The evening times., 1895-08-29
The WiNs Stealer.


The Aarkoff family came from Russia
toward the end of the last century, and
Demeter Markoff, the third descendant Of
this family, was already large landowner
10 Hungary, and could not speak syllable
of the Russian tongue. Demeter III was
a famous man in his time, first because he
could ride down the strongest horse in one
day, secondly because he could swallow the
largest glass of wine at one g,ilp, and after
ward eat the glass itself, thirdly because
however large his income might be he could
always spend twice as much, Ind fourthIy,
because. no matter what woma n he met, he
could always either fascinate her, or, fail
ing that, marry her-and within twelve
month the lady in question would punctually
be abolished from the face of the earth.
When he reached his 4Sth year he had just
buried his third wife. She was good soul,
they say-ueverc complaiued,a and died quietly
and without protest
BY his first wife he had a son, Dcmeter
MARRIOTT, the fourth. At the time OF which
we write this young man was twenty
four years OF age. In many respects he
failed to resemble his father. He lacked
that gentleman's heroic qualities, being
quiet and economical young man, fond
of reading, painting and music. Wine and
tobacco both made him sick, and If a
pretty girl looked at him he would blush
Demetcr III was irritated by his sons
virtues and called him a BOBBY, but he was
his only son, all the same, and he could
not disown him. PaterDal example had
no effect upon him. In vain did Demeter
III take him to boar hunts-the SON SIM
ply began to paint the forest scenery; 10
vain did he give him money to spend-he
bought nothing but books or pictures:
in vain did he take him to places OF amuse-
ment-he simply went to sleep while the
fun was going on.
One day, however, Demeter III was as
TOMS he'd by the news that his son wished
to marry. In the adjoining county there
was charming young girl who was the
youngest of the six daughters of a small
landed proprietor 1t was on the occasion
OF vintage festival that the youth had
first met her and ever sincethen he bad been
accustomed in the ssoft moonlight to dream
away his time ill her company and to talk
about the stars and the flowers as re-
spectacle people are supposed to do when
they are in love. The name OF this young girl
was Angelica. -~a--ts~ n1
Young Demeter Markoff now came to his
father ard asked him if he would be good
enough TO Journey into ihe adjoining county
and obtain for him the necessary consent
to the projected marriage.
with pleasure, :, replied the father us
she pretty:"
Her beauty is transcerdant.
"Ah, you think so, because she is the first
rv,r Il Tc cp.a nf
.'she worships me-
'Is she youuS?' ,.r- .-..-s.-.
"0nly 1S"
THAT Is the most interesting age.
Don't be afraid 1 will 20 and manage it.
1 will bring her back. You eau consider
her already here"
Demeter HI had his horses swiftly har-
dessed-five beautiful Arab steeds-and he
drove them into the neighboring county at
such terrific rate that they were pretty
we'll lame before they got there Directly
he set eyes on Angelica he saw that she
was indeed the 1oveliest of women. also
that she had a deeply-rooted affection for
his Sou
Angelica, as already said. was only and
at that age the fancy rules over the senses
Secrctsympathiesa uexplicabIe ma gnetic
influences operate in the soul. These things
whispered to Miss Angelica that to be drawn
by five y rah steeds is more deli ghtful than
to be drawn by two and that it was pleas
anter to eat off silver dishes than off china
plates: aud, indeed, Demeter " possessed
less property than his father, for while the
latter owned large tracts of country, nothing
belonged to his artistic sou but the land
scapes on canvas which he had himself
painted in the parternal territory.
In one word, Angelica gave her hand to
Demeter III. instead Of to his offspring.
The matrimonial go-between kept his word
he brought the young lady home-but
Demeter ". was sufficiently astonished
when his father told him that she did not
come as his wife, but as his stepmother
The younger Demeter now found 1t neces-
sary to quit Hungary altogether for all the
inhabitants were laughing at his expense
He went to Russia and lived in an old man.
sion of his fathers at Podilia. Thence he
never returend.
After that the people at home told all
sorts of ludicrous stories as to the life he
was leading in Russia. Some said that he
sat all day long in the corner of a room
opposite the portrait of the girl he had
wished TO marry; that the spiders were in