Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1872-08-01

. the nervous excitement had in trutl
indisposed her. Her father an
mother nursed her tcnderly, askin!
her again and again: GLOW do yol
; feel now. Marie ? Are you no bet
ter 7" This loving solicitude cut th'
girl to the heart, and with the ap
proach of evening her excitemen
increased. At supper she ate moth
ing, but rose betimes and bade hel
parents good pight. The latte
kissed and blessed her, as was thei1
wont, while Marie could scarcely
suppres IS her sobs. Having reachee
her room, she threw herself into :
chair and wept aloud. Her mait
finally succeeded in comforting ant
cheering her up.
Later in the evening a snow-storn
arose. The wind howled about the
house, causing the windows to rattle
The inmates had hardly gone to rest
when the young girl, wrapping her
self in her clothes and furs. and fol
lowed by the servant with port
manteau, left the paternal root. a
sleigh drawn by three horses, re-
ceived them, and away they went a,
a furious speed.
| Vladimir had also been active
throughout the day. In the morn.
ing he had called upon the minister
at Jadrino to arrange for the cere-
mony, and then he went to look up
the required witnesses. The first ac-
quaintance to whom he applied was
an officer on half-pay, who expressed
himself quite ready to serve him.
Such an adventure, he said, carried
him back to the days of his own
youth. He determined Vladimir to
remain with him. taking upon him.
self to procure the other two wit.
nesses. There accordingly appeared
at dinner surveyor Schmidt, with his
spurs aud mustachc, and Ispravnik's
son, lad Of seventeen. who had but
just enlisted with the Uhlans. Both
promised Vladimir their assistance,
and after a cordial embrace the hap.
py lover parted from his three friends
to complete his preparations at
home.
Having despatched a trusty serv-
ant with sleigh for Marie, he got
into one horse sleigh himself, and
took the road leading to Jadr,no.-
Scarcely had he set off, when the
storm burst forth with violence, and
soon every trace of the way was
gone. The entire horizon was Gov.
cred with thick. yellow clouds, dis.
charging not flakes, but masses of
snow; at last it became impossible to
distinguish between earth ard sky.
In vain Vladimir beat about for the
way; his horse went at random, now
leaplng over banks of snow, now
sinking into bitches, and threatening
every moment to overturn the sleigh.
The insupportable thought OF having
lost the road had become certainty.
The forest of Jadrino was nowhere
to be discovered, and after two hours
the jaded beast seemed ready to drop
to tile ground. At length kind OF
dark line became visible in the dis.
tance. Vladimir urged his horse
forward, and reached the skirt of a
forest. He now hoped to reach his
destination soon, as it was easier to
pursue his way in the forest, into
which the snow had not yet pene-
trated. Vladimir took fresh courage:
however there were no signs Of Jad-
rino. By degrees the storm abated,
and the moon sEone 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 do you want p he said.
"Where lies Jadrino?' asked Vlad-
imlr.
"About ten wersts distant"
At this reply Vladimir felt as il
his sentence OF death were being
announced to him.
"Can you procure me horse to
take me thither ~ he asked.
1--WE have no horses"
"Or at least a guide. I will pay
any price,
avery well. My son can accom-
pany the gentleman"
After little whilc, which seemed
an eternity to Vladimir, young fell
low made his appearance, holding a
thick staff in his hand, and they took
their way across the snow-covered
plain.
",vhat o'clock is IT." asked Vladi-
mir.
"It is already past midnight
And in very truth the sun began
to gild the east, when they finally |
arrived at Jadrino. The church |
door was locked. Vladimir paid and
dismissed his guide, and then instant.
" fastened to the minister's dwell |
ing. What he there learned will
appear from the sequel.
At Nemaradof the night had pass
ed quietly. In the morning the
master OF the house and his wife
arose as usual, and proceeded to the |
dining-room, Gabriel Gabrlloyitch in
his woollen jacket aud night-cap,
Petrowna in her mornlng-gown.-l
After they had breaktasted, Gabriel
sent up one Of the girls to inquire
how Marie was. She returned with
tho 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.
"How do you feel this morning,
love ?" inquired her father.
"Better," was tho answer.
The day passed by as usual; but,