The Grit-advocate., 1905-08-18
CHAPTER VI.
Alexis Nazimoff at Home.

ment after his arrival and received
a greeting from the karsicheffs,
whose welcome quickly followed his
entrance. he looked the ideal Of the
dashing cavalryman His great coat,
cap and sword had been handed to
servant, and his finely proportioned
figure was revealed to a perfection in
the uniform which became him SO
we'll
His dark eyes, softened by the ex-
preston of the emotion with which
he had met his fathers greeting.
lighted up face of singular attract
iveness. His hair, of deep chest
nutty brown, matched well the sun
tanned complexion; and the. slightly
aquiline nose, finely chiseled, indicated
at once the high birth and the
strength of character; while the we'll
formed mouth showed under the dark
brown mustache such lines of deci-
sion as to indicate that once the lips
were drawn together in evidence of
purpose formed, that purpose would
be carried out at any cost
Alexis, after greeting his father, had
turned to Olga. whom he kissed on
both cheeks. but those who noticed
the salutation could hardly help COM
ing to the conclusion that there was
little Of ardor in the act 1t was
rather the perfunctory salutation of
sister than the ardent greeting of
an affianced wife after a presumably
cruel separation of two long years. AS
he was greeted by one friend after
another, Alexis face indicated the
pleasure he felt at the warmth of his
reception. He was the center OF
group. most of whom were old &C.
quaintances. when his father, who
had observed General Cobb standing
half-concealed at a curtained window
as he talked to the Baroness Won
Rhineberger. approached the latter.
MY dear baroness, you must not
be last with your welcome to Alexis
he was always favorite with you,
and general Cobb. Come along!"
So saying. Paul Nazimoff, offering
his arm to the baroness, escorted her
down to the group where Alexis stood
the central figure in joyous throng.
MY dear baroness" was the hearty
greeting of Alexis, as he recognized
her, and he was about to continue
when his father spoke:
And here is another old friend"
He had no opportunity to finish the
sentence.
Alexis turned and saw Cobb.
His face fairly glowed with pleasure
as he impulsively sprang forward with
outstretched hands.
What, Cobb! my friend, my dear
friend! Here, here, beneath by fathers
roof. This is indeed a pleasure! We'll
come ten thousand times. To find
you here when thought you back in
America makes my happiness this
night completed"
The warmth of Alexis words, no
less than the evident pleasure and
sincerity with which they were utter
ed produced a feeling Of profound sur
prise in the assemblage.
With the exception of the meeting
with his father. when his emotion was
apparent to all. Alexis had given no
evidence of other than the natural
pleasure with which he had met the
welcome of his friends. His man.
ner was not wanting in warmth, but
in no case had he shown anything like
the spontaneous and + eartfelt pleasure
with which he had greeted Cobb.
There were glances of surprise and
inquiry between the guests. and on
the face of the Countess Karsicheff
there was an expression of annoyance
which she found it impossible to avoid.
Four hundred curious eyes had seen
the meeting of Alexis and Olga, and
she felt that gossip would be busy with
its significance IN hundred places in
St. Petersburg. The warmth of
Alexis greeting to Cobb made his cold
ness before doubly apparent, and
Katherine Karsicheff, raising her
naughty head, made no effort to con.
ceal the significance of the INQUIRY
which her eyes directed to those of
Alexis.
Alexis quickly realized that some
explanation was required Taking
General Cobb by the arm he ad
vanced from the group. Father,
friends" he said. looking at the com
pany, has he not told you? do you
not know"
The puzzled looks answered the
question.
Evidently not" proceeded Alexis,
as he stopped the protest of Cobb.
Then | shall tell you. Aid me to
show my gratitude your regard TO my
friend, my preserver!"
His preserver!" Astonishment
gave way to curiosity, and an eager
expectancy pervaded the assemblage
as Alexis spoke:
"Ay. my preserver, the man but for
whose steady hand and resolute heart
| should now be filling an unmarked
grave in Asia"
"Oh, come now. none OF that" be-
gan rphh