Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1894-06-22
THE LESSON OF LOVE.

"Yann!''
"Excellency"
"Here. !"
With bowed head and drawing one
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 a 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 i'll yon-
der clump of bushes, which is directly
in front of the window Of the blue sa-
lon."
eyes, excellency."
''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
IL, foo 9th
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"
Eyes, excellency."
Therefore, you will stand, your fin
ger on the trigger, until let fall hand
kerchief which I shall carry in my hand
Then, Yam, shoot and hit your mark
You understands"
Eyes, excellency."
Co.,
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, a 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
solutions.
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 bergamot tree.
and he commanded him to be brought
before him. The servant who led Yam
to his excellency tren1bled. But his ex-
cellency was in good humor. 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 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
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 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 ave. 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 a 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. OPP
pressed by the heat of the day, the plants
and flowers had blossomed once more
into life, filing the air with their heavy
fragrance. The firefies foated like
bright emeralds 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
4I,n4 HE
footsteps might not be heard. Drawing
aside the heavy leaves Of an elder tree:
care you there? Very well. Remember
the signal, and fire at once! In the
counts eye, Yann-like the otter's.' %
Eyes, excellency"
Certainly the poor princess had strng-
gled conscientiously to resist the ardent
supplications of Alexis Petrovitch. But
he was rs, and she was only 90
The grave caresses of her husband
suggested to the princess what the in
finite joys Ct young love might be, with
its divine intoxieation, 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
the sight OF me aston1shed him. He at
first gazed at me, then roared with
laughter, and when he had roared till he
was tired looked aronnd and asked
where my husband was. The interpreter
having pointed him out, he took him by
the shoulder and gave him friendly
shake, which WAS as much as to say,
What lucky fellow you arep One of
the five wives cooks. She has lost all
her teeth. The others stand around the
deposed king. The children are very
nice. Behanzin is elderly, about So, and
has white head Of hair. He hardly
knows how TO walk. because on account
of his rank he has always been carried. -
The Queen Yields.
y Even the queen felt herself obliged to
weld to the storm Of protests aroused
nv limiting the attendance at the annu.
al drawing rooms Instead, however, Of
admitting the usual crush at each occa
sion. she decided to give q special re
centiou in the latter part of May, tx
which 200 who We're unable to Obtain
nlaces on the first lists will be admitted
81 A,aoricar debutanteS will Droti