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

CHAPTER NNNts
Hardy HesItates.
Emery stayed on in Stryetensk,
lengthening his visit into months, and
Hardy became greatly attached to
him, finding the companionship Of
this cheerful, bold, resourceful, self
made man an inspiration which the
fellowship of his former society
friends had never afforded him. The
old merchant received frequent ad-
vices from his agent in Japan which
confirmed him in the belief that war
was imminent, and Stryetensk, at the
head of river navigation in Siberia,
seemed to him the most important Of
the company's posts in Russia.
Vasili, who was suspected OF hAv-
ing been active in exciting popuISr
hatred against Hardy, whom he re-
garded as having supplanted him, was
transferred to Blagovestchensk. A,~h
during all this time the Korean bov
whose intelligence and adaptabiltty
were truly marvellous, steadily grew
in favor with his employers. His
progress in Russian was phenomenal.
and as it transpired that he also knew
Japanese and some Chinese, he was,
after a couple of months, promoted
from errand boy to the Office, and set
to writing letters.
In the meanwhile Hardy received
another letter from the Princess Ro.
manovna, a chatty, delightful letter
in Russian this time, complimentin9
him on his progress in the language
and telling him much of her own life
other things, she mentioned the fact
that she had spoken of his heroism Oh
the Amur to the emperor and of the
debt Of gratitude that she owed him.
She assured him that she would be
glad to hear from him from time to-
time and signed her, Your friend,
Elizabetha Romanovna."
In January, Emery announced to
Hardy one day that he wished the
young man to take a trip to Moscow
and perhaps to st. Petersburg on
business.
by the way" said Hardy, stam-
mering slightly and feeling a trifie
confused, there is a-ah-matter OF
which l wish to speak to you. You
know this country so much better
than I, and it's customs. l have re-
ceived an invitation from the Princess
Romanovna to call on her while 10
Moscow"
1t was a little difficult to speak to
Emery on this subject, he was so
practical and his gray eyes were so
shrewd, and at times tWinkled so
humorously. Yet he was thoroughly
kind-hearted, he loved Hardy, both
for his own and for his fathers sake,
and he took a paternal interest in the
young man.
"Is she the one whom you saved
from the Chinese brigands?"
she is the-ah-the one whom l
came up the Amur with" replied
Hardy, modestly.
well, go and call on herr" decided
Emery, without moments thought.
Yes, but l feel some little hesita-
ton. She is a princess, and l am now
a merchant, and we are in Russia. l
don't want her to feel under the least
obligation to me for what have done.
That is to say, do not want her to
feel that I am taking advantage of 1t.
She means all right, but taking me up
might cause her some little inconven-
ience or embarrassment. Her rela-
tives are proud and naughty, and l
don't belong to her social set"
Social set be blanked!" roared
Emery Haven't you got that Bos-
ton tommy-rot out of your head yet?
You're an American gentleman, and
an American gentleman is good com
pany for any princess that walks the
surface of the globe. Besides, if you
stay with me and this war goes right,
I'll make a merchant-prince out of
you, my boy, and those are the only
princes these days"
One week later, in the middle OF
January, Frederick Courtland Hardy
crossed Lake Baikal to Irkutsk and
there took the magnificent train
luxus," nine-days railway journey to
Moscow. Though he was going on
important business, yet he felt
strangely agited over the fact that he
was soon to see the princess again
With the agitation, too, was mingled a
certain degree of misgiving and fore,
boding. He was rot sure that his see
, ing her would conduce to his peace
of mind.
lie was accompanied by his secre.
tary, Wang. the Korean boy, who had
rendered himselfindispensable through
his genius for details.