A Cigarette-Maker's Romance

ring the money without delay. So far, at least, she had been successful. Though by far the most difficult portion of the enterprise lay before her, she was convinced that if she could really

dness she instinctively turned for counsel and help. As she came to the door she saw that he was jus

Schmidt," she said, boldly. "If I do not

ld not have been more severe. "It is an enormous sum," he said, slowly, while she fixed her eyes upon him, waiting for his answer

far worse than that! If it we

ps it is not so serious as yo

midt, because he has given his word of honour to pay Herr Fischelowitz that m

claimed Schmidt. "It wa

e. We have an hour. If we do not suc

astonishment. "Oh, Vjera!" he exclaimed at last, in

? I have a ten-mark piece and an old thaler put away at home. That makes thirteen, and two I ha

he had, and taking one silver piece out of the number to be ret

e eagerly took the proffered coins. "Twenty already! Why, twenty-five w

id Schmidt. "He probab

if he knew it was for the Count-and he

ther, who knew his man. "Wait

Fischelowitz and his wife were

e, and it is positively ridiculous to be made to submit to this madman's humours, and impertinence. What sort of a man ar

broken," observe

t had been stolen. And it could have been mended, as I say, and might have been worth something after all. You never really tried to sell it, as you ought to have done fr

said Fischelowitz, w

as still doggedly working, making up for the time he had lost

his pocket for his change. He produced five marks, an unusual sum for him to have in his possession, and which would not have found itself in

all," sai

ughed Dumnoff, making as though he

eyes gleaming. "I want that money. You know me, and y

by the sharpness of th

id, with an awkward laugh, "I supp

five work days. You will get your pay this evening and th

y. "Well, take it," he added, slipping th

are not so bad as you look, Dumnoff.

e door through which

e could not have taken it by force. I wonder

l end by costing us so much in money lent, and squandered in charity, that the business will go

him and returned to Vjera's side. She was standing as he had l

r the other. But are you quite sure, Vjera, that it is as bad as you t

romised to bring him the fifty marks, he would have been raving mad bef

nt has done me many a good turn in his time, and I will do my best,

t?" asked Vjera, ruthless, as devoted people can

ould myself. And there are a few pots and pans in the kitchen-not worth much, and I do not know what we sh

f course not!" she exclaimed, immediately afte

"It has a leak in one side, and we make the tea as we can, when we hav

e thirty," said

on it now, though it is good metal. It i

hing, too, though I do not know what it is worth. It is an old skin of a

chmidt. "That may be worth

btfully. "The hair comes out. I think it must have be

k, who understood furs. "But I can mend the ho

early enough to make up the twenty-five marks. They could n

oes not understand those things. And the samovar will n

l you get it, and then you will wait for me where I live, and after that we will g

oked at her often, as he had looked all day, with an expression that showed at once much interest, considerable admiration and some pity. If he had not been lately brought to some new opinion concerning the girl he would certainly not have entered into her wild scheme for calming the Count's excitement without at least arguing the case len

I know, but then, you see I am not alone in the world, Vjera. There are others to b

doing too much already-but I cannot help taking all you g

few minutes, until they reached the doo

ent," he said, as he div

as his quick tread and the loud creaking of his coarse, stiff shoes. He emerged into the street with the body of the samovar under one arm. The movable brass chimney of the machine was sticking out of one of his pockets, and in his left hand he

open, we will sell it. We can get more for it in that way. And now your wolf's skin, Vjera. And be sure to bring me a needle and some strong thread w

that he had only the samovar itself, and its metal tray to carry i

for the little spoon?" she asked, con

ly. "We may get five. It is good si

there was no lamp in the windows. It was that of a small watchmaker and jeweller, and a

spoon," suggested Vjera,

the girl stood outside. In less than five minut

," he said, handi

th more," she answered, putt

ghed just four of them, and he said he must

is always something. I have

g to wonder whether anything had happened, when she suddenly made her appearance, noiseless in her walk, as always. The old wolf's skin was hung over one shoulder, and she carried besides a limp-loo

uld not stay, and I had to quiet her. Here is the skin. Do you see? I am af

arked the Cossack, holding th

worth less?" aske

he worst thing about it all is the way the hairs fall out. I am afraid the moths have been at

