Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1892-08-05
THE WOLVES.


covered with rich brocade and heaped with
many cushions: deerskins everywhere
on the floor, the furniture, the low, easy
chairs; a buffet crowded with massive sill
yer: huge stove of tiles and Dutch
faience; beside it a square table, covered
with a cloth, upon which steams always
the inevitable samovar, surrounded by
transparent cups and crystal glasses in
holders of metal filagree; the walls hung
with draperes of dark red velvet, faded
pastels and photographs, and a fox hunt in
oils.
One of the men, wearing a brown velvet
jacket and his feet in soft shoes, leans back
in deep easy chair reading newspaper.
His hair has begun to whiten but his
brows are as black as his eyes, and his ex-
preston is one of bored WEAKNESS. The
other-a young lieutenant in undress uni
form, his opened coat showing beneath it
crimson silk shirt-paces back and forth
with step regular and firm. lie is tall
and robust with blond hair and mustache,
and frank smile on his somewhat full
lips.
The lady, young also and fair and deli
cate, her golden hair coled in a loose knot
low ON her neck, reclines on the divar
lazily smoking cigarette. She is in dark
blue, her waist clasped by silver belt
studded with turquoise, her slim, white
wrist circled by narrow band of plain,
dull gold. Her eyes, bold and laughing,
diate from time to time with those f1eeting
CLEANS and shadows peculiar to the eyes
of the feline race. Indolent and languid
in repose, nervous and feverishly alive at
the slightest movement, she is a singular
mixture of vivacity and indifference, of
softness and hardness, the scarlet curve of
her rose red lips announcing clearly an in
domitable will
Out of doors it is a night of clear me-
tallc whiteness, the hoar frost tracing
even the window panes with fantastic
flowers. Within, all is warm and snug-a
balmy atmosphere impregnated with tea
fumes, tobacco and that subtle odor of
tanned skins, the perfume of Russian
leather.
The silence of the room for the moment
is broken only by the rustic of the paper
and the lieutenant's measured tread. Pres
emily the lady yawns rearranges her cush-
ions and begins to sip from frail Japan
ese cup the smoking amber fluid. She is
awake at last The lieutenant turns, a
fame like a ray of sunlight in dark place
in his brown eyes, and throws himself at
her feet. She answers the gay, caressing
glance with coquettish pout and a move
ment of the arm that makes the bracelet
at her wrist ring like bell
Prince" she says, suddenly addressing
the reader in the chair by the smoking
samovar, "what are we going to do tomor-
row? What are your plans for u.s. prince,
tell usi''
ITO beat the oak plantation" he an
swers, tossing aside his paper. 1.-The
III IL.
ravages there. Two nights ago it was a
horse; yesterday a COW, killed so near day
light, too, that its body was still warm
when they found it by the roadside"
I'VE shall really hunt, them" said Nine
Novar, with sparkling eyes.
YES, the dogs are in good shape, the
hounds well trained. and they ask nothing
better than to sharpen their teeth on the
wolves hides"
But it will freeze by tomorrow" the
young officer objects-'freeze hard al
that: the moon has haze around it,"
And what if it does freezer asked tn,
lady. with my habit, toque and sea
gloves can face any weather Don't for
get the champagne, prince"
Have no fear, madame all will be don,
as you desire"
Another long silence.
Nine. Novar suddenly springs from he
cushions. Throwing back her head will
a birdlike motion, her loosened hair lie
half uncoiled now on her beautiful neck
her half closed eyes open wide and eagerly
"Listen-listen," says she; Il have al
ideal"
"What is it?" the lieutenant demands
admiration of her beauty sending the BLOOD
to his good natured face in an ardent glow
II wish, absolutely, without delay, tina
we go to hunt now. at once, to hunt in
sleigh-in troika. Quick, prince, quick
Give the order. What snow, What moon
light What life! Everything calls us
Quick-quick, say, prince, let the horse
be harnessed while | go to dress myself.
MY dear madame" the prince re
spends hesitatingly, and rising stitiiy iron
his chair, with the greatest pleasure
butt
"But what? What excuse are you seek
ing to find to keep us here in this down
nest drinking tea and tea and tea? w
shall turn into dried mummes. But see
see for yourself prince" flying to the wiz
dow and pulling back with feverish hast
the heavy curtains, so that wave of 81
very moonlight floods the chamber onl
half lighted by the shaded lamps; "a pei
feet apotheosis of fiery brilliancy How
it possible to remain at home ON nigh
like thisf'
my dear madame" demurred the prime
again, note of coldness if not displeai
ure. in his voice, Il must be frank it
my duty to warn you that | am not sure
my team. The orders of pretty woma
are absolute; have passed a lifetime sui
hitting to them, but in case like this a
depends on the training and experience
the horses. If they run or upset us L
earthly power can save us from the teet
of the wolves if they chance to be hume
Gus. My middle horse is perfect-a wi.
old trotter; nothing could alarm him-br
the other horses They are young; tC
young madame; they arrived from IL
Don only last spring, and are not yet su
- fciently broken. They have hunted, it
true, but hunted mounted; it is not IL
same thing, and then only in daylight
Wolves are thick these freezing night
half starved and not at all timid Tai
the word of an old hunter, madame, and {
not expose yourself'-
you are testing, my dear prince
Mime NOVar lnttrrunts with a LITTLE dl