Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-04-27
Copyright, 1897, by Tillotson & Son.
CHAPTER vi.

followed them at little distance. He
had just arrived from the town with
important papers sent by the governor.
"There, you see," said Kroutikov
lightly, nodding in the direction Of his
satellite, "our work is pretty hard too.
Even in this peaceful retreat" he went
on, with clumsy attempt at gallantry,
devoted, one may say, to Cupid and
the Muses., even here we are pursued by
business in the shape Of this Rermes. "
They went into the drawing room.
The old lady was not there. She was
finishing her after dinner nap up stairs.
Kroutikov went into his own room to
look through the newly arrived papers,
and Katia and Vladimir were left alone.
well, are you very much grieved
that we disturbed you just as you were
running away?" she asked, laughing
"Grieved, but not very much, an
swered Vladimir II shall go away to-
night in any case, and now have a
chance Of saying goodby to you in per-
son, Katerina Vasilyevna.
"There's not the slightest need for
you to be in such hurry to run away
from here. You're safer here than any
where else now. ] have told everything
to my betrothed, and you can rest as
sured that your secret is in good hands, /"
II fully believe it and am grateful to
him for his generosity" answered Vlad-
imir coldly. But, all the same, allow
me to say goodby."
Katia pouted AMI shrugged her shoul-
ders.
"I'll tell you what I think" she said
after a moments pause. "That is not
nice of you"
"What is not nice? That don't want
to live on your bounty for the rest of
my natural life?" asked Vladimir pet
tishly.
"No, no." she answered. LIT is not
nice of you to be so intolerant l
know
She was interrupted by the entrance
of Kroutikov His usually self satisfied,
imperturbable face expressed agitation
and a sort of despondent perplexity. He
held an open letter in his hand.
"What is the matter? What has hap.
pened?" cried Katia.
"There s-news just come about
Vania," said Kroutikov unwillingly.
News? Tell me quickly. Oh, make
haste!" she cried imploringly.
cts very unfortunate" Kroutikov
began, "but of course it would have
had to come sooner or later, because all
a-fancies couldn't lead to a
good end" He glanced sideways at
Vladimir "In short, Vania is arrested. !"
The word fell like a thunderbolt.
Katia gave sharp cry and caught hold
Of, not her betrothed, but Vladimir.
Her instinct told her that in this trouble
he was the nearer to her. She sat down
on chair beside him, and, hiding her
face on the chair back, burst into hys-
terical sobs.
Vladimir Eent over her.
Don't be so distressed" he said.
Maybe it will end in quite trifle. 1t
is not every arrest that means ruin.
When we know the details Allow me
to see the letter." he added in formal
tone. turning to Kroutikov, who was
looking on with frown.
mo, no; | had better read it my
self" answered Kroutikov. Its only
few lines"
Information has also been re-
ceived,'" he began, reading aloud,
"'that a nobleman of this province,
Ivan Prozorov, the brother of your be-
trothed, has been arrested in st. Peters
burg. This event must, Of course, be a
distressing one to you Oh account OF
your relations to the family. But no
one can be held responsible here
Kroutikov skipped several lines-"that
doesn't concern the matter" he NUT
tered "'The person on whom rests the
blame of the arrest and ruin OF young
Prozorov, as Of many others, is said to
be certain Sosnin, the unworthy sou of
the we'll known senator who was at one
time governor of your province. Who
would have thought'-a-the rest is
not interesting" Kroutikov concluded
putting the letter in his pocket.
we'll. Nulld osheN, ueI
eyes to Vladimir's face with such a
look of grief and anxious expectation
as that with which people look at a
doctor by dying raticnt's bedside.
Vladimir was as white as corpse
Sosnin was his own name.
''Then there's no hope? Then Vania
is lost? Shall we never see him any
more?" Katia cried out, catching hold
Of his hand.
There was sudden noise in the adj
joining room, and something fell heav-
lily to the floor. The mother, coming in
to her guests after her nap, had caught
her daughter s exclamation through the
open door
They carried her to her bedroom,
where Katia and the nurse attended to
her.
Kroutikov had to return to the town
that day, as the governor wanted him tC
be there OH special business. Katia
came out only for moment and went
back to her patient at once, so only
Vladimir was left to see the visitor Off
When they parted, Kroutikov pressed
Vladimir's hand, smiling his fiat smile,
and said with peculiar tenderness:
"Goodby for the present. hope tc
meet you again under more agreeable
circumstances. "
But when Vladimir, moment after,
ward, turned his head suddenly ht
caught q look of such hatred Oh Krouti,
kov's face as told him all.
Vladimir had already been debating
within himself over the question:
question of some practical moment tc