Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1894-06-12
THE LESSON OF LOVE.
"YannP'
"Excellency. "
Uuoro -


foot after the other slowly along the
ground as if to show great humility, the
favorite huntsman of Prince Horostien-
ko entered the arbor where his illustri-
GUS master was wont to repose after eat
ing
Approach, son of dog, and listen. "
Yam Barsouck came nearer and bent
forward until his face touched his mas
ter's boot.
"Are you always sure of your hand
and your sight?''
"God help me, yes, excellency."
"Well, you are to wander away from
the castle, as is your habit. You must
pretend to have lost your way. At night
fall enter the garden secretly, and jump.
ing the hedge conceal yourself in yon-
der clump of bushes, which is directly
in front of the window of the blue sa.
Ion. "
"Yes, excellency."
1.-THE salon is sure to be lighted.
There you will see the princess and
Count Alexis Karagine. Watch well.
When you see me enter the room, raise
your gun and aim at the count. "
Drawn up in his rustic chair, his face
more wrinkled and distorted than ever
before, the old prince spoke authorita-
lively. His gaze was intently fixed upon
his huntsman, in whose features no other
sentiment was discernible save that of
servile obedience. He continued:
"Aim at the count, but do not shoot
at once. Before you blow out his brains
l wish to make him understand that he
is to die"
eyes, excellency."
Therefore, you will stand, your fin
ger on the trigger, until let fall hand
kerchief which l shall carry in my hand.
Then, Yam, shoot and hit your mark.
You understand"
YES sexcellency.
&C., a
Yam was more than a mamie was
brute Whence he came no one knew
From Lithuania perhaps, judging from
his name-the only words he could
speak when they found him, tiny
babe, under bush on the highroad that
crossed Prince Horostienko's estates
They left him to grow up in the court
yard among the servants and grooms.
For his daily nourishment he depended
upon the charity of the peasants and the
scullions
At 16 he had made bow, with which
he could bring down all the apples and
pears he wanted Never once did he
miss his aim.
One day the prince saw Yann's arrow
pierce the blossom Of a bergamot tree
and he commanded him to be brought
before him. The servant who led Yam
to his excellency trembled. But his ex-
cellency was in good humor. He con-
tented himself with giving the culprit
10 lashes, after which he was sent to
the head huntsman, with orders that he
was to have a uniform and gun.
Yam retained an agreeable remem-
brance of his masters clemency. He
wished to show that he was grateful
Besides shooting was his ruling passion
His skill surpassed that of all the
most renowned marksmen of his time.
At 40 PAGES he could send bullet di-
rectly through the eye of an otter with
out the slightest injury to the fur. Then
he would silently deposit the dead beast
at his masters feet. Being repaid with
a simple "Well DONE" Yam would re-
turn to his matched hut, surly and taci-
turn, without even a glance at the group
of maidens, who, with petticoats dain-
tily tucked up, washed their linen in
the river.
He never spoke to any one The peas
ants held him in awe Evil stories were
current about him. They may have been
true For Yam there was but one law |
the word of his master; but one love
that for his gun.
When the evening tea had been drunk,
the prince, making pretext of having
some orders to give, took leave of the
count, his only guest that day, and hav-
ing kissed his wife's hand withdrew to
his own apartment
A half hour later he went down into
the garden.
There everything spoke of love. Op- |
pressed by the heat of the day, the plants
and flowers had blossomed once more
into life, filling the air with their heavy
fragrance. The frehies floated like
bright emeralds ON the night breeze to
where their mates awaited them under
the thick leaves. In the grass the crlck-
cts sang softly TO their love mates OF an
hour.
The prince took a circuitous route
and returned ON the grass, so that his
footsteps might not be heard Drawing
aside the heavy leaves of an elder tree;
Are you there? Very we'll Remember
the signal, and fire at oncel In the
counts eye, Yann-like the otter's." "
Eyes, excellency."
Certainly the poor princess had strug-
gled conscientiously to resist the ardent
supplications of Alexis Petrovitch- But
he was 20, and she was only 20
The grave caresses Of her husband
suggested to the princess what the in
finite joys of young love might be, with
its divine intoxication, its ardent en-
braces Never yet had she given her lips
unasked to her husband Must she al
ways submit TO his almost paternal kiss