The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-05-22
THE LESSON OF LOVE.

ko entered the arbor where his 1lluStr1-
GUS master was won't to repose after eat.
ing.
Approach, son Of dog, and listen. y
Yam Barsouck came nearer and bent
forward until his face touched his mas
ter's boot.
faro you always sure Of your hand
and your aight?''
God help Inc, 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. l."
Eyes, excellency."
''The salon is sure to be lighted.
There you will sec the princess and
Count Alexis Karagine Watch we'll.
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
/ wish to make him understand that he
is to die T"
Eyes, exoellency."
Therefore you will stand, your fin
ger on the trigger, until let fall hand
kerchief which shall carry in my hand
Then, Yam, shoot and hit your mark
You understand"
Eyes, excellency."
eco"
Yam was more than mamie was a
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 HorostienlSo's estates
They left him to grow up in the court
yard among tho servants and grooms.
For his daily nourishment he depended
upon the charity of the peasants and the
scullions.
At 10 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 bergamot tree.
and he commanded him to be brought
before him. The servant who led Yam
to his excellency tre1nbled. But his ex-
cellency was III good hurnor. He con
tented himself with giving the culprit
Is lashes, after which he was sent to
the head huntsman, with orders that he
was to have uniform and a 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 ho could send bullet di-
rectly through tho 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
simple "Well done,' Yam would re-
turn to his matched hut, surly and tact
turn, without even 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
sUlne orders to give, took leave Of the
count, his only guest that day, and hay
ing kissed his wife's hand Withdrew to
his own apartment.
IL, A half hour later he went down into
tile garden.
There everything spoke of love. OPP
pressed by the heat Of the day, the plants
ana flowers had blossomed once more
into life, filling tho air with their heavy
fragrance The firehies foated like
bright emerhlds on the night breeze to
where their mates awaited them under
the thick leaves. In the grass the crick-
cts sang softly to their love mates Of an
hour.
The prince took circuitous route
mud returned on the grass, SO that his
footsteps might not BIO heard. Drawing
aside the heavy leaves Of an elder tree:
care 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
lie was 25, and she was only 30.
I The grave caresses Of her husband
suggested to the princess what the in
finite joys of young love might be, with
It's divine intoxication, its ardent en-
! braces. Never yet had she given her lips
tlfasked to her husband. Must she al
ways submit to his almost paternal kiss
:, esq And what promises she read in the
eyes of Alexisl
The princess did not stop to analyze
) either her preferences or her aversions-
Ie She loved Alexis; that was enough.
Love at 20 has spark of divinity in it.
1t does not even care to understand it.
4 self.
!. One day Alexis swore to the princess
that ne would only pat his lips to the