Santa Fe daily New Mexican., 1897-11-01
THE WIFE STEALER.

toward the end of the last century, and
Dcmeter Markotf, the third descendant of
this family, was already large landown
er in Hungary and could not speak syl
liable of the Russian tongue. Demeter III
was famous man in his time, first, be-
cause he could ride down the strongest
horse in one day; secondly, because he
could swallow the largest glass of wine at
one gulp (and aftcrward eat the glass it.
self) thirdly, because, however large his
income might be- he could always spend
twice as much and, fourthly, because, no
matter what woman he met, he could al
ways either fascinate her, or, failing that,
marry her-and within twelvemonth the
lady in question would punctually be
abolished from the face of the earth. When
he reached his forty eighth year, he had
just buried his third wife. She was a
good soul, they say, never complained,
and died quietly and without protest.
BY his first wife he had son, Demeter
Markoff Nv. At the time of which we
write this young man was "a years of age.
In many respects he failed to resemble his
father. He lacked that gentleman s heroic
qualities, being a quiet and economical
young man, fond of reading, painting and
music. Wine and tobacco both made him
sick, and if pretty girl looked at him he
would blush. Demeter iii was irritated
by his sons virtues and called him boo
by, but he was his only son, all the same
and he could not disown him. Paternal
example had no effect upon him. In vain
did Demeter III take him to boar hunts
the son simply began to paint the forest
scenery; in vain did he give him money to
spend--he bought nothing but books or
of amusement-hc simply went to sleep
while the fun was going on.
One day, however, Dcmeter III was as
tonished by the news that his son wished
to marry. In the adjoining county there
was a charming young girl who was the
youngest of six daughters of a small land
cd proprietor. 1t was on the occasion of
vintage festival that the youth had first
met her and ever since then he had been
accustomed, in the soft moonlight, to
dream away his time in her company and
to talk about the stars and the flowers, as
respectable people aresupposed to do when
they arc in love. The name of this young
girl was Angelica.
Young Demeter Markotf now came to
his father and asked him if he would be
good enough to journey into the adjoining
county and obtain for him the necessary
consent to the projected marriage.
"With pleasure, replied his father. "Is
she pretty?"
"Her beauty is transcendent."
"Ah, you think so because she is the
first girl you have met! Is she fond Of
your"
''She worships me-"
SIS she young9"
"Only 49,"
"That is the most interesting age.
Don't be afraid. will 60 and manage it.
will bring her back You can consider
her already here.
Demcter III had his horses swiftly har
nessed-five beautiful Arab steeds-and
he drove them into the neighboring coun-
ty at such terrific rate that they were
pretty we'll lamed before they got there.
Directly he set eyes on Angelica he saw
that she was indeed the loveliest of wom-
en-; also that she had deeply rooted af-
fection for his SON.
Angelica, as already said, was only 18,
and at that age the fancy rules over the
senses. Secret sympathies and inexplica
BILE magnetic influences operate IN the
soul. These things whispered to Miss An
9elica that to be drawn by five Arab stecds
was more delightful than to be drawn by
two and that it was pleasantcr to eat off
silver dishes than off china plates, and, in
deed, Demeter Nv possessed less property
than his father, for while the latter owned
large tracts of country nothing belonged
to his artistic son but the landscape on
canvas which he had himself painted in
the paternal 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 Nv was sufficiently astonish-
: ed when his father told him that she did
not come as his wife, but as his step
mother
The younger Demeter now found it nee
essary to quit Hungary altogether for all
the inhabitants were laughing at his ex-
pense. He went to Russia and lived in an
old mansion of his fathers at Podolia.
Thence he never returned.
After that the people at home told all
sorts of ludiorous stories as to the life he
was leading in Russia Some said that he
sat all day long in the corner of room
opposite the portrait of the girl he had
wished to marry, that the spiders were in
dustriously spinning their webs over this
picture, that they had almost covered it
from view, but that the eyes of Angelica
were still visible and that Demeter Nv
would not leave the chamber until they,
too, were concealed by the fllmy meshes.
Others said he was making experiments In