The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-11-09

in anything but easy circumstances,
but managed to make both ends meet.
She lived with her only daughter, a
girl OF Is years or thereaboats. Three
years before, when we lived with them
for the first time, we had never taken
any notice of the girl. She was only a
child then, attending her lessons at the
gymnasium regularly aud studying
her lessons at home, and as we did not
board with her mother we hardly ever
had an occasion to meet either of the
two.
Now, however, we decided to have
our evening tea in our landlady's din
ing room, and so we made the girls
acquaintance. Her name was Anna
Gregorievna, and Bouynof' at once de
fined her in this wise:
"Awfully pretty, but not clever, Pm
afraid"
held my peace, but thought he was
right.
Pretty she certainly was. She was
not tall, but she had an erect, slender,
exceedingly graceful figure, a pair OF
bright blue eyes, turned up little nose
and red lips. She laughed much, and,
as she had most beautiful teeth, this
made her prettier than ever.
We passed nearly every evening to-
gether. True, neither Bouynoff hOr L
was very talkative, but then Anna Gre
gorieyna was such babbler that she
talked for all of US.
A frequent caller at the house was an
army officer named Obnevsky. He had
the rank of captain and long mus
Jache. We knew next to nothing Of
the man, bat then he took no notice OF
Us, and IL seemed to us that Anna Gre
gorievna took no more interest in him
than we did. He was a man of about
forty, and while we were merrily chat
ting at the tea table he usually sat with
our landlsdy-he in the huge easy chair
and she on the sofa. Invariably smok-
ing a stout cigarette inserted into q
huge cigarette holder of amber, be
spoke of provisions and prices, house
hold expenses and rent; or else re-
counted some of the rumors of the
town.
We used to be in the best of spirits al
those gatherings. The presence of a
young girl, pretty. talkative and laugh
ing, had an exhilarating effect on us,
and drew us out until we were as gar
rulous as Anna Gregorievna. On re-
turning TO our room we would feel the
lingering spell of those happy mo-
ments, and often Bouynoff and I would
SIT up till late at night continuing the
conversation which we had begun with
the girl.
"Its all because she is pretty" BOu-
ynof would say. "She is not clever,
and we know it, and yet she exercises
an influence over minds, stirring them
TO activity, setting them in motion.
Beauty is great animator, isn't it,"
What | am about to relate occurred
to both Bouynoff and myself on the
same evening may be even at the
same moment. Perhaps it was all a
mere accident; perhaps it was because
Anna Gregorievna had east a particu-
lar expressing glance at each of US
certain it is that when we were back in
our room the usual conversation some
how failed, and we sat silent. Pres
entity we fell to pacing the floor in OPP
posite directions, so that we collided
three times, and had to give it up
Bouynoff reelined on the sofa, while
lay down on the bed; and so we lay
for some time, both silently eying the
ceiling.
do not know what BoJyno frs feel
ings were at that moment, but felt a
if my heart had been wounded.
could think of nobody and nothing but
her. / was wondering why l had not
felt the same long ago. To be sure, she
had always been so charming, so raw
ishingly beautiful why, then, had she
not touched my heart much sooner
She seemed to be standing before my
minds eye. melting my heart by bel
presence, thrilling me with her look
L was in love, and to distraction. Sud
denly began to thirst for conversa
tion. l was dying to talk OF her.
"Anna Gregorievna is particularly
pretty this evening, isn't sheg" sale
in the simplest way, and without NOV
ing my eyes from the ceiling.
"She Is" assented Bouynoff, reluct
antly.
"Do you also think so ?'' L asked, AM
may be there was peculiar ring in m,
voice, for my roommate took fire.
"why shouldn't /? he said testify
az don't see who can prevent me frOn
thinking her pretty if / choose 10 d
so?"
"who speaks of preventing you?
retorted I.
We fell silent, and the cJnversatiO
was not renewed that evening. Tn
air seemed charged with something OF
pressive. 1t was our first experienc
of its kind since we had made eacl
others acquaintance.
The very next day each of US bega
to bring little presents and to do
thousand and one little offices for Ou
landIady's daughter.
When / came into the diDing-rooI
at tea time | was astOnished TO notice
box of candy on the table, for our lanC
lady had never allowed herself sue
iuxuries before. Anna Gregorievna q
once offered me some candy. and the
presented the box to Bouynoff, who ds
clined in an awkward sort of way.
"Come, come, you have bought
yourself, consequently it is your taste
urged Anna Gregorieyna "How ca
you refuse to take some then %
shivered aud threw a morOse look q
Bouynoff. This was the first unfriens
ly glance / had ever directed at hin
/ was almost shaking with vexatiOr
What business had he to bring her
box of candy? In the first place it wa
quite an unusual thing for either Of U
to do; in the second place, where di
he get the money? For I knew hi