The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1901-01-04
PRE- SIS ASSOC CITATION.

neaVy cIOdd had suddenly fallen upon
my future, blctting out all hope. of hap
piness, present or future. This was
ridiculous and foolish, of course, but one
is always inclined in youth, to exag-
gerate the power Of misfortune Mis-
fortunes do bow the head for the time
being, no doubt but as the tree bent
with the sudden downfall of snow will,
after day or two, cast its burden and
stand upright once more to the winds of
heaven, so does the young heart free it.
self in time of its load of misfortune,
however heavy, and perhaps gradually
| forget that which once seemed too great,
! to be borne.
| would not go to the dinner lest
should throw shadow over the rest Of
and sat down to think quietly over this
blow and its possible nature and conse-
quences. / loved my father intensely.
He was, Russian, as his name would
| indicate, and so. of course-in name
was I. But my mother was English.
Ny father had met her at Cowes while
yachting and had brought her home to
our huge estates near Kazan as his
bride. I was the only child. By special
who was still reigning when was born)
I was allowed to be baptized into the
English communion, to which, of course,
mother belonged, and for which my IA
ther had the greatest respect, perhaps
more than for his own branch of the
church. Consequently was from the
first an Englishman, and an English
man I remained, for my parents placed
me at school at Toddlestone at the age
of 10, and I had remained there ever
since, only returning to Russia for such
of my holidays as my parents did not
pass with me in England.
Thus in name was Russian count.
In religion and in upbringing and in
every taste and sentiment that pos
sessed Twas an Englishman. sent my
mother a long telegram from the hotel.
entreated her to let me know whether
my father lived, whether Oxford was to
be given up finally or Professionally only,
and whether could stay day or two
just to collect my things. buy clothes.
and SO forth.
My mother replied by noon of the
following day that-but stay, I have
the astounding message by me to this
hour. The reader Of my memoirs shall
enjoy the advantage of being utterly
puzzled and bewildered, just as was,
for assuredly the message was one of
the most surprising and bewildering
that ever schoolboy received, for school
boy practically still was though ac-
tually I had left Toddlestone the day
before yesterday.
Here is the telegram, my mother {
ipsissima verba:
Father disappeared. Cannot explain. Come
soonest possible. want you. Afraid must re-
nounce Oxford present. Make arrangements
possible return later if happier circumstances
ensue.
Poor, dear mother! She must indeed
have been in sore strait to have sent me
suchsa message as thisl
She wanted me, however. That was
enough. She must have me, poor dear,
as quickly as the railway could take me
to her. Oxford might go hang. There
was time enough for Oxford.
The Flushing express started from
Victoria at $50 tonight. should catch
it without fail. Poor, dear old mother
in distress and father Disappeared
When man disappears in England
or America, one goes and drags the
nearest pond and gives notice at the
police station. Butwhat of a disappear.
ance in Russia2 Alas, man may dis
appear in many ways in our country
or could, for, though but few years
have passed since the time of which
write, things are improving by leaps
and bounds; light is spreading Gods
light of civilization. Ones first thought
in such case as my fathers would, Of
course, be mixed one-spies, nihilists
police, Siberia. passed rapidly il
thought over all these things in the first
shock of that word disappeared. .
But banished the idea with scorn.
My father stood high above such things
He lived in an atmosphere wherein such
matters had no existence. He had nc
cause to fear either the police or the
revolutionists. He was beloved by his
peasantry, for he was an enlightened
and indulgent landlord. In the country
he was power. In town he was uni
versally respected. He took no part il
politics, however, and could Scarcely
therefore come under the ban either Of
/, those who hated OF of those who admin
istered the law.
In word, it was hopeless to attempt
to conjecture what the meaning of my
mothers message could be. Such at
tempts only led to feeling Of helpless
despair, and tried to postpone all con
sideration of Il matter.
/ went for walk in Kensington gar
iens to pass away the time. and it wal
, while standing gloomily on the shores
of the Round pond, watching the sail
: ing of some tiny yachts, that some on,
, touched me on the shoulder I turned
and saw Percy Morris, the most unex
pected and yet perhaps the most entire
| ly welcome person l could possibly hav'
: seen at the moment, for Percy was
t had BENNY greatest friend at Tod
9 dlestone. He had left last term on ac
r count of his fathers death and hi
a mother q nneynacted noyartv and I haf