Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-09-27
BY Mark Eastwood

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BY Mark Eastwood. )
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The prince threw the reins to his
servant and sprang from the sledge.
Where Is hep demanded he.
The muzhik in the doorway of the
hut stood bowling to the ground. He
did not presume to lift his eyes to the
high noble, but they had flashed up like
signal fires at the words; yet he affect
ed not to understand.
ut is the old man, Ivan Ivanoyitch,
the high noble would honor with his
commander he began. Ills servant
Is full of regret
Bother Ivan Ivanovitch." interrupt
ed the prince impatiently. "What do /
want with your father? 1t is Ivanka,
your son, come to see-the little one
who slew the wolf, At least,v he added
quickly, with n shrug, SO they say.
but j do not believe it. Why, it is i'm
possible! A child-a mere puppy!p
The muzhik had thrown out his
hands. He could contain himself no
longer 1.-THE high noble does not be-
lieye?v he cried wildly. Then he rush
ed into the house to return in mo-
ment brandishing in one hand a knife
and In the other holding aloft a
shaggy hide.
THE noble prince does not believe ~
he repeated, and his eyes seemed to
emit sparks. LET him behold the
proofs. Ivanka, my little one, slew
the wolf in very truth. Alone-aIone
he slew it,
AS though flash Of electric fire had
flown from the mans lips direct to the
hearts of his hearers the faces Of both
famed up. The man in the sledge lift
ed his cap and crossed himself with
fervent mutterings. He passed the
cuff of his coat across his wet, shining
eyes.
The prince took the knife in his hand,
Such a thing it was! You can buy the
Cor, 20 kopecks about IL cents at
any Russian fair-one of the sort used
by the Russian peasants to cut forage,
having crooked blade and horn han
die. 1t was stained, both blade and
hilt, with blood.
II have bought another for use. OBJ.
served the peasant.
ut is wonderful" murmured the
prince as he turned the knife about in
his hands.
AT this juncture pair of excited
Diack eyes surmounted by huge bar
anka peer round the corner of the hut
and as quickly vanished.
Presently the prince looked up. "But
the boy" he cried. "Iet us see this
wonderful child and hear the story
from his own lips"
The peasant looked sharply round.
"He was here even when the high
noble drew up. There are the hatchet
and the wood lie was chopping. Ivan
ka, Ivanka! He has hidden himself.
the rascal"
The prince laughed.
'lvanka! Ivanka.v almost shrieked
the peasant. II will teach you to run
and hide when the high noble come
from far and near to see you. By all
the saints, If you do not Instantly come
forth from your hiding hole and relate
the whole occurrence to the noble
prince, l. will break every bone in your
body"
Then 1t was that coat of Sheep
skin that just cleared the ground
emerged from behind the hut and NOV
ed slowly over the trodden snow to
within few PAGES of the prince. You
could only tell by the shining eyes
and the tip of small red nose that
peeped between the high stand-up col
larwtilat inside of 1t was small boy.
Thhre he stood the blood sun bathed
ofp heroic glory. Yet in spite of all
the wolf slayer. had the mien
notwithstanding culprit before the
gSvnik. The prince regarded him
VIM mock severity.
What is this 1 hear of yon, Iyanka 2"
he began. "Then say that you have
slain n wolff"
lyanka would have hung his head
but that his collar prevented it; so he
dropped his eyes in guilty silence. The
peasant, behind the princes back, rub
bed his hands and chuckled
Come here" commanded the prince
his mustache lip twisting with a
whimsical smile.
The coat moved to the princes feet.
Then the small boy inside 1t felt him
self caught up In strong arms and
borne into the hut.
Now, though 1t was ruddy winter
sunset outside, in the hut it was quite
gloomy. The window was very small.
A dull yellow glow, like big bullseye,
came from the open door of the stove
and glimmer like n glowworm from
the tiny lamp that burned before the
holy image. The dim outline of wo.
man and child i'll her arms could be
discerned by the stove. She came for
ward as the prince entered and, bend
ing low, raised the hem of his fur
mantle to her lips and silently return
ed to her seat
The prince sat by the window, and
1yanka stood between hissknees. where
he had been placed. He trembled in
side his sheepskin, yet it was gentle
hand that lifted the baranka from his
curly head and raised his chin.
How old are you, Iyanka?' inquired
the prince.
j "Ten years. noble prince" faltered
the boy; but, his eyes meeting those
Sof the prince at that moment, he ceas-
ed to tremble. and the longer he looked
the more comfortable he felt.
"And you have slain a wolf?' con-
tinued the prince.
Yes, noble prince"