“PROMISE OF DAWN,"

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16570, 1 November 1921, Page 4

“PROMISE OF DAWN,"

OUR SERIAL

By

E. R. PUNSHON

(Author of " The Crowning Glory.” " The Woman's Footprint,” ” The Solitary llouso," etc., etc.) CARTER. XL— Continued. “Only the devil who hatched the thing knows that.” answered Brown. “ But. there they all arc, gabbling away in their silly lingo, begging your purdon, sir, for calling it so, and stir they will not. They sent for mo to joiu thorn, because they said vre were j ‘•ill brothers now. but T told them T hadn’t collie yet to owning them op kith and kin. and they might talk all they wanted, but. if they meddled with me or my dynamos 1 would talk to them with a spanner.” “Mv own servants as well,” the Count muttered with a groan. As ho spoke the Countess appeared, hurrying down the stairs, and attired iu a very element ary costume of dressing-gown and Khawl. “ Volodia, Yoloclia,” she cried, “there is a Revolution, it seems. The Fm->ernr is deposed, our throats are all going to be cut, and when I scut for a samovar just now , no one will bring it, though 1 die for a glass of tea.” “ A'es. there is a Revolution,” the Count answered. “Then all I can say.” declared his : wife indignantly, “is that you ought to have stopped it long ago. AY hat is the matter with Meyer?” “The peasants have burnt his bouse, nnd tried to bang him,” explained the Count. “ The glory is the Lord's,” murmured the Countess. “ Still. J wish wo could have some tea.” Old Anton appeared at the back of the hall and advanced towards bis master, a sound of whispering aud the shuffling of foot in the distance tolling that he had supporters nob far behind. " Vladimir Dmitrievich,” he said, “ we arc all equals now.” “ I congratulate you,” answered the Count coldly. •• I die of thirst,” sighed Hie Countess ; “if we are al! equals why cannot we have a samovar? Is there inequality in that?” “ f w ill put the. matter before the Soviet.” answered Anton. “ T will summon n meeting at once.” Ho retired with dignity, and apparently the mooting was duly held, and the resolution successfully carried, for without any inordinate delay a samovar appeared, borne in by Stepinida, a buxom kitchen maid. She banged it down on the table with considerable violence. “ All are equals now.” she said, and picking up a tumbler held it out to be filled. “As I am thirsty, I wish to drink like voi>,” she announced. “ By all means.” said the Count with a profound bow. at the same time indicating an arm-chair. t: Pray be seated.” Hie girl seated herself with a kind of defiant bang, and the Count handed her n glass of tea. with bis courtliest air, as though ho were at Court, and Bhe some great lady there. But this was altogether too much for her and pbie jumped up looking very red and angry. “ Never mind, you’re making game of mo. old man,” she cried. “ I’ll teach you to poke fun at ycrur equals.” She flounced off in a great temper, and tlio Count shrugged his shoulders. “The first fruits of equality,” be said. “ Well, little dove,” he added to his wife. “Give me some tea, and then we 'rill see what happens next.” “ Tf this sort of thing is going on here,” observed Michael to Boris, “where the master and mistress have always been kind and considerate and well liked, what is happening elsewhere?” Boris shrugged his shoulders helplessly, and then with the air of on© enunciating a profound and rarelyunderstood truth : “ A Revolution is a serious thing,” he said. Michael was verv anxious to return to the works to see how matters wore progressing there, but at the same time he did not feel that he could

leave Troitsa until the course events were likely to take was clearer. After a time old Anton appeared again, to announce that Stepiuidahs complaint against her master and mistress had been laid before the Troitsa Soviet, had been duly considered, and dismissed, and that a resolution had been passed pronouncing shame upon her, for endeavouring to stir up trouble without due cause. “ Whereon,” continued Anton, “she made ready to hang herself, as was right aud natural, for who can wish to live when their Soviet, lias pronounced £ shame* upon them? But, on witnessing this proof of penitence and docility, the Soviet met again, aud rescinded the resolution of • shame,’ whereupon ! Arina, though some thought this ou interference with the individual’s right of liberty, cut Stepinida down. Fortunately Stepinida now approves of Arina’s acliou, and as her throat is much bruised and swollen, tlio Soviet thought that Madame, the CountessI mean,” ho corrected himself hastily —“the comrade-countess —would come and bandage her bruises for her.” Tin? Countess who iiad long been accustomed to act as doctor to her household rose, willingly, and departed to attend the would-be suicide. Before long she returned to report that no great harm bad been done, and that Stepinida was much more frightened than hurt. Apparently, too, the .servants, though they had felt it their duty to set up their “ Soviet ” and declare their equality, were not disposed to be hostile, and a report that find arrived from tho village was also reassuring. Relieved, however, from their own more immediate fears, the Count and Countess began lo worry about wliat might have happened to Vera, who, at Petrograd, must have beon in the thick of tin* revolutionary movement. Tho Count was uneasy, too, about Lies brother, Peter Pskov, whdse, 'devotion to the old ordetr of things was likely now to make him a marked man. 13ut there was no possibility for the present of obtaining news either of him or of Vera Oon Coijiit\ a a fairly at ou*.-. 1 Among disciplined fore©a all thU tort of tiling will have been hold n check,” bn said To Michael it ir»» h great rebel In \ think that Sybil wiin with Prnv .. i lectlv safe, protected l>v 11.0 popu la iil a ■ of tho Prince, who wa.< known u, l„. of liberal views, and whose atm.,... j neter, and kin Ih cJiRpOMI ion. hm) mm|h j him ns well liked, as deeply , p.,,1 ~J j j all through that district. \ s ciu, |,,H j j with her her little pupil. Stishn, a | j favourite and pet of Princes?* GriMj.di'.*, i Oouuf and Count©** Pskov uei e <*u,uh! I ly relicried to foe] that ih.-n grand I j child was in safety (To te continued ) j