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

Anna Gregorievna, aud 1 at once be-
gan to feel that must bring her some
flowers.
When Bouynof was gone 1--WE now
never went 10 the university together)
/ began TO look about for something
which might be converted into flowers.
/ settled upon my shawl, aud, throw
ing it over my left arm, started out
for the pawn shop.
In the evening Bouynoff came into
the landlady's dining-room ahead of
me. Very likely be wished to pay
some compliments TO Anna Gregori-
evns in my abseace. But he found my
flowers on the mirror shelf, and this
made him wild. The mirror reflected
my nosegay so that instead of one /
seemed 10 have presented Anna Grego-
rievna with two. She was in ecstasy
over it, and every little while stepped
up TO the mirror TO smell it admiringly.
Are they not beautiful?' she would
exclaim, casting a fond, grateful glance
at me as she spoke.
She had none too many such atten-
tions to spoil her, and she appreciated
our little presents highly.
The captain with his long mustach-
los was in the room, and he also praised
the flowers. / felt triumphant and as
if my victory over my rival was as good
as won, but, of course, the matter did
not end there. We continued TO COM
pete in rendering all sorts of service,
Bouynof trying TO escort her to the
circulating library, where she was a
subscriber, for instance, while invited
her to the theatre three times. My Wis
its to the pawn shops were quite fire.
quent, SO that l was left with barely
clothing enough to make a presentable
appearance / noticed that my invita-
tions to the theatre were particularly
pleasing to Anna Gregorievna. She
was exceedingly attentive and sweet to
me on those evenings, but when came
into my room, late at night, after the
performance, Bouynof, who had fewer
things to pawn, aud who could not
afford theatre tickets therefore, would
look daggers at me.
a thousand and one little attentions,
now by me, now by Bouynoff, were
showered on Anna Gregorievna, Bou-
ynof and myself never once referring
to these things in our few converse
tions, although both of US were aware
of the change that had come over our
relations. On waking In the morning
we saw to il that we did not rise to-
gether. If be happened to get up first
| would hnddle myself up in my quilt
aud make pretense Of being fast asleep.
If I got out of bed before him he would
have resource to similar tactics. We
were simply 10th to meet each others
eyes and feel compelled to make con-
versation. Even at college we care
fully avoided each other. This became
so evident to other students that some
of them asked us:
whats the matter9 Are you OUT"
We denied it, of course, but our voices
belied our words, and nobody believ-
ed us.
We never studied together now. Ten
days passed withouta word being heard
in our room. Life together was getting
simply unbearable.
One day Bouynoff faltered out:
Suppose we went to live separately"
understood what he meant at once,
but made as though / did not, and gave
him a questioning look.
'It strikes me that we are not as COM
Portable as we might be here" he said.
"Don't you think it must be more con-
venient to have a room all to ones
self?n
Il rather do" said |.
The fact that We had lived for three
years together, never once finding it
inconvenient, did not occur to us.
And so we set out looking each for a
separate room for himself But sOme-
how or other neither Of us was success
ful. must confess that hidden in my
soul was the hope that Bouynoff might
be the first to find a lodging so that
could remain in the room which we
now rented together. Where / would
get the money to pay fourteen rubles a
month for my room never asked my
self. Doubtless Rouynof harbored
the same hopes, and that was the rea-
son we were so slow in finding suitable
lodgings.
However, our relations had become
so strained, we hated each other so in
tensely and so openly, that to remain
together was out of the question. This
did not prevent. us from meeting at the
landlady's tea table though we had
anything but a pleasant time there
Anna Gregorievna did not seem to be
aware of the change in our relations
but there we only eyed each other ask
ance and addressed ourselves to the CIR
or her mother exclusively.
One evening we found our landladl
and her daughter in what seemed Il
us a queer frame of mind. We per
eeived something solemn in their tom
and manner, and they looked some
what agitated. Anna Gregorievn;
wore a light-colored dress, with ros'
pinned to her corsage. The captain
was in the dining room, smoking ;
stout cigarette, as usual, but instead o
sitting by the side Of the mother, a
was his wont, he had seat beside tn
girl.
Have you heard the news?' our land
lady asked.
News? What is it?' Bouynoff ant
asked in duet.
"WeIl, the captain has proposed t
Anna Gregorievna.
'Has hep
"Yes; and our wedding will tax
place in two weeks" added the girl her
self, quite gayly.
Neither Of Us made any response 70
some few seconds. Bouynoff, however
was the first to regain his presence Q
mind aud to congratulate the landlad.
and her daughter, aud followed sui
FL. y. Potapenko.