Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-11-05

~
"Tf you perc not liar Noit trotdd know
that I am Prince BOrgcHskU"
When the party broke up, went down.
ostensibly with the pretext Of saying good
night" to Taras, but with the covert inten-
ton OF picking quarrel-of iInparting to
him something Of the yindictve misery
felt. Seeing my condition. he made me sit
down, and having lii pipe seated himself
In the chair opposite and chatted about the
friends who were gone, rs though it were
the most natural thing In the world to en-
ter into genial conversation at that hour
Little by little he led up to my occupa-
ton during the evening, aud nfter bringing
me by my own confession to see how child
ishly selfish, weak and inconsistency fool
ish my Jealousy was he drew tears Of re-
greet and shame into my eyes By sympa-
thetic word aud then inspired me with the
consoling hope that my own self esteem
would save me from any renewal Of this
humiliation A second handkerchief,
scarcely crumpled and laid away in tri-
umph after hard struggle with myself,
shows that | protted bythis lesson later
on when the friends met again. Indeed
my temper was every day growing more
omenHble to reason, and grew Drawer and
| hope better under the gentle, humaniz-
ing influences which my dear friend con.
stantly brought TO bear upon me
A day spent in the beautiful country be.
yond Working is chronicled in this bunch Of
withered flowers. This was fresh revela-
ton to me, for with the exception Of my
memorable wandering TO Greenwich had
never been out OF London. 1t was in the
first week OF June. My astonishment be-
gan soon after we passed Chaplain and in.
creased as the houses grew fewer and the
oNpanse of country wider, and could not
help bursting out into EXPLANATIONS OF de-
light now and then.
Taras caught my enthusiasm and was MS
ready as | TO point out any fresh aspect.
When We were fairly in the country and
away from the station and people, / felt
that must sing or run or cry to give vent
to my eSuberant emotion. 1t seemed as II
Taras and were one-l saw with his ewes.
heard with his ears, and in my heart was a
sentiment ofpure, iueiIHble love and divine
tenderness which belonged more to his ma
ture than TO mine. lie picked these flowers
for me; strewed them on my pillow and
pressed my burning face on their cool petals
when lay down that night
One more extract from this odd collection
shall close the list. 1t Is a collection OF
paintings by Prince Borgenslsy, exhibited
at the Modern gallery In Bond street. 1
had often heard the word "nihilism" and
"nihilist" spoken in Lambeth, and one
morning when we were walking in the
park-we never failed to 20 out for an hour
or two before lunch-I asked Taras to tell
me what nihiist was.
"a Russian nihilist, said he, "is man
who desires freedom for his country such
as we enjoy here In England, If we can get
1t. But he would be quite content with
less.n
Are you nihilistw said l.
He nodded
Have you always been nihilisty
asked.
No; was once servant-I might al
most say friend--of the car who is now
my enemy
What made you become nihilistY"
He reflected longer than he usually did
said
II will show you, Aura" and turning
from the path he led me across the park
and over Piccadilly into Bond street. Thero
we entered large gallery which was nj.
ready crowded with well dressed people
|
may say without c2agguration that there
were hundreds Of paintings. There yvere
some large ones representing hattle scenes
and others quite small for the most pnrt
portraits but the greatornumber.a and those
which attracted most attention, Illustrated
prison and exile life in Russia and scenes
relating to the march Of prisoners into 81.
berla. The misery Of this awful march
the attendant horrors OF the etapes. where
men and women, old aud young. where the
haoltual criminal and thetenderly nurtured
girl condemned without trial by the nd.
hlnlstratiFe process, were herded together
IN loathsome garments without regard to
deceney or health and with less care for
their preservation than would be bestowed
upon cattle, We're shown in such vivid real
Ivy that one turned with feeling OF sick
ness ifum the canvas, as II the reek OF pul
luton and disense steamed from them.
rms Is what made me nihilist. Taras
said in low voice.
You have seen all thlsf~ asked
He nodded
A plethorlc Young man with long hair
was passing Judgment on the picture in the
loud tone Of conceit.
Nigor, grant you.n he said. But the
tang - oyerdone The effect he aims nj
10 sP'i'eu py e&asgeration. Borgensky may
be rabid nihilisl but it is equally clear
That he is making capital out Of a political
ooom' in faet"-he added in a confidential
tone-"hc almost admitted the fact when
taxed him with It here the other day.
That is not irueln said Taras, raising his
voice
Inc knot of admirers about the stout
young duettaute turned round, and the
youth himself scanning Taras from head
TO foot, said, with impudent contempt:
Beg pardon. mas ask who You arefn
II you were not q liar replied Taras,
you would know that am Prince Bor-
gcnsky.n
Il was in this way that came TO know
who Taras was.
CHAPTER XIV.
A WARNING