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

Volkonsky received his appointm
and Immediately after lie went away from
ST. Petersburg, and in little while the
startling news came that he had married
girl in humble circumstances and was liv-
ing at his mothers country place, Varvi,
not far from Moscow. Vo1konsky had the
gift of inspiring attachments so strong
that even his misaliance, a thing more
serious in Russia than any country in the
world, did not leave him entirely friend
less. The women, however. we're down on
him, except his mother. She was gentle,
simple woman, who was nothing of fine
lady, and who shed O few tears. but re-
ceived the bride and groom with as much
kindness as if Volkonsky had married a
princess. Old General Dubassof. who
loved him like father. used all his per-
soDal influence al court, which was strong,
to get a promise that Voikonsky's vile
would be recognized. The royal Grand
Duke, with whom Volkonsky had been
intimate, succumbed TO his old friendship,
and that of a portrait of Elisabeth, when
Volkonsky had a private interview with
him.
On the whole the women with whom
Vulkonsky had f1irted for years began to
apprehend that the Volkousky influence
would be too powerful 10 them in the end
and that the handsome pebeian wife
would have 10 be received after all.
The newly married pair spent the sum-
mer at VarVi and within a month of their
marriage two more misera ole creatures than
Volkonsky and Elisabeth could not have
been found. Elisabeth's misery consisted
in the newDess and perfect slrangeness of
her life. Her beauty was enough III her
old life, but it seemed as if she had TO un-
learn all that she had ever known before
and to be always learning, learning some
thing else and her mind wearied and her
soul sickened at the endless task. The
one thing that pleased her was learning to
dance. The dancing master came every
day aud Volkonsky played the piano while
thesdancing master taught her and then. lo
the scraping Of the dancing masters fiddle.
Volkonsky took her around the room
10 waltz or maZuTka. He often thought
grimly if she was only as apt at other
things as at dancing he could have found
no fault. She not only had to study
French but to study her own language
which she spoke as a tavern-keeper'
daughter might be expected to speak. Al
attempt to teach her the piano was giver
up as hopeless Yet Elisabeth was
shrewd and intelligent woman at bottom
in spite of her deficiencies. Most of hel
efforts wers made at the suggestion of the
old Countess Volkonsky, who labOreC
affectionately over her new daughter-ln
law. Elisabeth felt grateful for it, but i
nearly maddened her.
AS for Volkonsky, he truly loved hi:
wife. and he could never think of tha
stunning blow on the temple without re
specting her. But there was no making
lady of her, and that old conflict in hin
between gentle and plebeian rose again
EllSabeth's peasant ways seemed TO arouse
that strain Of ignoble blood in him. II,
felt that there was great danger that ht
would sink to her level instead of raising
her to his.
They were very lonely that summer
They had no visitors scarcely. except
brave old Dubassof, who found new in
terest in life in championing VOlkonsky
and his wife. Elisabeth said to him one
day, naively: 'If all gentlemen were only
like you'll"
This sincere compliment made the ole
man more her friend than ever. The
people that VolkonskY and his mother
wanted to come 10 see them would no
come, and those that we're willing to com,
they did not want. Elisabeth could no
understand this, and as she went entirely
by titles she was bOpeessly puzzled
10 know why certain Princesses anC
C0uutesses and BarOnesses were no
wanted at Varvi, while some people will
uDadorned names would have been wei
coined gladly. And so the summer passed
General DubaSsof worked like giant il