The San Francisco call., 1904-06-26

Count?"
mo, Pan Notka, but"
The master lost control Of himself
and shook the muzhik by his ears.
Where is my daughter? Tell me quick
or"
His excitement was so intense and
his anger so fierce that he could not
finish the sentence. His wife dropped
upon a sofa and sObbed. Little Yankele
Jacob. frightened by the frenzy OF
MS father and the grief of his mother,
broke into walls j stood in the middle
or the room, stiff and cold
saw Pane Make walking toward
the forest about half an hour after the
Count had left" stammered the trem-
bling Andrew
Harness the two best horses in the
light vehicle, Nikolai" shouted the
master. Israel and 1 will look in the
woods"
realized the folly of searching in the
woods for Make, for I OWNED the
cause of her disappearance But L
made no objection, and accompanied
the agitated father to the forest. The
horses gallOped as fast as they could;
Nikoiat at the command of his master,
whipped them mercilessly. On the way
Mr. Takiff did not utter word, only
pressed his temples with his hands and
grOaneds
When we reached the path that cut
through the forest Mr.. Takiff alighted
and asked me to walk with him
through the thick woods. We tramped
over stumps and fallen trees and
through the thick underbrush. Every
thing was quiet except the autumn
wind that whistled painfully and the
sound Of our footsteps.
''Malkel Malke," shouted the unhap-
py father distractedly.
Nothing but a hollow echo came in
response. Once there was a noise
which sounded like the cracking of dry
twigs under foot. We stopped and lis
tened with held breath. But it was
only the Kissing of the wind.
At the other end OF the woods Nikolai
was waiting for US with a carriage.
''To Count Losjinski. . ordered the mas
ter as we stepped into the vehicle.
In about an hour we reached theO
Counts palace. No light was to be
seen at any of the windows. Mr. Talxin
pulled the bell fiercely.> No one came
to the door. He rang again impatiently
and again and again, but he only got
the same silent answer that he received
when he called for his daughter in the
heart of the forest.
We remained standing on the steps
of the palace while minute after minute
passed, Mr.. Takiff with his head hang
ing over his chest.
Presently we started home; there was
nothing else for us to do. On our way
We accosted every peasant we met with
questions, but learned nothing. At
length we came to a small inn kept by
Jew, and here We stopped in the hope
of obtaining some cIew.
We found a shriveled. black-haired,
black-eyed little man seated at a table.
with his wife and three little children
by his side, eating their first meal
after the long fast. A few muzhiks sat
at another table in the same room,
smoking their sinking makhOrka "a
poor quality of tobacco and washing
their throats with delicious vodka.
How do you do. Pan Notka?' said
one of the muzhiks, with long, faxen
hair. sharp little nose, and small.
shiny eyes peeping from under a mar
row, projecting forehead You're
highly promoted. Pan Notka," he went
on jestingly, before any one else could
speak. Il saw Make driving with the
Count in a carriage to-day" and he
winked at his companions
Mr.. Takiff fell back and stood quiver-
ing for a minute. Then he partially
controlled himself. and besought the
peasant to tell him all he knew about
his daughter. Pray. Danila, where
have you seen my daughter with the
Count? Have mercy on an old father
the old man implored, with tears rolling
down his soft, white face.
Sympathy for his grief could be read
in every countenances even Danila ap-
peared mere earnest at these words
We'll, Pan NOtka, I'll tell you all
know" said the peasant. putting his
pipe aside. You know, my oat-field
lies right by the forest. and you know,
Pan Notka, this year we had a poor
harvest. At first there was no rain at
all, then there was too much rain. You
remember the hail that broke the win
dCw-panes of your dollhouse? So my
oatfield in the skirts of the Counts for
est was very poor, and / could not
gather my oats until last week. This
morning. an NOtka, went to gather
the last few sheaves had there, when.
about two o'clock in the afternoon. 7
noticed the Count Losjinski with your
daughter coming toward my field. And
the Count was very good and kind to-
day. He asked me about my. harvest
and about the vegetables. Coming
home 1 told my wife there must be
something wrong with the Count, to
talk to me as If he were one OF our set.
First the Count waited in the forest.
walking up and down and whistling,
then saw your daughter coming. She
was wrapped in a large black shawl
and carried a reticule. I wondered at
first where she was going on the great
est Of your holidays, but I said nothing.
because the Count ran to receive her
and embraced and kissed her. I won
dered and wondered, but I could not
understand 1t. Then the Count whis-
tied very loud, and his carriage came
from the woods. They got in and
drove of as quick as the devil In fact.
I couldn't believe my own eyes. and 50
I told my wife, but. says I to myself: