New-York tribune., 1900-11-18

floor, and the cat pounced upon II With the
utmost unreason Sonia burst into flood of
tears.
Cruel. cruel Misha"' she cried
Hush Sonia, said her uncle; don't disgrace
yourself before our guests"
Sonia out of the room like netulan nt
child. and more seen that night
We were up hetmes in the morning Long
robed hIllmen had been sighted at dawn in the
pass; We might expect an attack before many
hours had elapsed. Going to the drawing room
at about 9 o'clock. | found Varyara Petr6vna
and the servants kneeling before the aikons.
Narvara Petr6vna reading Slavonic prayers
out of a large leather book. while the servants
crossed themselves vigorously at every pause
and answered H6spodi polniiui-Lord have
mercy on US! Sonia was nowhere to be seen
She was discovered later in he great servants
hal amusing herself with the soldiers. When
the lieutenant and l entered the apartment she
was performing the national shawl dance with
the big corporal, While the rest stood by
chorus, singing, "Fo sadu Ii ogor6de." and
Clapping their hands in measured time She was
gliding coquettishly away on heel and toe with
the shawl raised above her head while the
corporal stamped rhythmicay after her in the
role OF the gallant lover" At the end Of the
dance the singers broke into rapturous applause:
"Ay da Sofia Semyonovna" they cried;
"mnl0datzt"
The crash of a rifle butt on the stone floor of
the vestihUle broke UP our musical party;
of the sentines had come in with the news that
the Chech-nians Were ascending the hillside
NarVara Petr0vna summoned the whole
pany into the drawing roum. We stood in a
circle about the room and sang the national
anthem. "Rozhe Tsarya chranl' Varvara P.-
tr6ynl leading the music in clear ringing voice
our hymn was hardly ended when th. crunch
OF bullet in the top OF th- French glass over
the piano followed by the crack of a rifle out
side. warned Us that the attack had begun.
Sonia turned pale and uttered just such another
little scream as she had uttered the evening be-
fore at the sight Of the mouse: then She. looked
round from face to face. with tears IN her eyes
and d little frightened smile playing about her
lips. Earvara Petr6vna took her by the hand
and led her from the room; women were not
wanted in the apartments facing the enemy
The house stood. IS | have said On promon-
tory juttng from tn" hillside; on two sides the
rock continued the lines OF the walls preCipi-
tously downward. on th- third there was no
more than terrace between house and cliff
attack and defence We're concentrated on the
side facing down tho garden The enemy took
up their place behind the low wall which di-
vided garden from the hillside and the fight
ing resolved itself into a dosged exchange Of
bullets between sheltered men. Meanwhile the
spring hubbIed ard ran peacefully across the
middle distance with cheerful unconcern.
The enemy had made their attack inoppOr-
tunely, just the hour when had hoped to
he sitting down a comfortable dejeuner As &
man I resented the wrong to my appetite; as an
artist / could do no less than let on ineffec
tive gan through loophoie TO add to the pict-
uresquen-ss of our defence. Man and artist re
joiced together when Sonia and Varvara
Petr6vna into the room with dishes Of srnOk
ing outlets in their hands, and stole along the
shelter of the walls t. distribute the ielicacies
among the warriors at th- windows For some
reason or other Sonia had arrayed herself in a
large white apron, and fixed a cooks cap on
her head III this setting her little slender figure
and flushed face made the most bewitching
picture in the world, as she held her plate
daintily out toward me There was still one
outlet left; she put out her hand 70 lay the
plate in the bottom Of the loophole, between the
SandbagS, when tnviOuS bullet hoWlad
through the opening, grazing the skin from her
white flesh II was A tiny wound-uur first
casualty. Sonia drew her hand quickly away.
sank the floor and cried helplessly between
pain and terror She refused TO be Comtorted,
and was led away sOthinE bitterly by the i'm
pertur54hle NarVara PetrIVna.