Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1894-07-05
THE BONDS OF COSTOM


"Exeollency."
Here"
With bowed head and drawing one
foot after the other slowly along the
ground, rs II to show great humility,
the Mvorite h,ntsman OF Prince Hor-
ostienko entered the arbor where his
lllustrious master was wont to repose
after eating.
Approach, son of a dog, and listen"
Yam BaSouck came nearer and
bent forward until his face touched
his masters boot.
Are you always sure of your hand
aud your SightT"
God help me, yes, eXccllency."
We'll. you are to wander away
from the castle, as is your habit You
must pretend to have lost your way.
Al nightfali enter the garden secretly,
and jumping the hedge conceal your.
SELF in yonder clump OF bushes, which
is directly IN front OF the window of
the blue salon"
Yes, excellency."
The salon Is sure to be lighted.
There you will see the princess ara
Count Alexis kargine. Watch weh
When you see me enter the room,
radse your gun and aim at the count"
Drawn up in his rustic chair, his
face more wrinklod and distorted than
ever before, the old prlncc spoke au.
thortiyely, His gaze was ntentiy
liked upon his huntsman, IN whose
features no other sentiment was dis
cernible save that OF seryile 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
Yes. excellency.'
Therefore you will stand, your I'm.
ger ON the trigger, until | let fall n
handkerchief, which | viii carry In
my hand. Then, Yam, shoot and hit
your mark. You UNDERESTIMATE"
Yes, excellency.'
60"
Yam was more than II man-he was
brute. Whence he came, no one
knew. From lithuania perhaps, Judg-
Ing from his name-the only words
he could speak when they found him,
tiny babe, under bush on the high
road that crossed Prince Horostienko's
estates. They left him to grow up In
the courtyard among the servants and
grooms. For his daily nourishment,
he depended upon the charity of the
peasants and the scullions.
AT sixteen he had made n bow, with
which he could bring down all the ap.
pies and pears he wanted. Never once
did he miss his aim.
One day the prince saw Yann's ar.
row 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 excellency was In good hum
DR.. He contented himself with giving
the culprit fifteen lashes, after which
he was sent TO the head huntsman,
with orders that he was to have uni.
form and n gun.
Yam retained an agreeable rcmem-
brance of his masters clemency; he
wished to show that he was grateful;
besides, shooting was his ruling pas
sion.
His skill surpassed that of all the
most renowned marksmcn OF his time,
At forty PAGES he could send bullet
directly through the eye OF an otter
without the slightest injury to the fur.
Then he would silently deposit the
dead beast at his masters feet. Being
repaid with simple "Wcll DONE"
Yam would return TO his matched hut,
surly and taciturn, without even a
glance at the group Of maidens, who,
with petticoats daintily tucked up,
washed their linen In the river.
He never spoke 10 any one. The
peasants held him In awe. Evil stor-
les we're 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 having 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, tho
plants and flowers had blossomed once
more into life, Cling the afr with their
heavy fragrance. The fire-fiies foated
like bright emeralds on the night
breeze to where their mates awaited
them under the thick leaves. In the