Connecticut western news., 1894-08-30
THE LESSON OF LOVE.

"Yannp' z. ...-..
 "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- ous master was wont to repose after eat ing.
 Approach, son of dog, and listen.
 Yann Barsouck came nearer and bent forward until his face touched his mas ter's boot
 Are you always sure of your hand and your sightY
 "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- lon. |" ..
 'Yes, excellency."
 '.The salon is sure to be lighted. There you will see 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 mp 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 I wish to make him understand that he is to die"
 "Yes, excellency."
 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?'
 "Yes, excellency.
 "Go"
 Yam was more than a man-he 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 g. 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 sculliona
 At I6 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 trembled. But his ex- cellency was in good humor. He con tented himself with giving the culprit l5 lashes,- after which he was sent to the head huntsman, with orders that he was to have 8 uniform and a gun
 Yam retained an agreeable remem- brance of his masters ciemency. 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 paces he could send a bullet di. rectly through the eye of an otter with out the slightest injury to tho fur. Then he would silently deposit the dead beast at his masters feet Being repaid with simple "Well done, e," Yam would re turn to his matched hut, surly and taci turn, without even 8 glance at the grouI of maidens, who, with petticoats dain tily tucked up, washed their linen il the river.
 He never spoke to any one The peas ants held him in awe. Evil stories were current about him. They may have beer true. For Yann there was but one law the word of his master; but one lov' -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 thu count, his only guest that day, and hay ing kissed his wife's hand withdrew t, his own apartment .s.#E.sss.
 A half hour later he went down int the garden.
 There everything spoke of love. Op pressed by the heat of the day, the plant and flowers had blossomed once nor, into life, filling the air with their heav. fragrance The firefies f1oated lik bright emeralds on the night breeze t, where their mates awaited them unde the thick leaves In the grass the crick cts sang softly to their love mates of al hour
 The prince took a circuitous rout and returned on the grass, SO that hi footsteps might not be heard DrawinI aside the heavy leaves of an elder tree Are you there? Very we'll. Remembe the signal, and fire at oncel In tn counts eye, Yann-like the otter's."
 "Yes, excellency"
 Certainly the poor princess had strug gled conscientiously to resist the arden applications of Alexis Petrovitch. Blu he was 25, and she was only 20. l The grave caresses of her husban suggested to the princess what the in finite joys of young love might be, wit it's divine intoxication. its ardent enl braces Never yet had she given her lip unasked to her husband Must she al ways submit to his almost paternal kiss es? And what promises she read In tl eyes of Alexisl The princess did not stop to analy7 either her preferences or her aversioni She loved Alexis; that was enougl Love at 20 has spark of divinity in i It does not even care to understand i self -.....
 One day Alexis swore to the princes that he would only put his lips to tf
 hem Of her gown, but carried on by tt torrent of his youthful love he kisse her passionately. She fed to her favo ite blue salon, which she never allowe ; any one to enter. There shs psrmitts