Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-04-20
A COTTAGE BY THE V0LGA
BY STEPNIAK.
Author RUSSIA" SAVED BY THE STARS AND
STRIPES"
1897, by TillotSon & Son.
CHAPTER Nv.

fashioned ringlets. She was very like
her daughter, but stout and heavy. She
seemed much disturbed and greeted the
newcomer with severe and attentive
gaze that made him shrink up and de-
eide in his own mind that he would not
stay another hour in this house.
mammal" cried katia, before her
mother had time to utter a word,
"Vladimir Petrovich is friend of our
Vania. He has brought Us news of him. y
Mrs. Prozorov underwent sudden
transformation. She shook hands with
the visitor rapturously, made him sit
beside her and showered upon him so
many questions that he had some diff
Guilty in answering them all. The old
nurse, who had brought up both brother
and sister, was called in.
The servants were also sent for, and
it was announced that their young mas
ter, whom they had feared must be
dead, was in St. Petersburg, alive and
we'll, and that his friend, passing by on
a journey, had come out of his way to
bring the good news.
Mrs. Prozorov herself fully believed
this version of the cause of Vladlmlr's s
unexpected appearance in her house.
She put the story told to her by, her
daughter-who had not been able to
keep the secret from her and had told
her the whole truth-out of her mind
as an absurdity. Was it likely that
Vania' friend-and such gentlemanly
young man, too, with such good man
ners-should have jumped out of a
train while it was going and run away
from the police like highway robber?
Her daughter must have been making
fun of her, or perhaps the visitor had
told the story to Katia as joke, and
Katia in her simplicity had taken it Sc
riously.
Vladimir at once became for her
dear guest, for whom nothing was good
enough.
After breakfast he rose, saying that it
was time for him to 60, and asked where
he could get horses to continue his jour-
ney. Mrs. Prozorov held up her hands
in protest.
"Why, little father, do you want to
desert US? You have had no time to tell
Us anything yet. and think of going al
ready. Stay with us, please. We don't
have such guests often. %
eyes, indeed, Vladimir Petrovich,"
Katia put in quietly. why are you in
such hurry?"
This slight encouragement on her
part was enough to make him give in
at once.
he would willingly have faced many
dangers in order to stay few days
with this charming girl and to have the
chance Of converting her. Thus, at any
rate. he tried to explain to himself the
delight with which he accepted the in
vitation.
They lodged him in the little pavilion,
and for the first three days he was per-
fectly happy. At table he talked with
his hostess about her son, recollecting
various details of his st. Petersburg
life. Then he would 60 back to his own
room and read any books he could find,
or sit listening for the well known
sound of light footsteps Oh the gravel
path. For the first two or three days
Katia was very anxious on his account
and would run in for minute every
now and then to make sure that he was
safe and sound and had not been car
ried off up the chimney by gendarmes.
After a bit, however, her anxiety
calmed down, and she would come in
simply to chat with him. Sometimes
she would bring her embroidery with
her and would sit with him for long
time She was accustomed to the SIM
plicity of country life, and on finding
that the visitor was friend of her
brother she completely got over her shy
ness and behaved to him just as to an
old friend. She talked to him great
deal about her brother, and with her
Vladimir was not obliged to tax his
memory in speaking of him. He was
able to tell her about that side of her
brothers. life which he shared with
him, and which was the only side that
he knew-his opinions, convictions and
political work. About all this side of
Ivan's life he was, of course, obliged to
be silent with the mother. Then the
subject of conversation gradually shift
ed to Katia herself
Ivan and l were great friends, !"
Vladimir said to her in one of their
after dinner talks. II wonder why he
never spoke to me of you.
clo,,1l h, cyrn1, &c r,oS5 oh O
said without looking up from her work.
"He knew that nothing will come of
me-"
"That is to say, he thought So, !"
corrected Vladimir. II have always OBJ
served that relatives never can judge of
one another. "
Katia smiled.
"Do you think so?" she said, raising
her laughing eyes to his face. 81 think
that Vania knows me very we'll. He
very nearly brought me up. You know,
/ was quite little when our father died.
Of course he knew me well, and what
he thought about me is the truth.
"If you say that, it only proves that
you don't know yourself, said Vladi-
mir simply and earnestly. Judge of it
yourself Remember what you did and
what you risked for me, complete
stranger to you. And here all round
you are people struggling and suffering
people whom you know and whom l
am sure you love. How am to believe
that you do not care to help them?'
Eyes, often 20 to the village, and l
am very fond of the peasants here. That
is quite true" she answered. And you
mnSt not think Ms WORSE than We are