Litchfield enquirer., 1860-11-08
Mlisfella11p.
THE HANGING GUEST.
A RUSSIAN STORY.


 A RUSSIAN STORY.
 It is grand discovery of our day, an one that has furnished the material for man distinguished authors renown, that notf ing in the world is more interesting, admira ble, dignifed, and edifying, than the life of respectable robber. The jail is your onl real palace of romance; blood is the lemon ade of modern literature. We Russian must not remain behind the age, we also hay our tales of robbers, if we would not appea in the eyes of all civilized Europe as pee pie utterly devoid of all culture and taste For the honor of our country, therefore, will for once constrain myself to conform t. the fashion of the day; but on condition tha it shall be for the first and last time in m, life, and that no one shall second time de mand such sacrifice of me. l will relate simple anecdote, which I had from person of undoubted veracity, and who, moreover had an excellent knack of telling story It is one that made deep impression upol Divine justice.
 Two versts from
 One condition more You mnst allow mt to premise that my robber is none of youl virtuous sort. tell my tale only for the amusement of my readers, perhaps, also, fol tEeir instruction, but by no means for the purpose of acquiring for myself the reputa tion of philosopher of the young schoop of literature; moreover, rather pride myself on not being able to comprehend their phi losophy.
 Two versts from Va, upon an emi. nence between wood, morass, and a riv- er at son e distance from the high road, stands wooden country house, with green and antiquated roof. Here, usually through out the summer, and sometimes too, in au- tumn, resides Gaurila Michailowitch F., a retired captain, and at present. district jus tice, very olthy man, as are all the dis trict justices in the Va department
 Early one Sunday morning, in the month of August, -, his worship GanriIa Mich ailowitch, with his houored lady, PrasEovya Yegorovna, set off for the city, in a britscE.- ka, to transact sundry urgent matters of buslness--vlz., to go to church, to drink with ils reverence and protopope, to eat and be convival with the district attorney, to hear the town news from tbe commandant's lady,
 
 trict treusurcr's, aad to play boston-at gov .rnors. Scarcely had the master and mis- trcss driven from their door, when all the servants followed their example, and quilted the house. The butler went to see his cousin i'll the village; the cook bvtook himself to the pubiic-louse to drink brandy; the cook maid to the river to catch crayfsh; Prochor and Daria went nutting ill the wood; VaSka and Natasha straycd 10 the heath to gather cranberries, &c.; Duna alone remained in the house. Duna, the pearl of he whole W--;t department, fair as a lily, fresh as d rose, graceful as cedar, Q sprghtly, vir- tuous damsel; by her calling housc-naid; by her natural good qualities, the fayorte of her mistress, the grand object of the fire qucnt visits of the master of the house to the womeu's apartment, the victim of an inor- dnate propensity of the district clerks for kissing, the goddess for whose sake the gov eruor's vaet-who, like herself had been brought up in the great world, in the Nevska erspcctive--negIccted the polishing of his masters boots to the great scandal and in- dignation of the whole provincial administra- tion; none but he could appreciate her feel ipgs; none but she could duly estimate the grace of his department. They mutually that have taken fire by the Kasan Bridge in St. Petersburg, and they were as happy as none can be but ill the country.
 Girls shut up in house by themselves are always afraid of thieves Duna, therefore, carefully fastened 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 aud mistress were to spend the whole day in the town. In the pleas antest possible mood, Duna arranged her curls, set her neckercllief in order, tishtened her girdle, and hunmed tune, when sud denly there was gentle tap at the door, "That is he p aud like an arrow she flew and opened it to let him in. "Ah! it is not he!"
 II am your man," replied deep husky voice, as there cautiously entered through the open door big-built fellow, iu latter ed fricze cloak and faded cap, with swar- thy face much in want of the barber's office terribly foxy moustuches, and dusky red nose and scarlet forehead, blue lips. and bloodthirsty eyes; the very type of the chairman of a city pot house, or one of those diabolical figures that are only to be seen il, Salvador Rosa's paintings.
 The astonished Duna recoiled some steps and repeated with sigh from the bottom o her heart, "It is not hew Meanwhile the stranger had stepped in, and with the ut most coolness closed the door again, locked it, and pat the key in his pocket
 What do you want? Who are you?' cried Duna. Why do you put the key il your pocket!"
 Don't be alarmed, my little dear," ht said, smiling. |" 1 am come to pay you { visit The time must have hung heavy ol your hands, all alone here."
 "Not at all. But what do you mean b, pocketing the key?"
 Instead of answering, he went up to her and patted her on the cheek. She spranl back from him.
 '. "Why do you lock the door? Give m the key, or will cry out"
 "That will do you no good. l know yer. we'll there is no one in the house." "A pretty thing, indeed! Come in, witf :. out With your leave,' or By your leave 5 and lock the door as if you were in your ow < housep t, "I always lock the door when have tn af- mk to be alone with so pretty girl as yol ec- cheegell' and once more he patted he 'gs gry Duh his coarse. dirty hand. The al HN~zA.