The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-10-14

! her to dance. The men. as they passed
V0lkonsby, spoke to him pleasantly
enough, but they did not stop. Volkonsky.
with rage III his heart, returned their
bows smilingly. The women stared at
Elisabeth, sometimes haughtily, sometimes
pleasantly, but all seemed to regard her as
a being from another world.
General Dubassof was furious. but fury
could do no gooG.
The Grand Duke, though, who had a
peculiar faculty for knowing what was
going on. saw it all and was veXed at the
+, idea of people whom he noticed being
| ignored by anybody.
Presently he found himself close to the
] Volkonskys. He spoke to them second
time. cOmplimenting Elisabeth on her
beauty. Then he turned and whis-
pered a word to one of his
aids, young military dandy of
the first water. The young fellow, who
had been smiling, suddenly grew unmis-
takably sulky. He advanced promptly,
though, and asked the honor of the Count
ess Volkonsky's hand for the mazurka,
just beginning.
Elisabeth's heart leaped into her mouth.
She had never danced the mazurka except
( with her husband and the dancing-master
She bowed, the young officer took her
hand and they glided off. She felt as il
she were in delightful dream. The pol
shed floor, the thrObbing music, the sense
of being borne up and supported as If on
wings, was Intoxicating. But almost be-
fore she had time to realize it she was
brought back to realities with a shock
The aid-de-camp had not made dozen
turns with her when he came to full STOP,
and giving her his arm without a word,
with sarcastic smile. led her back to her
husband, from whose side he had not kept
her three minutes.
VolkoDsky's copntenance was black with
wrath. The Grand Dukes eyes sparkled
with rage. but the young aid-de-camp
was perfectly cool and looked the Grand
Duke calmly in the eye. The fact that
the young officer had dared to do such a
thing struck Volkonsky with the fearful
conviction that he could never get his wife
accepted by his world.
Bu he was not easily driven from his
purpose. He was by no means beaten
vet, with the countenaDce of the Grand
Duke, the help of General Dubassof aud
the whole family influence of the Vol
konskys in his favor
He remained at the ball an hour longer,
enduring tartures with smiling face.
Elisabeth had not been able to learn the
gentlewomans art of controlling her coun-
tenance. Her modification was so plain
that VOlkoDskv at last hurried her away.
for fear that she would burst into tears In
the ballroom.
When they were alone on their way
home Elisabeth wept violently. and ac-
cuSed herself Of having ruined Vol
konsky. He comforted her with the gen.
erosity OF manly nature; but he feared
that she had ruined, not his social posi-
] kutf hot 81 IN had -
that he would cease to be a gentleman, at
lenst IN the technical sense.
During the whole season Voknnsky
made brave fight for his wife. But il
was useless. The Grand Duke did not
command any more of his officers TO dance
tears In bis eyes, the gay young officers
at the club to ask her to dance. Occa-
| sionally an aitache or some foreigner
would be struck by her beauty and ask to
be introduced. But this was all; no Rus.
: slams called ID see her or took any notice
} of her whatever, except to stare at her
with admiration. envy or contempt.
, The st. Petersburg winter was an utter
failure. In the spriDg they returned "a
Varvi. The health of the old Countess
had long been failing and that summer
! she died. Vokonsky, in the autumn, re.
signed from the army, sold his st. Peters
burg house and announced his intention OF
living permanently 10 the country. He
put great deal Of his money into the
: agricultural experiments That Russians are
so fond of trying-and soon the familiar
5 spectacle of steam plows with no one Il
) run them. thrashing-machines that tn,
labnrers spoiled trying 10 use, imported
horses and stock dying because they wer,
unacclimated, was witnessed at VaryI
Volkonsky had no practical knowledge o.
country life, and soon made way with tn,
| bulk of his fortune. Elisabeth, en- ID.
, contrary, managed the affairs of the porl
try-yard and COW stables and the piggerie
with the wisest foretboughr, anu proved
herself to be as apt at housewifery as sh,
was inert at everything else.
To be continued.
? ! Copyright 1894.