The Republican journal., 1901-08-29
Sergius Hotzka's
Only Friends.
a Story of Russian Races
and of Love.

federated, but the thermometer still
marks 10 degrees below zero. From
The tall steeples of innumerable church
Is the bells of st. Petersburg ring in
The sacred feast. In an eXQuisitely ap-
g0inted room of palace. where ten
dr. fights filter through the golden
g1aadNvs Of silken hangings, sits wo-
ra, Her attitude is one of repose,
DEEP unruff1ed. From the crown Of
Der little flame colored head to the tip
Of lr dainty shoe she is perfect bit
OF l@me Natures art. If she were
Standing. we should call her tall, but
ST. SIS crouching in her chair with all
ts andon of a doing tigress. She
CIV Il little yawn.
'AI late, as usualw she says aloud.
A. she speaks the door opens, and
srlut enters
Captain Repine," he announces.
H. follows quickly on the mans
laels-short, thickset. with a dull Cos
aes ace and kindly smile, wearing
t-= GIiform of an officer of the impe-
r,G aodyguard.
Pardon, my dear Elisaveta Have l
male You waltz"
Sir givcs her shapely shoulders a
slislr shrug, but watches him with
corHmplative eyes as he rattles on.
Imagine, my beloved, l thought that
should not be able to take you to the
races | was so rushed at the last mo-
neIt. Oh, but they will be superb
Never has the track been more perfect
Lard as rock and not a fake of
SLOW"
Indeed" says the lady languidly.
Putting out lazy. beringed hand, she
draws back the curtain that hides her
window. at Is superb" she assents.
You know how difficult it is to &C.
eomplish that" continued the young
officer. with this cursed wind drifting
The I.adoga snow. Still must tell you
that 500 men have worked all night at
Il Brave fellows"
THE journal says something of a
Ghree horse race"
leS the event OF the day. But
come
we have still another hour" she an
sVered and motioned him to seat be-
side her.
40 no; at your feet, always at your
feet Princess Veta," said the young
nan gayly, finging his head back to
better look into the opal tinted eyes
aooye him. With her little pointed
din against the rose of her palm she
sis lost in a world Of reverie.
DO YOU remember Sergius HotzkaY
sle asked suddenly
BE shrugged his shoulders, accus-
toned to the willful wanderings of the
great city's petted belle.
How could l ever forget him?" he
said in turn. "Was there ever a man
Who left more ineffaceable traces be-
hind him? He was an original mad
man"
original" echoes Elisaveta. "Ah,
What a cowardly word! Originate she
repeated, as though interrogating her
own thought. The young man frowned
slightly, but she went on with calm
Feuospection. "Only three years ago."
She said, land he appeared among us
Ike some brilliant overwhelmingly
rich. astonishing the world with his
eccentric probabilities. Then all those
eod roofing swine, they deserted him
when he was no longer wealthy"
Her lovers white teeth were like a
WolhSh danger signal as he turned to
look at her.
Ny dear" he said coldly, you can't
expect the world to be faithful to q
proscript"
"Proscriptw
Exactly. They say that political
eomplications were his ruin. At any
Fata he is banished from St. Peters
burg"
Then he is in Siberian"
With all soldiers diplomacy he
Gays indifferently: Il believe not.
Tie peasants tell story of hermit
Of the steppes, who mends kettles and
ploWs for the farmers. Many believe
Il 10 be Hotzka, with the remains Of
his own famous stud"
Farmers-kettles," echoed Elisaveta
absently.
Suddenly she turns Oh her moody
swain.
Come, Alexander" she cries, 81 can
see the crowds gather from here.
Quick-we must hurry"
1t is scarcely half hour later and
u4e race course presents brilliant
Spectacle. The river Neva is now only
colossal roadway between two walls
Of splendid rose granite that line its
quays. It is mirror of polished steel
Stands richly decorated with flags oc-
cupy at least quarter Of the Enclosure,
and over a hundred thousand specta-
tors surround the arena. In the center
or everything great pavilion draped
IN purple and gold shows that royalty
expected to take part in the city's
festival. A huge figure in white uni
form shows ITSELF The impassiveness
Of this countenance, with its eagle pro-
nie and small glittering eyes. IL unmis-
taxable.
IT'S he, tie autoczat-the emperor Of
all the Russias.
From the human hive mounts and