The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1872-08-03
[From the ALDINE for August.1
MARRIED INA !SNOW STORM.
Trans lated from, the RuSsian nf 4laxon6or prshIt


sian history, there lived upon his estate of
Nemaradof, a rich landed proprietor, Ga
brllovitch by name, noted for his affability
and hospitality. His house was always
open to his friends and neighbors, WHO
used to congregate there every evening;
the older ones to enjoy a 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 of seven
teen, the only daughter and heiress of Ga
/ brilovitch.
| Marie read French novels, which nathr-
ally rendered her very sentimental and
romantic. Under these circumstances love
was not long in coming. The object of lIer
affection was Russian cadet, with scarcely
penny in his pocket, who resided in the
neighborhood, and was then at home on
leave of absence. As a matter of course he
returned herlove with equal ardor. Marie's
parents had strictly prohibited her from
thinking of such a union, and they treated
the 'over, wherever they met him, with just
as much friendliness as they would have
shown to an eX-collector of taxes. The
rcspondence, and met clandestinely beneath
the shade of the pine grove, or behind the
/ old chapel. AS viii readily be supposed,
they here vowed eternal fidelity to e1eh
other, complained of the severity of fate,
and devised beautiful plans for the future.
After some time they naturally came to
think that, should their parents persist in
Al, - ~, L..
consummated secretly, and without their
consent. The young gentleman was the
first to propose this, and the young lady
soon saw the eXpedicncy of it.
The approach of winter put an end to
these stolen interviews; but their letters
increased in frequency and warmth. In
each of them Vladimir Nikolovitch con-
cured his beloved to leave the paternal roof
and consent to q clandestine marriage
1--WE will disappear for short while, he
wrote, ''come back, and cast ourselves at
the feet of our parents who, touched by
such constancy will eXclaim, Come to our
arms, dear childrenr' Marie was long
irresolute; ut length it was agreed, how
ever that she should not appear at supper
on a day appointed but should retire to
her room under the pretext of indisposi-
ton Her maid had been let into the SC
crct. Both were to escape by back door,
in front of which they would find sleigh
ready to convey them a distance of five
wersts, to the chapel of Jadrino, where
Vladimir and the priest would await them.
Having made her preparations, and writ
4 - T.
| 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 inriisposcd her Her father and
mother nursed her tenderly, asking her
again and again: ''HOw do you feel now,
| Marie Are you 40 better?'' This loving
solicitude cut the girl to the heart, and with
the approach of evening her excitement
increased. At supper she ate nothing, but
rose 1setimes and bade her parents good
hight. The latter kissed and blessed her,
as their wont, while Marie could
scarcely suppress her csol,s> Having reached
her room she threw herself INTO a Chair
and wept aloud. Her maid finally sue
Later in the evening 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 furs,
ard followed by the servant with port
manteau, left the paternal roof. sleigh
drawn by three horses, received them, and
n f,,-
Vladimir had also been active Throughout
the day. In the morning he had called
upon the minister at Jadrino to arrange
for the ceremony and then he went &c
look up the required witnesses. The first
acquaintance to whom he applied was an
officer on half-pay, who expressed himself
quite ready to serve him. Such an adVen-
ture, he said. carried him back to the days
of his own youth. He determined Nladl
mir to remain with him, taking upon him
self to procure the other two Witnesses
There accordingly appeared at dinner sur
veyor Schmidt, with his spurs and nous
tache, and Ispravnik's son, lad OF seven
teen. who had but just enlisted with the
Uhlans. Both promised Vladimir thel1
assistance, and after cordial embrace the
happy lover parted from his three friends
to complete his preparations at home.
Having despatched trusty servant Will
sleigh for Marie, he got into one-horst
sleigh himself, and took the road leading
to Jadrino. Scarcely had he set off, wheI
the storm burst forth with violence, ant
soon every trace of the way was gone
> The entire horizon was covered with thick
yellow Clouds discharging not flakes, bu
3 masses of snow; at last it became mpossI
bic to distinguish between earth and sky
In vain Vladimir beat about for the way
his horse went on at random, now leapint
over banks of snow, now sinking int
+, bitches, and threatening every moment t