The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1914-07-10
:
haste. II you are to be a diplomat you
must get rid of that American trait"

with her visitor. nor did lie care espe-
cially TO return to the city. There were
| no intricate questions between the
| United States and Russia to render his
| attendance on his chief necessary. and
he was not recalled. He occupied his
time during the day in studying the
Russian people under the guidance of
his fair hostess. and the evenings did
not seem long enough. since he in
variably spent them in her company.
If Wyman thought of what might
come of this association it certainly
did not occur to him that a family
whose nobility might be traced back
for centuries. which was in high favor
with the car, would consent to admit
a commoner like himself into its charm
ed circle by giving him one Of its men,
bers to wife. Nor did he suspect that
Olga Ivanovna would stoop to ally her
self with him. He was happy. and he
was young. and young persons are not
given to looking to point where their
happiness may come to an end.
One evening Olga showed well de-
fined symptom that the little god had
claimed her as one of its victims He
parting with the American was accom-
panied by an intensity Of feeling not
before definitely displayed. Wyman
went to his rooms wondering Could
it be that. yielding to love, this high
born beauty would surrender to an un-
titled man from the other side of the
globe?
The next morning Olga told her guest
that there was to be singular cere-
mOny in the line Of what she had
promised him. He was delighted.
Olga would take part in it. Would he
like to do the same? Certainly. What
was it like? There would be racing.
She would be dressed in running cos
tune If he intended to take part he
would better dress for the same pur-
pose. Capital. He had been a Splinter
in school and afterward in college. He
had several cups at home he had won
on the cinder path.
An hour later Olga appeared attired
in dress the skirt of which came
only to the knees. Wyman had no
sprinting costume with him, so he ap-
peared simply in pair of white fan
mel trousers and shirt. Thus arrayed.
the two sprang into a phaeton which
stood at the door, and Olga drove to
field on which was a crowd Of peo-
pie. At one end of the open space was
tent. Olga drove to point near
the canvas. and both she and her
guest alighted. Olga went into the
tent for few moments, where she
Invested herself of her jacket and
came out ready for run.
Wyman saw no one else prepared
for racing and noticed that he and
Olga seemed to be the center of at
traction. While he was wondering
what it all meant. Olga. who had
walked a short distance from him.
turned, beckoned to him and then
darted away over the field.
Wyman ran after her. There was
the same excitement, the same cheers.
the same shouts, as when he had won
cups in America. He was surprised to
see that Olga was running very swift
ly. Calamity at first caused him to
moderate his pace, but it was not long
before he realized that if he was to
catch her he must do bis best.
The space to be Travelled was 200
yards, and to win Wyman must catch
the fugitive before reaching a goal at
the other end Of the field. He was at
first so dilatory that when Olga had
made half the distance it seemed he
would lose. And so he would have
lost had not Olga in the next quarter
slowed her pace. Within a hundred
yards Of the goal she ran so slowly
that Wyman had no difficulty in catch
ing her. He put his hand on her
shoulder, and she fell back into his
arms amid vociferous approval of
the onlookers
Having recovered her breath. she
slipped her arm through his. and they
walked back together to the starting
point. Out Of the tent came a priest
and advanced toward them. Olga rails
ed her hand in protest.
mo. no, father. This is not a real
wedding This gentleman wished to
see some of our customs, and
thought | had best show him one of
our wedding ceremonies and arrange
that he should be part of it, but your
services will not be required"
Wyman stood looking at the speak
er wonderingly. The excitement of the
chase was upon him. Moreover, q de-
lightful suspicion flashed in his mind
that there was something more in this
ceremony than to show him a custom
of the country
AS for the crowd. it showed signs
Of dissent. There were cries of "A
wedding, Il wedding" But the count
ess. who was much beloved by the
people. stilled them.
"For my part" said Wyman. looking
mt Olga with eyes that expressed far
more than his words implied. IL think
the people are right We should not
disappoint them"
At this the cries were renewed. and
this time Olga found 1t impossible to
still them. She gave Wyman a ques-
tioning look, then dropped her eyes
Wyman struck while the iron was hot