The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-06


1t was at the last station but one where
| counted the money | had received from
y. The big strapping fellow who was to
drive me over the next twenty versts must
have seen the pile of treasury notes in
front of me. or maybe somebody else no
ticed It and expressed reverence for the
wealthy MASTER he was to take to the
next station. However, it may have been,
the position was aware of the roll of pa
per money in my bosom pocket and did
not begin to feel uneasy until it was too
late.
Naturally talliative I could not bear to
sit silent while there was this human be-
ing on the same wagon with me. l began
TO ask him questions, to remark on the
weather. on the neighborhood He an
swered all my enquiries to the point, but
little by little il came over me that there
was something queer in his manner, that
he was not at his ease. He was now too
ELUSIVE and garrulous, now too morose,
and nervously reticent.
The moon rode across a beautiful sky,
illuminating a vast field of snow. 1t was
a charming night, and our sleigh was slid
ing with the swiftness of bird. The mil
lions of stars overhead and the echo of
our little bell threw over the whole view
O peculiar air of festive majesty, and of
weird sort of splendor which l shall never
forget. To be sure, the scene is iEdelibly
impressed on my mind In connection with
one of the most thrilling events in my life.
Who can forget the conditions under
which one has a narrow escape from a
violent death? But / feel sure that l
should not have forgotten that fascinat-
ing night even if nothing had happened
during the next hour. 1t is only in Rus
STA where such ravishing winter nights
are possible. Your every sense is under
the spell CT the inexpressible beauty which
sings out to you. The golden stars. the
blue sky, the frost, the piles of snow
pure, spotless, inspiring; the endless
SPACE around you, the silence, the white
silence of whitehall this produces
thousand sensations. the sum total of
which is 4 state of mind which words are
powerless to depict. i fell under the
spell of the landscape and was thirsting
to unbosom myself, TO talk of my feelings,
Of anything. / could not bear the formal
tiles that stand between strangers, pari-
cularly between those who belong to diff /
ferent social stations. My heart was
yearning for intimacy. | was beginning |
to wonder what troubled the position, |
what caused this nervousness in his de- !
meanor, and l was even beginning to feel |
somewhat uneasy about my money, but |
thai feeling was not definite enough TO re- |
strain me from addressing myself TO the |
position in tones calculated to breed ia |
miliarity
'WhRs your manner"
He made no answer.
81 say. what's your name?" i repeated. |
what difference does it make?" he re- |
turned. "A name is a name"
You are queer fellow
After long silence he said:
Maybe I'm a queer fellow, and maybe |
I'm not
..4s ssse yeea aagrs2- CeE,a assza'. he fool
What's your Manner
Maybe I'm fool and maybe l am not
a fool at ALL he answered. without turn
Ing around. There was a significant ring
to his voice. which made me feel uncon-
Portable.
What do you mean?"
Instead OF answering my question he gig
gied spasmodically. Then suddenly he
asked
you are awful rich. aren't your
Ny blood ran chill. The music OF the
night suddenly became appalling. l SEEM
ed to have strayed into the land of death.
was not cowed by the Positions ques-
ton. On the contrary ! felt my fighting
blood getting up In me. l was ready to J
lump at this burly peasant. and to clinch
with him regardless Of consequences.
say regardless of consequences. because he
was so much bigger and stronger than I
that unarmed as l was, my chances in
fuel were very meagre indeed. But II
was not frightened by the brute l seemed
10 be scared to death by the snow desert.
which a few minutes ago had seemed to
no the height Of earthly beauty, SYM
sol Of all that is connected with our peace.
eve. and happiness in this world
What do you mean?" 1 asked, strenly.
What do ] mean? / mean nothing in
particular. Iou master, are funny man.
not l. 1 say nothing, yet you keep asking
me what i mean. / only said that you
must be a rich man. That's all / said.
Did l say anything else?'
1t was evident that my stern tone had
taken him by surprise. He was not an
expert robbsr by any means. As / subse-
quently learned, It was his first offence.
He had enjoyed good reputation. and had
never been arrested Yet / could hear a
note of confidence in his silky talk He
was evidently frightened more than was
the temptation was too strong
for him to give up his plans for single
You didn't say anything else" went
Dn, in the same hostile manner, "and you
had better hold your tongue unless you
IRE a big fool"
Maybe I'm a big fool, and maybe am
not" he Inurmured.
For some minutes he drove on in ST.
ence. Little by little, however, he slow
d up the horses.
What are you doing that for7'' asked.
"What?"
What? You know what, rascal that
Tou are. The horses are hardly creeping
llong. What's the matter with you?"
81 want some change for tea. master;
hats what's the matter. Just a few rou-
,les for a New Year present." he said,
With a giggle.
How dare you, scoundrel you"
Ihouted. suddenly bending over and s;rik-
ng him a savage blow on the big fat neck.
This was a mistake. Perhaps If | had
lot thus started the fight he would have
acked the courage TO assail me. AS it
vas, he turned upon me, and before
Inew how st all happened lay in state
II semi on the snow while
he position was going through my pock-
It's.
Master. oh, master!" he said. when my
oil of treasury notes we're safely deposit
ID in the bosom OF his sheepskin coat
/ pretended to be dead. but failed to de-
ensible fellow than had thought he was.
md once freed from the mask he had
worm, he spoke freely and coolly:
IT'S 10 use making believe. master.
NOW you hear what say. So you had
letter open your eyes and let us have a
friendly talk"
What do you want?" I asked, opening
Ey eyes. You have all my money; you
AVE knocked me senseless. What more
10 you want2"
Listen. master" he began in a bust
lesslike way. "If you think I'm afraid of
mother post wagon coming along you're