The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1915-04-01
ND FARM MAGAZINE SECTION SERIAL.


my heart. could have wept because
could lear Michael snoring in his
chamber. He seemed happy. At last,
heard nothing more. there was moth
ing more to hear but the double cho-
rus Of frogs in the pools Of the island.
Our pools. Natacha. are like the en-
chanted lakes Of the Caucasus which
are silent by day and sing at evening;
there are innumerable throHgs of frogs
which sing on the same chord, some
OF them on a. major and some on mi
nor. The chorus speaks from pool to
pool, lamenting and moaning across
the fields and gardens and re-echoing
like aeolian harps placed opposite one
another"
DO aeolian harps make so much
noise, Bofis?"
"You laugh? l. don't find you your
self half the time. 1t is Michael who
has changed you, and 1 am out of 1t.
(Here they spoke in Russian.) I shall
not be easy until L am your husband.
can't understand your manner with
Michael at all"
(Here more Russian words which l
do not understand.)
Speak French: here Is the garden
err" said Nataeha.
4 do not like the way you are man
aging our lives. Why do you delay our
marriage? Why?
{Russian words from Natacha. Ges-
ture of desperation from Boris.)
How long? You say long time?
But that says nothing--a long time.
How long? A year? Two years? Ten
at your feet. No, no; speak or l Will
I'm, II a u
dogr
Il swear to you, by the dear head of
your mother, Boris, that the date of
our marriage does not depend on
Michael"
(Some words in Russian. Boris a
little consoled. holds her hand linger-
ingly to his lips.)
Conversation between Michael and
Natacha in the GARDEN
"Well? Have you told him."
Il ended at last by making him un-
derstand that there is not any hope.
| 1t is necessary to have patience. |
have TO have it myself"
''He is stupid and provoking"
Stupid. no. Provoking. yes, II you
wish. But you, also are provoking"
"Natacha! Natacha,"
(Here more Russian.) AS Natacha
started to leave, Michael placed his
hand on her shoulder, stopped her and
said, looking her direct in the eyes:
"There will be a letter from An
| nouchka this evening, by messenger
at FIVE O'clock He made each syllable
explicit Very important and requir-
| ing an immediate reply"
These notes of RouletabilIes are not
followed by any commentary.
|
| After luncheon the gentlemen played
poker until half-past four, which is
| the "ehie'' hour for the promenade to
| the head Of the island. Rouletabille
| had directed Matrena to start exactly
at quarter Of five. He appeared in
the meantime. announcing that he had
| just interviewed the Mayor of st.
| Petersburg, which made Athanase
| laugh, who could not understand that
anyone would come clear from Paris to
| talk with men like that. Natacha came
| from her chamber to join them for the
promenade. Her father told her she
| looked too worried.
| They left the villa. Reuletabille
noted that the dvornicks were before
the gate and that the sehwitzaP was
at his post, from which he could de-
| tect everyone who might enter or leave
the villa. Matrena pushed the Jollng-
chair herself. The General was radiant.
| He had Natacha at his right and at
| his left Athanase and Thaddeus. The
two orderlies followed. talking with
Rouletabille. who had monopolized
them. The conversation turned on the
devotion of Matrena Petrovna, which
|