Evening star., 1928-02-03

fFeodor Mikhalovich Dostoyevsh lsZt-
Russian sr!i " il,eraturs' 2ls IT. His NOEL Poor P.o
pie and his Crime and punishment are
both widely read.)
Just five years ago. on New Year
eve, was invited to a ehildren's parry
by a man high UP In the business
world. Really, it seemed to me that the
children part of 1t was merely an excuse
to enable the parents to come together
and discuss matters which concerned
them. Being an outsider. however. ]
spent the evening rather apart from tne
others.
There was a guest that interested NE
very much, named Julian MastaKovlcn
He was an honored guest Wnom tne most
took great pains TO please.
One little girl among the children also
fascinated me. for she was. though only
eleven. as lovely as Cupid. She was
quiet and thoughtful. with large, full.
dreamy eyes. The children had some
how offended her. and she eft them 70
walk into the same room where l had
withdrawn. There she seated herself
with her doll in corner.
Her father is an immensely wealthy
business man." / heard the guests tell
| ing each other in tones OF awe. "Three
| hundred thousand rubles are set aside
| Just for her doWry."
| Just then my glance fell on Julian
| Mastakovich. He stood listening IN an
attitude Of concentrated attention, WITH
his hands behind his back and his head
| tipped little to one side.
| Then I noticed how careful our ho5t
| had been TO give each child a gift IN
| accordance with its station in life. The
little maid of which I have spoken re-
| ceived the handsomest doll. And the
| child of the governess-a tiny chap OF
| 10, thin. red-haired- freckled-recelved
small book of nature stories without
| pictures.
/ like to observe children It is fas-
| cinating to watch the individuality in
them struggling for assertion. Being
driven away from the other children.
| the governess' boy came in where the
little Cupid d-maid sat with her doll. She
| let him sit down beside her. and the
| two began 70 play with the doll busily.
| Julian MastakCTich entered the room
suddenly He had slipped away from
| the other adults under cover OF a noisy
scene among the children. And I had
noticed that few moments before he
was eagerly conversing with the rich
little girls father, to whom ne had just
been introduced.
He stood still for a while. rejecting
ard n1umhling 10 himself, as II counting
: something on his fingers.
Three hundred thousand rubles-
nn1mm. Already set aside for her doVTE
hmm. Let's see. in Eve years that vii
have increased to-that IS. with sound
investment. no doubt at ( per cent .!
even more. for he's a sly old fox. Fiie
/ hundred thousand. at least. Anything
above that would do for pocket money
hn1mnl."
He blew his nose and was about &c
leave the room when he sp!ed the girl
and stood Still He did not see me. H
vas cuiver.ng with excitement. He rub
bed his hands and danced from place
10 place. and kept getting more excited
than ever. Finally. he grew still He
cast a determined lock a. what he had
decided. evidently vas 10 be his future
| hr!de-in five years. when she had
grown from II 20 IS years OF age
and he wanted 10 move toward her
But he looked about irst, Then. as !.
with a guilty conscience. he stepped
over 10 the child and. smiling, ben:
down and kissed her head.
His coming was such surprise 70
her that she gave little cry ot alarm
! y Oh SEO040 not pe p4aEIGg Win &1l-s
! boy" said Julian Mastakoyich. referring
10 the governeSs' child. What have rou
got. doll my dear? Do you know. rav
dear, what dolls are made OF? Out O.
rags. my dear, You, boy. you 60 back
where you belong"
The two children frowred. They
caught hold Of each other and would
not part.
Julian Mas.akovich suddenly looked
round carefully. and, in = faint and al
most inaudible tone, Allied with excite
ment and impatience, he said,
II come 10 visit your parents vii
! you love me. my dear"
He tried 70 kiss the sweet little cree
ture. but the red-haired boy saw that
she was on the verge Of tears and hc
! caught her hand and soebed ont loud
/ in sympathy That en-ased The man
Go away. Go back 10 the othe:
/ roori' he said
! Il don't van. him 70. You 50 away"
cried the gtrs. Let air, alone" she
/ said almost Weeping,
/ Fcotsters were heard In the 6cc--