
Rouskine, awed by the girls magnificent
| pose and flashing eve.
Who told you that l was here ?" she
burst ont iu petuously.
81 saw you," said Rouskine. fixing his
woifsh eyes upon Sophe's face
But why did you come ~
"Because-becanse-i dangerous, and J
didn't want you to do it again"
| Oh, WON'T wont, answered Sophie
ironically. you're my master p
R0uskine made no reply.
" But suppose l want TOP" she suddenly
Co., ST. *
49, ~ - IS.
ss9I$ JSl&5Ns