Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1872-08-03
From Ths Lldins for August.
MARRIED IN SNOW STORM

From The Altina TOT August
MiRRIED In SNOW STORM
Traaslated from the Russian Of Alex. Pushkin.
About the year OF 1911 memorable in
Russian history, there lived upon his es.
tate OF Nemaradof, rich landed proprle.
tor, Gabrilovitch by name, noted for his
aHahility, and hospitality. His house. was
always open to his friends and neighbors,
who used to congregate there every even
ingi the older ones to enjoy game Of cards
with the host and his wife Petrowna, the
younger ones in the hope Of winning the
favor of Marie,a beautiful girl ofseventeen,
the only daughter and hciress Of Gabril-
ovitch.
Marie read French novels, which natur-
ally rendered her very sentimental and
romantic. Under these circumstances
iOye was not long in coming. The object
of her affection was Russian caeet. with
scarcely penny in his pocket, who resi-
'led in the neighborhOod, and was then at
home on leave Of absence As q matter of
course he returned her love with equal
ardor. Marie's parents had strictly pro-
hiblted her from thinking of such uuion,
and they treated the lover, wherever they
met him, with just As much friendliness as
they would have shown an ex-collector Of
taxes. The amorous pair meantime carried
on correspondence, aud beneath the
shade of the pine grove, or behind the old
chapel. "A will readily be supposed, they
here vowed eternal fidelity to each other
complained Of the severity Of fate, and de-
vised beautiful plans for the future. After
some time they naturally came to think
that, should their parents persist In Oppos-
ing the union, IL might in the end he con-
tnmmatod secretly and without their con-
seut The young gentlemen was the first to
propose this, and the young lady soon saw
The rHpediency oft.
The approach Of winter put an end to
these stolen interviews, but their letters in
creased in frequency and warmth. In each
of them Vladimir NikOlovitch coniured
his beloved TO leave the paternal roof, and
consent to a clandestne marriage. I'VE
viii disappear for a short while, 'he wrote,
come back, and cast ourselves at the feet
of our parents, who, touched by such con
tlaucy, will exclaim, Come to our arms,
dear childrenl Marie was long ire.
solniei at length ii was agreed, however,
That she should not appear at supper on
the day appointed, hut should retire to her
room under the pretext Of indisposition.
Her maid had been let into the secret.
Both were 10 escape bya backdoor, In front
+ Of which they would find sleigh ready
10 convey them distance of five wersts,
T. the chapel of Jadrino, where the priest
would await them.
Having made her preparations, and writ
ten long apologctical letter to her parents,
Marie retired betimes to her room She
had been complaining all day of head
ache, and this was certainly no mere pre-
text, for the nervous excitement had in
truth ndispossd her. Her father and
mother nursed her tenderly, asking her
againl andI again; GLOW do you feel now
Marici Are you no betterl" This loving
solicilude cut the girl to the heart,a and with
the approach Of evening her excitement in.
creased At supper she ate nothing, but
rose betimes and bade her parents good
night. The latter kissed and blessed her,
as was their wont, while Marie could
scarcely suppress her sobs. Having reach.
ed her room, she threw herself into chair
aud wept aloud. Her maid finally succeed
ed in comforting aud cheering her up.
Later in the evening a snow-storm arose.
The wind howled about the house, causing
the windows to rattle The inmates had
hardly gone to rest, when the young girl,
wrapping herself in her clothes and fllrs
and followed by the servant with a port
mantsau, left the paternal roof. A sleigh
drawn by three horses, received them, and
away they went at a furious speed.-r
Vladimir had also been active throughout
the day.
In the morning he had called upon the
minister at Jadrino to arrange for th,
cermony, and then he went to look VI
the witnesses. The first acquaintanc,
to whom he applied was an officer on half
pay, who expresses himself quite ready t,
serve him Such an adventure, he said
carried him back to the days of his youth
He determined Vladimire to remain Will
him, taking upon himself to procure tn
other two witnesses. There aceordingl,
appear at tho dinner surveyor Schmidt
with his spurs aud moustache, and Ispra
gnik's son lad of seventeen, who hai
but just enlisted with the Uhlans. Boil
promised Vladimire their assistance. an,
after a cordial embrace the happy love
parted from his three: friends to complet,
his preparations at home
Having despatched a truAty servant wit
a sleigh for Marie, he got into oDe-hors
sleigh himself, and took the road leadin
to Jadrino. Scarcely had he set of, whe
the storm burst forth with violence, an
soon every trace Of the way gone. Tn
entire horizon was covered with thick
yellow clouds dscharging not fakes, br
masses Of snowi at last 1t became imposs
BILE to distinguish between earth and SIX
In vain Vladimir beat about for the wa,
his horse went on at random, now;eapln
over bitches, threatening every moment
oyertuIn the sleigh. The insuppurtab b
thought of having lost the road had b,
come a certainty. The forest of Jadrir
was nowhere to be discovered, and aft,
two hours the iaded animal seemed read
10 drop to the ground. At length a klr
Of dark Inc became visible In the dlstan,