Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-05-11
Copyright, 1897, by Tillotson & Son,
CHAPTER TX.

CHAPTER TX.
Kroutikov's marriage was to take
place at Christmas. 1t had been arrang
ed that his relatives should assemble in
the town for the occasion. The govern
or had promised to give away the bride.
1t was to be a very gorgeous wedding,
of which all the province would talk.
But after the passing misunderstand-
ing caused by Vladimir's appearance in
the house Katia suddenly began to hur-
ry on the wedding. Kroutikov was
highly flattered at her haste.
"Well, then, We'll be married in Oc-
tober," he said. "I'll ask my people to
come earlier
"No; that's too long to wait" said
Katia.
"Then when would you like it to
be-" he asked, smiling "It is only two
months till October"
"Let US have it in a fortnight from
now," said Katia.
Kroutikov protested against this. At
such short notice he would have no time
to send out the invitations properly,
not to speak of sending for his relatives.
II don't want anybody invited, l"
said Katia. whats the use of it?''
She objected even to being married
in the town and insisted on having the
ceremony quite simply in the nearest
village church, with no one present but
the members of the household.
''But it will seem like a runaway
marriage"
"It's no ones business.
Kroutikov did not like this arrange.
ment, but Katia stuck to her point, and
he was obliged to give in. She herself
could not have explained why she so
earnestly wished to hurry on the mar
riage. 1t was no sudden passion for
Kroutikov. Indeed she felt somehow
bored in his company now. But this
waiting and dragging on had suddenly
become intolerable to her, and she
longed to have the thing done and over
All sorts of questions and doubts began
to disturb her, and she had some feel
sng that they would leave her in peace
as soon as she was actually married.
She hurried on the preparations for the
wedding and became irritated, even
seriously angry, at every little him
drance.
whats come to you, Katia? Any
body would think you must get mar
ried or die" said her mother. We've
known Pavel Alexandrovich all this
time, and now suddenly
"Oh, mamma, am just the same as
I always was" answered the girl IT.
ritably. what has put things into
your head?"
What has put Why, can't
see?"
"That's not it, mamma; that's not
it." said Katia, and she sighed.
She felt, as she had never felt in her
life before, how absolutely she could
give herself up to a feeling which
should be lit -
In consideration of his approaching
marriage Kroutikov asked and obtained
holiday and spent almost all his time
in the Prozorovs' house, only riding IN
to town now and then to keep business
appointments or to see his new house,
which the workmen were hastily get
ting ready for the bride.
He took up his abode in the same pa
yilion in which Vladimir had been
lodged. Katia came to him in the even
ings, but almost always brought her
mother with her When alone together,
they somehow could not find anything
to talk about, but in the mothers pres
ence the conversation never tagged and
usually turned OH the new household
arrangements, furniture, wall papers,
etc. Kroutikov would ask the opinion
of the two ladies Oh these points and
would often disagree with the mother.
in which case the disputants would re-
fer the matter to katia for decision.
She always agreed with the opinion OF
her betrothed, though in fact the mat
ter was Indifferent to her Sometimes
Kroutikoy would introduce exalted
themes of conversation and would ex-
pound his views upon the people and
their need of firm hand to guide them
to their own good. but these speeches
were repugnant to Katia. They remind
ed her of other words, full Of love and
devotion, Ito forget yourself, to have
no other thought but how to help the
people, to give up your soul to them,
and Kroutikov's speeches made her
shiver with inward cold. Such speeches
usually ended in an uncomfortable
silence, which both Kroutikov and ka-
tia feared to break 1t was as though
they were in an unknown forest where
they dared not move for fear of meeting
with some wild beast.
She was surprised at this lack Of in
ner harmony between herself and her
betrothed. She had never felt it before.
1t made her think of Vladimir, with
whom she had been able to talk end
lessly, with whom even silence had been
easy.
"Surely it won't always be like this?"
she would ask herself with horror when
ever she was alone. Then she would in
stantly assure herself that this could not
be-; that she only felt so now. Once
married, they would have everything
in common. So she hurried on the prep
arations and would grow irritated, even
angry. with her mother, with her nurse,
with every one, if things were not done
i.,l,n