The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-10-07

horses and they could get away that night.
The Observation-Disclosures instincts seem to
awaken in him all at once! No woman
had ever so bewitched him like this tavern
keeper's daughter, who boasted that she
could read and write. The lOye-mak ing
went on briskly until the knob turned and
Anna Petruff, the mother, appeared with
Auguste who carried VGlkOnSky'S supper.
y Elizabeth. with a mot on like a swa low,
ran into the other room, where she bent
over her ironing table. Volkonsky had
barely time to arrange scowl on his lace
and TO be looking out of the window be-
fore Anna was in the room. He had not
seen her until then, and he saw that Eliza
beth had got no small share of her beauty
from her mother a grOtesQue thought
came into Volkonsky's mind-she was
very much like his own mother, only IN
fnltely handsomer.
He ate his supper by the light of two oil
lamps. By that time the reaction had set
In. Bow could he have been such fool,
he thought angrlly, as TO turn tnat pretty
country girls head with his commitments?
And she was good girl. too lie knew
he ought not TO let her take the horses and
drive him to the station; but the idea OF
losing his appointment, which few min
utes ago had seemed so easy. was now TOO
hard for him, and he must get away from
that place. Everything around him now.
and everything he ate. seemed TO reVol.
him with its squalor. He ceased to find
Anna handsome, and in his revulson OF
feeling even thought Elizabeth nothing
particular as TO beauty. just then he
caught sight of Auguste's melancholy
counrenance as he laid carefully away the
remnant Of outlet left from his masters
supper, V0konsky burst out laughing,
much to Augu>te's disgust, who thought
that their Joint miSfortuueS were no laugh
ing matter.
Volkonsky managed to spend the rest OF
the evening in the living-room, simply be-
no hoA
village schoolmaster and wool dealer
came in TO see Ivan Petrof and were en-
tertained in the kitchen. Volkonsky saw
no more of Elizabeth, nor aid he wish to.
He felt like fugitive and an outcasi from
the common people, whom be hated and
feared At last be went upstairs TO the
loft Augusta looking still more forl0rp,
tremendously escorting him. But Volkon-
nsky did not make any toilet for the night,
he threw himself upon the straw bed,
wrapped in his military 0vercoat, for a
two hours nap. But he did not once close
his eyes. This contact with people of the
lower class always excited and disturbed
him. He was wide awake. when about
o'clock, he felt, rather than heard,
Eliza beth approach up the rckety stair.
He rose Quietly and followed her down
and along the narrow passageway to the
door. which she softly opened, and they
were out of doors under the dreary llndens.
There was great vivid moon hanging IN
stretched off like dark ribbon through
the snow-covered country.
The horses were not in sight. but Vol
kensky, following Elizabeth through the
wretched kitchen garden at the back of
the house, came upon path which led to
the foot of little hill, and there stood the
sleigh and the two horses.
The prospect raised Volkonsky's spirits
immensely. What a story he would make
of it at st. Petersburg! To improve the
story he almost wished that the old tavern
keeper and his wife would appear on The
scene, and that Anna would chase him
with brooms'ick. And the handsome
peasant grill He would make her pres
eRt not of one fine gown, but half dozen.
His appointment was worth the finest
gown 10 be bought in st. Petersburg.
Elizabeth had said nothing to him as she
walked ahead in her coarse snubka and
with sheepskn mittens Oh her hands. and
Volkonsky saiG nothing to her until they
we're seated in the sleigh. Elizabeth driving
rapidly along the high road Then Vol
konsky mentioned the gowns he meant 10
give her besides money. WHAT! cried
Elizabeth. stopping the horses short in
their gallop, 81 do not want gowns or
money! want nothing whatever"
If anything could have surprised Vol
konsky more than finding so much beauty
in woman OF the lower classes. it would
have been this sentiment. And do you
think" continued she angrily. that for
money | would have disc beyed my father
and Inconvenience the Cars messenger,
and-aud-"
Thus did she open the doors for love-
making, and VOlkonsky had 10 use all his
powers OF persuasion to coax her into a
good humor again, and TO induce her to
drive On.
They sped along for two hours over
through hills and valleys. and under dark,
mysterious frs. and ghoslly birches-and
by the N oop's pale light. V0lknnsky could
see EliZabeth's beautiful face, and she could
gaze like fascinated bird into his dark,
merry. expressive eyes. But when they
we're nearing their journeys end. they
had curious disagreement.
Elizabeth had kept him at arms length
VoikonSky saw in the daughter tie strong
and simple integrity of the father. and
when, in rash moment. re attempted to
seize her around he waist EZ beth jerked
I'D his sword as it hung between his knees
and struck him over the head with the hilt,
using all her young strength. The blow
had been too well aimed. 1t fell upon his
temple, The blood gushed out and Vol
konsky fell back in the sleigh insensibie
A feeling of horror and despair came
over Elizabeth that made her feel as if
she were dying. But she rallied, and the
red blood poured back toward her trem-
bling heart She found Volkonsky's
brandy flask and poured some liquor q Town
lis throat. She rubbed his face and hands
seriousness. Her agony of fear and grief
would have killed any but a peasant
woman, but her strong nerves sustained
her She remembered that they were only
a mile from the railway station and the
town. When she thought of this she once
more urged the tired horses in their speed,
VoIkonsky lying in the sleigh looking like
dead man.
The moon was going down, but there
was stu dying glare when she drove Into
the town and stopped at the house of a
doctor. Amid the furious barking of the
dogs, she raped loudly at the door, and
in few moments DR.. Bartholomew, still
struggling into his dresslne-gown, opened
the door. followed by an old woman with
a candle. The sight that met his eyes as
tonished him-a weeping girl, evidently
from the lower classes, snd Young officer,
vdently more dead than alive. lying in
sensible in the bottom Of the sleigh.
DR.. Bartholomew asked no questions.
He, with the two women. got VOlkonsky
Into the house. and laid him on sofa 10
the study, and at that moment V0lkopsky
opened his eyes. The doctor gave him
some more brandy, and then dressed his
wound. which was a mere scratch, band
aged IL SO that one of VulkonSky's eyes
was covered up. But into the other came
an unmistakable CLEAN of amusement.
His vitality returned with a rush, and
before the doctor could prevent him he SAT-
up on The sofa and, catching sight of
Eliza he tn. burst out laughing The dor