National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1872-11-15

sleigh for Marie, he got into one-horse
sleigh himself, and took the road to
Jadrno. Scarcely had he set oil, when
the storm burst forth with violence, and
soon every trace Of the way was gone
The entire horizon was covered with
thick, yellow clouds, discharging not
flakes but masses Of snow; at last it be-
came impossible to distinguish between
earth and sky.
In vain Vladimir beat about for the
way. his horse went on at random, now
leaping over the banks of snow, now
sinking into dtohes, and threatening
every moment to oyerturn the sleigh.
The insupportable thought of having lost
the road had become certainty. The
forest of Jadrino was nowhere to be dis
covered, aud after two hours the iaded
animal seemed ready to drop to the
ground At length kind of dark line
became visible in the distance. Vladimir
urged his horse forward, and reached
the skirt of forest He now hoped to
reaoA his destination soon, as it was easier
to pursue his way in the forest, into which
the snow had not yet penetrated. Val
dimr took fresh courage; however, there
were no signs of Jadrino. by degrees
the storm abated and the moon shown
brightly. He finally reached the opposite
skirt Of the forest. Still no Jadrino; but
group of four or five houses met his
view. His knock at the door of the
nearest was answered by an old man.
/" What 10 you want y he said.
Where lies Jadrino y asked Nladi-
mar.
4" About ten wersts distant.
At this reply Nadimar felt as If his
sentei. ce of deG n was being announced
to him.
:" Can you procure me a horse to take
me thither ?" he asked.
4" We have no horses.
/" Or at least a guide. will pay any
price.
" Very well. Ny son can accompany
the gentleman.
After little while, which seemed an
eternity to Nladlmar, IA young fellow
made his appearance, holding a thick
staff in his hand, and they took Their
way across the snow-covered plain.
"What O'Clock is it 2" asked Nadimar.
at is already past midnight
And in very truth the sun began TO
Gid the east when they finally arrived at
.Iadrins. The church door was locked.
VIadimar paid and dismissed his guide
and then instantly fastened to the min,
listers dwelling. What he there learned
will appear from the sequel.
At Nemaradof the night had passed
quietly. In the morning the master OF
the house and lis wife arose as usual,
and proceeded to the dining-room,
Gabriel Gabrilovitch in his wooden
Jacket and night-cap, Petrowa in her
morning gown. After they had break
tasted, Gabriel sent up one of the girls
to inquire how Marie was. She returned
with the message that her young mistress
had had sleepless night, but that she
was feeling better now and would come
down presently. Marie soon after
entered the room, looking exceedingly
pale, yet without the least perceptible
agitation. 49,,
"How do you feel this morning love?'
inquired her father.
s Better was the answer.
The day passed as usual, but, instead
of the looked-for improvement, a serious
change for the worst took place in
Marie's condition. The family physician
was summoned from the nearest town,
who found her in state of most violent
fever. For II days she lay at the point
of death.
Nothing transpired of the nocturnal
flight for the maid took good care to
keen silence on her own account, and
the others who knew Of it never betrayed
themselves with a syllable, even when
under the influence of brandy, so greatly
did they dread Gabriel's anger.
Marie. however, spoke so incesslntly
of Vladimar when delirious, thai her
mother could not remain in doubt as to
the caus, of her illness. Having advised
with a few friends, her parents resolved
TO let Marie marry the young soldier,
seeing that one cannot escape ones fate,
and beside that, riches do not always
lead to happiness.
The patient recovered. During her
illness Vladimar bad not once shown
his face near the house, and 1t was re-
= solved to apprise him of his unexpected
GOOD fortune. But to the astonlshment
of tie proud proprietor of Nermaradof,
: the cadet declared that he should never
l again cross the threshold of his house,
I begging them at the same time to forge'
t utterly so wretched a creature as he, to
whom death alone would give repose.
A few days afterward they learned
that Vladimar had again returned to the
army. 1t was in the year 1872. No one
: uttered his name in Marie's presence,
, and she herself never made mention OF
t him in anv way. Two or three months
r bod ELAPSED, when one day she found his
: name among the list of officers who had
! distinguished themselves at the battle OF
s Borodino and been mortally wounded
, She tainted away and had a relapse
= from which she recovered but slowly.
e Not long after her father died, be
r oueathing his whole property to her
4 Rut riches were not able to comfort her
e she wept with her mother, and promised
J. never to leave her. They sold Nemara
: dof and removed to another estate
r Suiters thronged around the wealthy
a and amiable heiress but none of then
received the slightest encouragement
n from her. Often did her mother pres
J, her TO choose a husband-she Woult
: merely shake her head in silence. Niadl
e mar was no more he died at Moscow
r on the evening before the entrance o
: tbe French. Marie seemed to hold hi
Il memory sacred she carefully preserve
}. the books they had read together, hi
a sketches, the letters he had written t
her-in brief, everything that coul'
+ serve to keep alive the remembrance .
d the ill-fated youth. ,.,
= About this time, the war, fought witt
II such glory to the allies, CT whom kussl SIS
,e was also one. came to an end. In
y ""a rao;ments returned home