New-York tribune., 1896-11-01

1 crept into the woods and through them,
keeping a line which would take me out OF the
angle of the Gordon within which l was caught.
In the woods l passed the other two cordons
without difficulty. for was on the lookout ana
they were not Presently came against a molly
hedge, broke through it, and found myself In a
labyrinth of gardens. through which wandered
for hours. feeling like character IN the Ara
bian Nights" Never again shall l see such a
sight as those acres of underclin.
| frequently passed gardeners, but they dls-
turbed no further than by their profOunu
bows: finally in Greek temple arranged as an
orchid house, came upon two young lad1eS cut
ting flowers My peonies appeared TO draw tneii
attention. and after little whispering one asked
in Russian. Pray, sir, would you tel US Where @
you found those pconies? Ny sister and nave
looked for them in the park but in vain. on
thank YOU Indeed did not mean to deprive
you-but if they were really intended ior us us.
al least you must allow us 10 compensate you.
and she handed me her basket of orchids.
THE peones.' said |, grow on the blum IN
side the outside Gordon. but they are diftlcult OF
access and If might sometimes bring some .
''To General Us quarters. in the left wing. .
said she. 1--WE will exchange them for some Of
these flowers which-are also difficult Of access. "
A harsh voice called "Sonya, Masha'
That is the General; We must not stay; 10
svdanya. said they.
thought | must not either. and hurried away
through the other end of the temple but now
had purpose bunch of peonies had brought
me into Livadia: a basket of orchids should get
me out of it, .
toward a distant stone wall i'll which was a
gate and grille faced outside with sheet iron.
Beside it stood guardhouse. before 1t tWo s"ii-
tries. and the great golden double headed easie
sprawled and gaped above. As came up the
two soldiers crossed bayoncts before the gate
why haven't you opened the eate| said [:
l shall positively have To wait.
Your -bornshp will pardon. said one
"none may pass.
absurd" said !. ''Nou know VINO am; open
at once"
Your high-wel- bornship will deign TO have
patience il is an order His Majesty arrives to-
morrow"
cellencv the Countess W with these iloNcrs
from the noble ladies' the daughters Of His Ex-
ceency the highly honored General W =,
But ] have not the key. Your Exceliency'
said the poor man In great distress.
"Dsgraceful negligence" said |: "go. get 1t At
once
But the sergeant has it; and he is digging po-
tatoes. and | dare not leave my post
turned away in despair. to try somewhere
else when in the distance up the vista or gar
dens ! saw the young ladies of the temple.
standing with a big man in large white cap
and the uniform of a general OF the Guard one
Of them held the fatal peonies In her hand. and
the big man appeared TO he Interested In the
conversation. Suddenly he wheeled round ana
strobe swiftly in the direction of the gate.
There is General W" said to the sentries,
pointing out the white cap in the distance. as II
appeared over an intervening cluster rose IF
he comes and finds me waiting here. there Will
be a terrible row Now do not like getting any
so far as to climb over the gate
Thank your hieh-well- born Supreme Excel
lency," said the guards.
went up that gate like squirrel. orchids
and all. for the Generals steps were already
crunching the gravel of the path behind AS |
bestrode the golden eagle he saw me. picked up
his sword and ran. his spurs winking over
the grass in the sunlight and the orders twink
ling on his tunic | pride myself on being the
first foreigner who ever made Russian general
run
7 emf the descent short picked myself up and
hurried down the avenue. praying that the iron
gate might be bullet-proof and the potato gar
den not convenient to the guardhouse. did not
run but that was on account Of the patrols.
Some Of them barred the way. but waved
them aside with the orchids and they fell back
apologetically and saluted Presently met a
we-apponted brougham. empty: ! stopped IT,
got in and told the coachman to drive quickly
to the Villa W. At sunset I entered the
Countess's hall.
was met by the Count. You're safe then
said he: that will save trouble; but he asked
anxiously. have YOU the wild peonies OF the
Countess?'
"No. hut have the hothouse orchids Of the
Generals daughter" I replied He shook his
head obviously. and We went into the drawing
room.
you are late for luncheon" said the Coun-
tess. "and YOU have not the peonies. Don't ex-
plain Il will bore me--Oh, how lovely, You
Englishmen are wonderful: at noon I leave you
in the forest foot looking for peonies; at sun
set you come out Of 1t in carriage and pair.
with priceless orchids. Pray explain how YOU
came by them No. 1t will not bore me- Why.
, Livadia has not their like. What you think il
has? Very well. then the Count shall take YOU
| there TO -morrow-you could not get in otherwise
with Introduction to General ", the
| Groom Of the Palace. who Will show you the gar
dens He has very pretty daughters: take them
| bouquet. and they will give you flowers. which
! you can bring to me-"
But did not explain: nor did go to Livadia
, not seeing any point in which could improve
| on first visit-(The Cornhill.