Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1898-12-22
The Blow Falls.
CHAPTER w.

carry on the work he had begun-at al
events. for the present. He acQuieSced
with nod. and there the mat CT enCcl
In the early winter twilight, the
sledgc which was to carry the Prince
southwark drew up ut the main en-
trance to the castle. Several other
sledges. with luggage andAattendants
had gone on in advance. Nearly the
whole population of the village Assem-.
bled there to speed their lord on his
way. Even the Princess Kropenski was
there. looking like pallid wax doll in
the midst Of her furS. The Princess
Irene was there, erect and graceful as
young poplar, her eyes burning as if
she wished that she. too, was going out
into the great world, to take share in
the ruling Of an empire. The servants
were ethere headed by Nicolaieff, the
steward. and few of the tenants.
One of these latter, 4 great. hulking
fellow of thirty or thereahouts. had a
petition in his hand-1 suppose about
some matter connected with his farm
and he was waiting for Il favorable
moment on which to present it, In his
opinion. that moment came when the
Prince. having made his adieuN, was in
the act of stepping into the Sledge. He
knelt on one knee. and. bowling until
his forehead almost touched the SLOW,
he held up the petition in his right
hand
No doubt the mans importantly at
such a moment. annoyed the Prince.
In any case. he lost his temper. and
raising his right foot. he pushed the
kneeling suppliant with his foot. so
that the man lost his balance and tum-
bled over headlons on the frozen snow.
\ loud laugh went up from the little
crowd of sycophants. and the Prince.
without as much as a second glance at
the moujik whom he had spurned from
him. got into the sledge and drove off
like the wind.
For myself, my cheeks flushed with
Indignation to see fellow man treated
with such contumely. 1t was the deep.
ilcdical contempt thus displayed for a
man Of his own flesh and blood that
made my gorge rise. In spite of my
>c]t-for l did not wish to add to the
moujiik'S humiliation by staring at him
i glanced at him to see how he took
his rcp,llsc / was prepared to see an
angry. flushed face, eyes in which the
hot tears We're starting-or Il black.
lowering visage and mouth mutter-
ing curses. l never was more disap-
pointed in my life. 4 foolish smile
still rested on the simple fellows face,
and he did not so much as take the
trouble to brush the muddy snow off
his sheepskin. as he began to discuss
with some Of his companions the mer-
it's of his rejected petition,
Looking up suddenly, met the eyes
of the Princess Irene. She had. no
doubt, seen the expression in my face.
and could only guess at her feeling in
the matter. Yet she was blushing.
Seeing that l was observing her, she
moved closer to me and said, in low
tone
You need not look so shocked. Ba-
sill IdOvna was not hurt"
Il did not suppose he was" replied,
as l turned away. Had l been speak
ing to anyone else, I would have add
cd: Except in his SOUL
I he Princess beckoned the mOuiik to
come to her, and, from his kneeling
down and kissing the hem of her dress
when she had done with him, I had no
doubt that SHE had been giving him
money. OF promising him some favor.
Gould any power upon earth turn
these poor creatures into menu l
asked myself. as l went back into the
castle. IF l am not mistaken, that
fellow would gladly consent to feel the
application of q mans boot every morn
ing Of his life, if he were to pocket af-
forwards as much as the Princess has
given him just now
After this, things went on at the cas-
tie with placid monotony. that but
for the Princess Irene would have been
to ne infinitely wearisome. In the
morning l superintendent the labors of
stonecutters and sawyers, in order to
see that all was going on well and that
the Prince was getting something, at
all events. for his money. The money
was little enough, and sometimes
thought the work was even less.
For an hour before luncheon. and an
other hour in the afternoon. was busy
with calculations. account books and
indoor toll: and generally paid sec
ord visit to the workmen before night
that ! might see how much they had
done during the Gay.
The Princess and her daughter dinel
SuilS NHl1C tllC IlINt Was AWAY, anu
II became q habit with them to invite
me to help them get through the long
winter evening. The elder lady was
as much an invalid as ever she had
been. but she had nervous dread of
going early to bed. She much prefer
red to sit beside the stove, or the great
cren fire of pine logs, and listen to chr
daughters music or play IL game of
chess with me.
She was bright. CHEEKY old lady in
spite Of her weak health.
For me, as anyone may guess, there
WAS no dreariness, 10 monotony in the
life l WAS leading. | was in Paradise.
For some time after the departure of
tho Prince | kept Il strict guard over
myself. taking care that | should see
as little OF the Princess Irene as posi-
bic, and avoid anything like confidcn
tial conversation with her. But the
temptation Of her daily presence and,
above all. of her changed manner, was
too much for me: and by the end Of
the second week | had given up the
useless struggle. What If Irene would
never be more Is me than she was
nnw-whnt II ! had TO pay dearly. in
Z IN. ovnny nf n lifn,iouV summation Ga,