The San Francisco call., 1904-06-12
CHAPTER TX.

i did not SWeTVe from my purpose u
become a great man, and pOred over
my books arduously. Ny Instructor
was highly pleased with my progress.
1 could see his face beaming with gen
uine delight as 1 recited my lessons
excellent" splendid" very good,
he would remark. pacing UP and down
the room as was reading a compost
ton or reciting a page of Cicero. Only
half q year before Katia had been far
ahead of me in composition, but now
was reading the masterpieces or Rus-
sian literature, while she still used a
Khrestomatia- a book OF selections.
Mr.. KremIin told me that If l. would
study assiduousIy till the following
summer 1 could easily take the exami-
nations Of the fourth and perhaps OF
the hfth-he referred to gymnasium
grades. OF course / wished to go to the
gymnasium and there study harder
and harder, that 1 might become
great man like Nekrasoff or Pushkin
or I,ermontoff and-marry Katia-
And Katia would listen to Mr.. Krem-
Inns praises Of me without the least
jealousy. When the teacher was gone
she would put her hand on my shoulder
in her childish way and, looking into
my eyes, would say: 'Israei, you viii
go to the gymnasium the coming year
and take away all the prizes. 1 am
sure you will get a gold medal on
graduation. My cousin Mishka got
one, and he is not half as bright as you.
oh, what a great man you will be
some dayl Your picture will be in the
Novosti and in the Sviet and In the
Novi Vremia and you viii be so proud,
with your head ereot-you will not
want to talk to me" Here shut her
mouth with the palm OF my hand
You mean you will be proud, L
would retort enviously, with no little
rancor in my heart, ''and go away to
your relatives in Moscow or Kieff and
mix with colonels and generals, and
you will be ashamed to talk to me-"
1 really meant every word I said. be-
cause Judge Bialnick talked Of being
promoted or installed either Ia Kieff or
Moscow, where most Of his near rela-
tives lived.
And so life passed till fall had come
again. Again the sky was constantly
overcast with heavy dark clouds that
dripped cold drops; again drizzly
panes; again heaps Of withered leaves
lay around trunks Of trees; again
fiower-stalks stood like gravestOnes
where once was glory; again the sigh
Ing winds howled and moaned drearily.
One gloomy afternoon. while the
sudya was in the courtroom admins
tering justice to peasants, Katia and
sat in her fathers study reading to-
gether and engaging in such chat as
made me at the same time Jealous and
happy. We were on a couch near
window. Katia sat with one foot under
her and the other hanging down, her
Iesson-book in her lap We ceased
talking for a minute or two, while We
gazed at the rain, which was becom-
ing mixed with melting snow.
Papa said he Is sure to be promoted
and will get an appointment IN Kief.
You will 60 with US, won't you. Is
rael?'' She said this abstractediy as she
looked through the window at the
snow, which was becoming more and
more noticeable IN the falling rain.
I swallowed lump; my emotions al
most throttled me. How innocently
she asked me thisl She could see no
difference In our stations; to her we
more than ever that was q vagabond.
a mere beggar. VIII 90 with them9
My tears rushed to my eyes. VIII go
with them?-as II belonged to their
circle, q member Of her family.
1t was all I could do to refrain from
putting these incohersnt thoughts into
words. She looked greatly surprised at
my silence. Ny emotions suddenly
found expression IN tsarS-I ever cried
as readily as a girl I turned and COW
cred my face with both hands
Israel" she implored. attempting to
remove my hands, why do you cry7
What did say that hurt your" And
she clung to my hands. removing finger
by finger.
Listen. Katia." blurted out pas
sionateIy. 'T shall study day and night
until become a great man-as great a
man as you like; and then-then-ah.
then"-I became conscious Of what I
was about to say and dropped my head
In despair.
"oh, you foolish Israel" she said.
raising my head by the chin, then IN
marry you"
How candidly and naively she ut
tered these wordsI without the faint
est blush, without the least excitement,
with the simplest understanding OF
what she said.
Impulsively, without being fully con-
scious Of what was doing, threw my
arm around her neck and kissed her on
the mouth again and again.
"KatiaI Katia!"
1t was Judge BiaInicks voice that
called me to my senses; it sounded
stern and harsh-almost cruel.
1 raised my eyes frightfully and be
held Katia's father standing In the
doorway. with a relentless expression
on his countenance.
'Katia!" he called again; and he
stood cold and erect until Katia, with
downcast eyes, walked past him into
the adjoining room Then he also
turned around and walked out, leaving
me alone with my head droOped over