The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1910-03-10


modern and commodious station at
Moscow, and the American, as he
looked about him. felt that he was in
the heart of European civilization
once more.
Wang, who was invaluable through
his ready wit and his knowledge of
Russian, attended to the baggage and
engaged a sledge to take his employer
to the Slaviansky Bazar, or hotel. the
best caravansary in the city, and a
very sumptuous and comfortable inn,
as it proved.
For several days he devoted HE en-
tire attention to business, comforting
with merchants and going over lists,
prices and accounts with Wang Mean
while, whenever he went into the
streets, the interminable procession of
sledges was there, and he watched
them constantly, always with one face
in his mind-that graceful head held
so high, with its crown of hair the
color of ripe wheat and fine as spider
threads. Many ladies of pure Russian
| type he saw, their faces peeping sau-
| cily from collars and hoods of costly
| fur, and often he would start and his
heart would throb more violently as
he thought he recognized the prin-
cess. He would generally realize his
mistake, however, before the sledge
/ would dash by with its jingling bells.
He would have gone away without
kAl H. G,,s. I. +.
business as quickly as the original
! plan contemplated, but old Emery,
who had come up as far as Irkutsk,
kept writing to him, sending new
commissions. Emery, by the way, was
! becoming jubilant. The diplomatic
relations between Russia and Japan
were growing less cordial every day;
| the demands of the latter country
: were waxing more and more insistent
and difficult to evade. The Japanese,
} too, according to Emery's advices,
were rushing preparations for a death
grapple with the bear on a gigantic
scale.
This means war, my boy" wrote
: the old man, and war means busi-
ness!"
| So Hardy worked away, enlarging
! his acquaintance with the Moscow
merchants, while his respect for the
magnitude of their operations and for
the greatness of the city's industries
steadily grew.
And one evening, as he walked home
| IN "a Drin Do
manovna. There was no mistake
about it this time, ana he realized
that, when it was indeed she, there
could be no mistake. She was lean
ing back in a sledge with high curving
dash, luxuriously piled with skins. On
an elevated seat in front sat her
cOachman and footman, the former
directing the energies of four milk
white steeds, whose tails were tied in
knots, but whose long names streamed
wildly in the wind. Two of these
horses were running free, and, thus
their movements was sight to be re-
membered for lifetime. The prin-
cess wore a white round cap of fur,
and her cheeks, deliciously Redeemed
by the excitement and the keen teeth
of the wind, were snuggled in the soft
collar of white fur cloak. Hardy
noticed, with a thrill of distinct pleas
ure, that no man. but an older woman,
accompanied her.
And the princess saw Hardy. AS he
arrested his steps at the edge of the
curb and gravely lifted his hat, she
bowed and, leaning forward, touched
the coachman and called to him. The
horses came to sudden stop, rearing
upon their launches and plunging and
slipping in a wild tumble. Presently
they stopped and stood trembling. The
sledge drew up to the curb.
"Why, Mr.. Hardy" exclaimed the
princess in Russian, Il had no idea
that you were in Moscow. How long
have you been here?"
"A little over two weeks"
"Over two weeks and have not been
to call on me! do not consider that
kind. Nine. Prebioff, this is Mr..
Hardy, the American whom I told you
about, who rescued me from the
Chinese brigands, and performed such
feats of valor on the Shilka. l do not
he does not think me worth calling
on"
THE princess has talked constantly
of you," said Nine. Prebioff; half the
young men in Moscow are waiting to
challenge you. Hearing of your won,
practicing with the pistol. The pro
prietors of the galleries are getting
rich, and one can scarcely sleep nights
on account Of the constant popping.
The princess laughed merrily. You
are positively incOrrigible, Anna" she
said. "But'-turning to Hardy-"tell
me why you have not been to see me?
What excuse have you to offer, sir?"
Il should have called before l left
to pay my respects" said Hardy
gravely. 81 have been very busy.
am here on business, you know, fol
the American Trading Company. buy
ing up stock for their posts on the
Amur. I--ah, had not expected to de
vote much attention to society"
"Mr. Hardy is merchant, then?
inquired Nine Prebioff, languidly
"How very interesting"
The princess eyes flashed danger
ously, but she made no reply to Nine
Prebioff.
But even II you are busy" she
said, you can spare little time fol
, your friends. VIII you not call OF
me tomorrow evening? l shall bC
| quite alone, and we can talk over oul
wonderful adventures togethe~. Conn
at eight"
The horses, stung by the cold, wert
hernming mnmanageahle now and WerI