A CURIOUS STORY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1119, 10 July 1883, Page 3

A CURIOUS STORY.

A lieutenant in the .Russian army, and a Count pardessus It marcM, having paid marked attention to the prettiest girl in Moscow, her father, by profession a dyer, asked him if his intentions were honourable or otherwise. As the young nobleman's reply was evasive (s iys art exchange), the worthy dyer naturally concluded (hey were otherwise, < and requested him to bestow his attentions elsewhere. The young gallant kept out of the way for some time, but at last passion got the better of prudence, and he re-commenced hia flirtations with the dyer's pretty daughter during tho absence of her worthy sire. The inevitable occurred. Papa surprised the lovers, and without much ado collared the budding warrior, doased him in the first handy vat of dye, and then reasoned with him a posteriori When the Count sot home he discovered that neither cold water nor hot, neither spirits of wine nor benzine, neither soap nor silver sand, would remove his new complexion—a heavy azuro. The Government-General of Moscow was informed of the tragedy, summoned the dyer to his presence, and ordered him to remove the dye. The delinquent proudly answered that the azure was his own invention, and a fust colour, which neither he nor anybody else could wash out. He admitted, however, that it could be changed to black, and he would do it gratis. The young County nearly lost his senses. Every chemist in Moscow tried his skill, but without avail. At last the heroine of this story wormed out the secret from her father. The Count's complexion is restored to its pristine pink, and she is a Countess.