Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1859-06-21
THE LONG-ARMED ROB BER.
A RUSSIAN TALE.

Two versts from Wilma, upon an emf
nence between wood, a morass, and a
river, at some distance upon the high
road, stands wooden country house, with
green and anliquated roof. Here usu-
ally throughout the summer, and some
times, too, IN autumn, resides Gaurlla
MichaIlowtch, p, a retired captain, and
at present district justice, Il very worthy
man as are all district justices in the
wilma department.
Early one Sunday morning, in the
month Of August, -, his worship Gau-
rila Michailowitch, with his hpnored lady,
Praskovya Tegoroyna, set off for the city,
III britschka, to transact sundry urgent
matters OF buSiness-viz., to 90 to church,
10 drink with his reverence and prCtot> pc,
to eat and be tonvivlal with the district
attorney, to hear the town news from the
commandments lady, 10 read the ST.
Petersburg papers, at the district treas
urer's, and to play boston at the Cover
nor's. Scarcely had the master and mis-
tress driven from their door, when all the
servants followed their example, and quit
ted the house. The butler went to see
his cousin in the village; the cook betook
himself to the public house to drink
brandy; the cookmald to the river to catch
crsyfsh; Procher and Daria went nuLting
in the wood; Vaska and Natasha slrayed
to the heath TO gather cranberries, DC;
Dnua alone remained in the hous' Duna,
the pear. Of the whole W Ina department,
fair rs a lily, fresh as rose, graceful as a
cedar, sprghtly, virtuous damsel; by
her calling housemaid; by her natural
good qualities, the favorite Of her mistress,
the grand object of the frequent visits of
the master OF the house to tie women's
apartments, the victim of an ardent pro-
pensi,y of the district clerks for kissing,
the goddess ior whose sake the governors
valpt-who like herself had been brought
up in the great world in the Nevska Per-
spective.-neglected the polishing OF his
masters boots, to the great scandal and
indignation Of the whole provincial admin
lsrrauon; none but he could appreciate her
feelings; none but she could duly estimate
the grace of his department. They mu-
tually adored each other, as only hearts
can adore that have taken fire by the Ka-
san Bridge in st. Petersburg, and they
were as happy as none can be but in the
country.
Girls shut up in house by themselves
are always afraid of thieves. Duna,
therefore, carefully fast ned the outer
doors, and to avoid thinking of thieves,
she went to look at herself in the glass
while she waited for the valet, whom she
had given to understand that her master
and mistress were to spend the whole day
in the town. In the plrasan'est possible
mood, Duna arranged her curls, set her
neckerchlef in order, tightrned her girdle,
and hummed tune, when suddenly there
was a gentle tap at the door. That is
he !" and like an arrow she flew and
opened it to let him in. "Ah! it is not he!'
II am your man." replied a deep h usky
voice, as there cautiously entered through
the open door big built fellow. in tat
tered fricze cloak and faded cap, with Il
swarthy face much in want of the barber's
Office, terrible foxy mousaches, and a
dusky red nose, and a scarlet forehead.
blue lips and blood-thirsty eyes; the very
type OF chairman of a city pot house, or
one of those diabolical figures that are
only to be seen in Salvador Rnsa's paint
ings.
The astonished Duna recoiled some
steps, and repeated with sigh from the
bottom of her heart, "It is not HELP
Meanwhile the stranger had stepped in,
and with the utmost GOODNESS closed the
door, locked it, and put the key in his
pocket.
What do you want? Who are you?"
cried Duna. why do you put the key
in your pocket"
Don't be alarmed, my little dear" he
said smiling 81 am come to pay you a
visit. The time must have hung heavy
on your hands, all alone here"
mot at all. But what do you mean by
pocketing the key?"
Instead of answering, he went up to
her and patted her on the cheek. She
sprang from him.
"Why do you lock the door? Give me
the key, or will cry out"
"That will do you no good. l know
very well there is no one in the house,
"a pretty thing indeed! Come in,
without with your leave or BY your
leave and lock the door, as if you were
in your own house!''
II always lock the door when l have
tie luck to be alone with SO pretty a girl
as you, my angelP' aud once more he
patted her cheek with lis coarse, dirty