Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-10

band and even punctilious in her ministration.
She showed no sign Of dying Of the great grief
which consumed her, and Rouskine's breath
sent forth q harsh sound of rushing air AZ he
watched her peaceful slumber by his side.
"Ah, ii were only q widowerw thought he
in these long hours of wakefulness. eff she
should die I would be free and Sophie would
marry me. She doesn't hate me. Who can tell?
Perhaps she loves me and sense Of duty alone
At last Tatiana fell Ill. The nervous strain
was too great. The long hours Of prayer for
the safety Of her husbands soul were wearing
her down to . shadow. One morning Macha,
alarmed by her absence from the table, entered
her bed room to find her stretched senseless be-
fore 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 hunting and would not return till night
The doctor had made second visit and was
seated by Tatiana's bedside when her husband
entered the room.
'Tts nothing dangerous" said the physician,
strength. She'll pull through, however, with
good care.''
els she very ill9" asked Rouskine, brusquely.
mo; but she might become So"
"How long will it last2"
The doctor looked up somewhat surprised ct
Rouskine's cold and Indifferent manner.
If she grows worse it will be quick work, /"
end her life."
u, Very We -, we'll" srowled the army officer, II
For several days Rouskine never quilted his
wifes bedside. His attentions wearied her and
little Macha watched her fathers actions with
an air OF mingled bewilderment and dis
quietude.
On the third day the child said to him:
yourself if you don't take exercise"
The man made no reply, but taking down
his fowling piece and game bag left the house.
Tatiana soon began to mend. 1t 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 wrinkled up and he cast
look OF ill-concealed rage toward her. He had
been so sure that she was going to die. But
now there was no more danger. She had de-
ceived 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 to that pass.
Rouskine's fury now broke forth with renewed
force. He spoke no word save to blame, to find
fault, to condemn. The children hid away in
corners when he entered the room. Macha
alone had the courage to face that swarthy
countenance when it was distorted by impish
rage. She chung to her mothers bedside
stretching her little arms out over that pros
trate form, and took upon her stout little heart
the responsibility of everything that went
wrong in the household.
One day the demon which was vexing Kirill
kirilluitch's soul moved him to strike mother
and child, after which he stormed out Of the
room, breaking the door in his fury.
"Oh, mamma" cried Macha, wrapping her
arms around her mothers neck, show wicked
he has becomer'
mo, my daughter" replied the gentle To-
tiana, che is not wicked, he is insaner'
The following day Rouskine pretended Tot to
have any recollection of the shameful scene he
had enacted, and he set out for the CITY, prom
lslng to bring presents for all.
The dust raised by the army officers britchka
had hardly settled before the schoolmistress
was in Tatiana's bed room. At q signal from
her mother little Machs passed into the ad-
joining apartment, closing the door behind
her..
The two women were alone. The one young
and strangely beautiful, the other with hair
whitened by grief, a mere wreck of her former
self. All was gone save hope! That most de-
licious Of all earthly balms still lay at the bot
tom OF Tatiana's heart 10 il had in Pandora's
casket-too deep to escape. Would Sophie's
visit vex or soOthe the gentle spirit which was
now ready to quit its earthly house. Would
Tatiana believe her?
A half hour went by. Macha heard her
mother calling.
"Macha," said Madam Rouskine, a. the
child entered the room, 'kss Sophie Savichna
and tell her We II remember her in our prayers
Again, my daughter, kiss her again."