The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1895-11-21

with pleasure.
That evening his faithful friend and
mentor, Petrotf, accompanied him to q
to drink his health, wish
him success and advise him how to
play his cards.
=" This is the turning point Of your
lifc, my little dove-the golden op-
that comes but once" he
said, after the second bottle of wine.
ut is now or never. | agree with
Pavlof, who said you might become
his excellencys son-in-(aw yet. Just
think what that would mean"
"Oh, the very thought makes me
nervous. Who am | to marry u
generals daughter?"
"You are u musical genius, that's |
what you arc. Aim high, | toll you,
now tnat your chance is come. Pluck |
takes even cities by storm. Love, like
death, levels all and there's nothing
to inspire love like music. Boldly |
venturcd is half won. Genius, like |
water is bound to find it's level, and
yours will rise ~ good deal before find
ing it. Follow my advice, havo a shot
at the daughter, and you'll soon bid
good-by to the tened, colorless
life Of Il petty tshinovnlk, who is
driven hither and thithcr like a
withcrcd leaf by the changing Winds"
That night Skritkin could not sleep.
He SAT- fJr h0nrs dreaming Of the
future, and in his minds eye vast
temple arose ont Of the darkness, ON
which "Hopc had her spire star-high,'
and Faith her nOblc arches. lie saw
himself no longer poor, obscure, down
troddcn, but The centre OF Il gay and
apprcciative circle composed Of the
very cream Of society. his name on tho
| -,
hibited in the sh0ps. his nocturncs
bought up by musicians, his operas
performed in Imperial theatres anu
his fame rcsOunding throughout tho
length and breadth Of the land.
Next evening he spent fully two
hours in doing himself up" for the
ball, and, when at last he looked u4
neat and attractive as if he had just
come out of Il bandhnX. he started OF
in fear and trembling. Cal ri,gcs
were driving up to til" door when hr
arrived, and he stopped IL moment to
collect his thoughts. Then he ven
turcd up the staircase, fearful Of tread
ing OH thc vcIvcty, bright.huc0 car
pots, anu listening in trrpiohJion 10
the violent humping OF his heart. He
hattcu once more III the ante room.
and mcditatrd II haety retreat on the
prrtcXt Of suddcn illness. for he was
overcome by tnr scout Of the frrSh,y-
cullrd flowers ;,nu fn :hiunabir pr
lnmcs, and daz"d by the bril- ia.Liv
lighted Salnn, W'iirn seemed one sheet
of blazing light. lie had never in his
lite bchrid anything tu compare with
it.. And AZ (nr the gorgeous dresses Of
the ladies --wri
Suddenly Il hand was laid on his
ShouihHr aud the general uccOStrd him
| I'm delighted, my dear Skr,;jk IN
u soc You. Come and t., mc inltU,ucc
YOU rms II my young culiraync,
E"hC'' ii'h' oNW hose musical talents
was just tn.!ing YOU. Sit do'"n, NV
ncar Sk'ipkiu, and let us near some
Ihih-' Of your owu.'
| okrIpkin sat dawn tn the munilic"nt
piano, trcmHling lest hu shuuld uot
justify the generals condolences in hi,
powers And his lrsL ;.tLumpt looked
worry like Il failure. hut hr soon drew
| inspiration from the mclUdiouS not. -
aud provoked the sincere applause Of
all pr sent.
Every we'll do.ln, indeed. Como and
| fortify the inner man Il little before
the ,ianro$ begin" said his cXuclrnuy,
and taking Skripkin into the buffet
poured him out two gl:lssrs OF sOuc
Kind OF delicious nectar, tho very name
OF which he never heard O! before.
The dances were perfect success,
Skripkin playing mostly those Of his
own composition. During one OF the
long puuscs, when the guests were cat.
ing ices or drinking tea, Skriukin
having indulScd in several additional
glasses of "nectar," wandered about
from room To room, and nt last stravcd
into the butfct The. only person now
there WIS an attractive young lady,
simply but effectively dressed in Il robe
of black velvet, with IL dazzling diu-
mond brooch.-ns it seemed 10 him-a
very pretty bracelet on her soft, round
wrist. She was seated at II table be-
fore II shining, singing samovur."
>;kripkiu's first Impulse was to apollo
Eiza fur intruding and to back out.
Tn h" rcco!lcctcl that this was the
golden opportunity forctuld by his
friend prtroif. and that it was the OBJ
portunity to hr now or never, if he
wanted his genius to rise to its proper
level.
This. then. is his cxccllcncy's
dnuS btcr.' he said to himself. "Bnt
why is she pouring ont tea hero, in