e been so careful! And to think that

upon the edge of the pavement spread the skin upon his knees with the fur downwards. Then he quickly began to draw the hole together, sewing it firmly with the furr

red without looking up from his work. The light was

able to sell," said Vjera

ked Schmidt,

hard for you to see," she added quickly, attempting to avoid his questions. "Do you not think

ox. Now, if you can hold the match just there, just over the nee

he gaslight above them, and the redder flame of the match making odd tints and shadows in their faces. Vjera's shawl had slipped back from her head and her thick tress

d?" he asked kindly.

ened glance. The Cossack paid

sir, it is nothing-only a lit

wishing that he could have had pencil and pap

. "It is done, and very well done.

elastic and hopeful. Johann Schmidt's curiosity was very great, as has been seen on previous occasions. He did his best to control it, for some time, only trying to guess from the general appearance of the limp pa

e. "If it is, you know, and if it is good, it

ed the girl. "I will tell you what it i

ssack, "that if we were going to t

have to be sold. Let us go in together." She spoke th

's skin. But Vjera would not give it up. She felt that she must see everythi

g profiles of an outline disquieting to Christian prejudices, leaned over the counter, handled the articles offered them, consulted each other in incomprehensible monosyllables, talked volubly to the customers in oily undertones and from time to time counted out smal

g on earth and, possibly, of most things in heaven, provided that the universe were brought piecemeal to their counter. Both Vjera and Schmidt had been made acquainted by previous necessities with th

ass. One mark and a half." Her husband put out his

exclaimed Vjera. "And th

n wolf," Schmidt put in

wess. "And there is a hol

light and blew into it with a p

ed, persuasively. "Why

pointed forefinger, and pinching a score of hairs between the two, pulle

ng the money out and preparing to

samovar!" entreated V

ld?" she inquired. "Six and a half

dt anxiously as thoug

give more," he

t into the street. Vjera hesitated as to the direction she shou

y-five," she said, thoughtfully. "And we have nothing

he asked, glad to kn

lf when she knew she was dying and she told m

hmidt was silent and very grave. Then Vjera began to move on again, c

in the Maffei Strasse," sai

that moment she would have lost herself in the fa

tune would have it, there were no customers within. With an ent

can bear it better alone." The good fell

girl, however, he assumed a stern appearance which, to tell the truth, was out of character with his style of beauty. His rich brown lo

ked Vjera, timidly of

the hairdresser frog-abandoned the cleansing of a comb and came forward with a leer, in the h

gilt frame. He pushed aside the blue glass powder-box, the vial of brilliantine and the brushes. Vjera u

great ladies endeavour to produce upon their own hair, when they have any, by washing it with extra-dry champagne, while little ladies imitat

hick plait with a bus

arked, as though suggesting that i

Vjera, her heart almost breaking at the

again and took the thicker end, which was tied tightly with a ribband, in his hands, pulling at the s

the barber decisively. "It is a pit

f against the back of the professi

with the pain of her disappointment

nd could not be worked. T

ething hurt her. The tadpole youth grinned idioticall

r parcel again. Her shawl fell to the ground as she moved. Then the tadpole nudged his e

rks that you want

ave fifteen," repeate

your own hair," said the

er occurred to her that her own tress could be worth anything

Yes, yes, it is good hair of the kind, though it has not the gold lights in

ra, suspiciously. "You must give me the m

produced a gold piece

d," he said, offering it to her, "w

She could see in the glass that her eyes were on fire. The barber loosened a screw in t

d judging its weight. The reflection of the steel flashed in the mirror, as the artist quickly

r head as though to draw away her hair from his grasp. "One minut

count on his finger

arber. "Fifteen and t

ot into mathematical difficulties in c

oor Vjera, settling herself in the chair

wed, only the soft jingle

nd-mirror behind her. "I have been generous, you se

y kind." She saw nothing, indeed, but

to her bosom. All at once, she lost control of herself, and with a sharp sob the tears gushed out. She stooped a little and drew her s

ber, not unkindly. He supposed, naturally en

ept this!" Then, without another word, she slipped noiselessly