The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-14
CONTINUED FROM YESTERDAY
CHAPTER III.

al in Vienna, and the rain sDlashed down
in torrents the excited citizens who
thrOnged the broad Ringstrasse and surged
right up TO the gates of the Hofburg. Ac-
cording to the programme of festivities the
Russian monarch was to be present at a
grand review on the Schmelz parade
ground. and the drenched sightseers never
dreamed that the potentate Of the icy
North would be prevented by "a little
weather from attending the function.
Inside the palace. however, rumor al
ready prevailed that a pOstponement was
under discussion by imperial host and
guest The ladies and gentlemen of the
Russian suite, a brilliant bevy in Partisan
millinery and gala uniform, had gathered
to await the summons TO the carriages III
the grand salon of the wing in which they
were accommodated. and they were dis
cussing the situation as one in which they
had a very personal interest.
II am sure l hope that this delay does
| mean postponement.' remarked lady OF
| imposing appearance but rather silly eN-
preston, who sat on a divan tanning her
| self vigorously. II would willingly lay down
my life for their dear Majesties, but can
| not afford to ruin my clothes-and yours.
| my child-for them. That Worth toilette
which you are wearing cost 200 roubles.
lima, and ii will be a long goodbye to it
| If the review takes place to-day"
The little feminine grumbe adj
! dressed to a tall girl in a magnificent cos
tune of dove-colored silk, who was stand
| ing at an adjacent window, gazing down
| into the rain-splashed courtyard. The
/ speaker was the Countess Vassili, one of
| the three ladies in waiting who had accom-
panied the Tsarina. The younger was her
| daughter lima, the junior of the same num-
Der OF maids of honor.
The girl turned to her mother with a lit
tie laugh. and there was note of nervous
tension in her voice as she replied
What is a dress more or less if one can
get few hours excitement? We have been
cooped up for days in the train. and now
ii seems that we are to spend our stay in
Vienna shut UP together like animals in a
| travelling menagerie-Russian bears, for IN
stance am sure feel like one"
For heavens sake, child, do not let any
one hear you talk in that fashion" said the
| Mortified old lady, looking round in trepida-
ton. 1T almost amounts to treason. Be
Sides" she added with a giggle intended TO
be significant. you have antidote to
| tI1ul always dl <tAd oAiC PAOd0Cu q
stubby forefinger towards group where
Boris Dubrowski was chatting with his
brother aids de camp.
| Zone is not a housemaid-to be always
hand-squeezing with ones bethrothed." re-
piled lima coldly, as she turned again to
the window WITH an impatient shrug. She
was not an undutiful daughter, but she did
not look to her frivolous mother for sym
pathy-simply because she knew she would
not get it. All through the close associa-
ton of the long railway journey from
Petersburg, it would have been patent to
any ordinary maternal instinct that wild
ening breach existed between lima and
Dubrowski-that the erstwhile fond lovers
were drifting hopelessly apart. Yet the
Countess Vassili was too busy chattering
court gossip and prattling of their dear
Majesties' to notice that Boris held him
self. when possible, sulkily aloof. and that
Ilma's proud heart was up in arms against
such treatment.
Since her mother could not, or would not,
see what was happening before her eyes, ii
was not possible to one of Ilma's self-con-
tanned character to enlighten her. That
would come too near whining TO harmonize
with the boiling indignation that consumed
her. and she felt that it would be quite time
enough to confide the situation to her moth
er when the breach became an open one
For the present she devoting all the
effort Of a naturally strong will to control
herself. and avoid the contretemps OF
breaking her engagement to Boris during
the imperial tour. Yet she was fully deter
mined to give him his freedom whenever
he asked for it-and without waiting fol-
him to do so. they were back
at Petersburg.
| "Olga Palitzin is welcome to him. She
has bewitched him, and she can have him,
| lima said TO herself a hundred times day
Some such thought was in her mind now
as she stood waiting. but it was inter.
rupted by a burst of well-bred laughter
from the group of officers.
Come, gentlement ii is not fair on such
dull day to keep a joke to yourselves.
the Countess Vassili called over to them
Pray, let us share the cause of your mer.
riment."
I'VE were counting heads TO see If w,
were all here" said one of the aids d,
camp. with the exception, OF course. o.
the grandees now in solemn conclave as
sembled, and the ubiquitous Restofski, w.
find that Paul Volborth is the only absen
tee. Some suggests that he has beer
sent for TO try and rearrange matters will
the weather."
All, very good-very good, indeed. >
laughed the countess. You are making 81,
hits at the dear PauPs persuasive powers
but You would not do IL to his face. HI
would turn the jest against you'
Il think Nj. Volborth has gone off rather
lately" said lima. joining in this as /,
every conversation from desire not Z,
attract attention TO her private troubles
1T is sometimes difficult to recognize in
the grave, preoccupied historian the socia
BILE dillettante of our PETERSBURG draw,
ing rooms / have been studying him an,
puzzling over him ever since we lief
| home" iOA
THE cares of office mademoiselle. - sal,
| 6ray-haifed Count WOronzoff the cour
| chamberlain. LAS soon as a man raceiS-e
government appointment a little abstrac p
| ton is pardonable. II he have il NOT h
may even feign Ito make believe tina
his duties weigh heavily upon him"
That must be it, said lima gaiIy IN
| VolbOrth is shamming a devotion to duty
| shall tell him so at the first oppor
| tunity"
Within the limits OF his knowiedee-fo
none but the Tsar Prince LObanof an,
! General de Boisdeffre, the chief of the stan
| was of Volborths real functions
| the court chamberlain was right At tina
| moment the chief agent of the Third Sec
| ton was very much imbued with 9Th
| cares of office, nor was there any need 70
him to dissemble devotion TO duty. III