Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1851-04-10
INDIANA STATE SENTINEL.
From the Golden Rule
The Snow Tempest---or, tho Mysterious We'd
ding.
TRANSLATED BY A. @. ARNOLD.

TRANSLATED By A. y. ARNOLD.
Toward the end of the year 1911, that year so me-
morable in Russian history, there lived in Nenara-
down wealthy nobleman whose hospitality and gen
erosity had made him avorably known in that region
Every day his neghbors came to his house, some to
eat and drink others to play at boston with his WIFE,
and others to see his daughter Marie, whose pale
melancholy but beautiful figure, and quiet and gentle
virtues won their love and alteration. She was just
seventeen years of age and known to be the sole
heiress to large estates; and, consequently, more
than one gentleman thought of her for his son.
Marie had read poetry and romance; and, by these
had been early initiated into the mystery of love.
She had lent ready ear to the gallant words oil
young ensign, of the Russian army, who had been
passing few days with his family in the neighhor-
hood. He went away, however, without coniesslng
his love publicly; but the vigilant parents, remark
ing this mutual inclination, treated the young officer
with severity, and forbade Marie ever to think OF
marrying him
Meanwhile the two lovers wrote to each other, and
had frequent interviews in the forest OF Frrees near
the ruins of an ancient chapel There accusing the
gor of destiny they swoe TO each other eternal love
and fidelity, and formed all manner Of projects for
the future Their letters and their conversation led
them at length, TO a decisive resolution. 'As we
cannot live without each other they sald ant cruel
fate seems to obstruct our happiness, must our
selves surmount the obstacles that oppose US 1t was
the Young officer who first expressed this thought,
and Marie, her romantic Imagination immediate
" accepted it.
The winter had just opened; the rendezvous in the
forest could no longer take place; but their cores
pondence only became the active. In each let
ter vladimir entreated his sweetheart to abandon
herself to him. and allow their union to be
ted by a secret marriage. They would pass some
time in retirement, and then would cast themselves
at the feet of her parents; who, moved, without
doubt by such conStancy, would say to the young
couple, Children, we pardon you-co,ne 70 our
armSn
While Marie accepted this project, she hesitaled
to put it into execution At length her lover propo-
sed plan of elopement, which she adopted. On
certain day she TO pretend illness, and retire to
her chamber at the hour of supper. Her chamber
maid in the secret; they were both TO descend
private staircase leading into the garden at the gate
of which they could find sledge, which would take
them to the church of ESchadrina, where vladimir
would await them. All the night preceding the de-
cisive day, Marie did not sleep. She prepared her
baggage her wardrobe, and her jewels; then she
long letter to her mother and another 10 one
of her friends. She babe them adieu in the most
pressive terms, excused the step she was taking by
the violence of her passion and finished by assuring
them that the moment she could come and cast her
self at their feet and obtain their pardon, would be
the happest period of her life. Those letters sealed,
she threw herself upon her bed and was soon wrap
ped in sleep But her slumberS were troubled with
frghtul dreams II seemed to her that when she de-
parted for the church, her father seized her in wrath
and hurled her into terrible abyss; then her be-
trothed stood before her, all pale and bloody and en-
treated her, with dying voice, not TO forsake him.
In the morning she pale than usual, really
i'll. Her parents questioned her with tender heart.
She attempted 10 tranquZe them and appear gay,
but could not succeed. The important evening ar
rived. She was cruelty oppressed with the thought
that this the last day she 10 spend under the
paternal roof. When supper was served she announ-
ced with trembling voice that her illness forced her
to retire, and wished her parents good night. They
embraced her, as was their custom, and gave her
their benediction. When she arrived in her own
apartments she threw herself upon couch and gave
herself up the conflicting emotions which agitated
her. Her chamber-maid prayed her TO be calm and
take courage All was ready; In one little hall hour,
Marie was to leave the home of her youth and bid
adeu to the peace and serenity of virgin life. Di-
rectly, dreadful tempest of snow burst upon the
hills and roared through the neighbong forests; the
wind growIed madly and made the doors and windows
of the castle tremble, though they had been sha-
ken by thousand arms. Marie superstitous,
and thought this evil preSage.
Soon all was quiet the house. Wrapt in cloak,
and followed by her chamber-maid, Marie descend
ed in TO the garden The storm had abated none OF
its violence; and she reached with difficulty the ex-
tremity of the garden. The sledge there; the
horses, shiverng with cod stamped with impotence
and the coachman after assisting the ladies 10 ascend
seized the reins and drove rapidly towards DSchad
rino.
Let us now leave them to pursue their course, and
see what has become of the young ensign.
vladimir had been actively engaged, during the
whole day, in making his with the
priest to arrange the ceremony Of marriage; then
with his neighborS, to invite them to the church as
witnesses. After having sent his faithful Michael with
his sedge to wait for his Marie at the gate he took
lighter one drawn by one horse, and drove towards
DSchadrinO, where in few hours he was TO meet his
bride He knew the way well, and thought he would
reach there in twenty minutes. But scarcely had he
reached the open country, when the storm burst in its
fury, and clouds of snow hid everything from his
view. In an instant, the road was covered with snow;
the horizon enveloped in sombre veil, through
which he could distinguish heaven nor earth VIA
dimr perceived that he had lost his way and at eve
ry moment the sledge was overturned. Although
he had been more than half an hour his journey,
the young officer had not yet reached Dschadrino.
He continued his route through open field. The
storm increased in violence; the sky became gloomy
and threatening and his aded horse could scarce be
urged forward. What then was his diSmay when he
found he had again taken false direction. He
paused, reflected sought to collect his thoughts and
decided, at last, that he ought to turn to the right
He had continued, thus, his wearisome journey full
two hours, when he perceived at distance dark
line, which told him he was not far from the forest
God be praised said the young man, Pm not far
from the end OF my journey; and he advanced along
the edge of the wood hoping to find the true direc-
ton. Sometime after, he emerged from this extern
sive forest; but he looked in vain for the village OF
Dschadrino. II already midnight; he was in
despair, and wep in the bitterness of his dsappoint-
ment. Meanwhile, the tempest abated, the young
officer discovered large plain, covered with snow,
In the midst of which arose miserable hamlet COM
posed of four five cabins he approached the
est one, and knocked at the window minute after
an old man, with white head, appeared and inqui-
red his wishes.
Am far from Dschadrino.'
de Dschadrino!
sYes, yes-is it far from heres'
'No-not far-abOut ten versts.'