Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1872-08-29

Having despatched a trusty scrvan
with u sleigh for Marie, he got into
one-horse sleigh himself, and took th
rOMl leading to Jadrino. Scarcely ha,
he set of, when the storm burst fOrtl
nth VIOLENCE, and soon every trace o
the way was gone. The entire horizon
was covered with thick, yellow clouds
discharging not fakes, bnt masses o
snow; ut last it became impossible h
distinguish between earth and sky. 1,
vain Vladimir tseat about for the way
his horse went on ut random, now lean
ing over banks of snow, now sinkinl
into ditches, and threatening ever!
moment to overturn the sleigh. TIL
insupportable thought of having los
the roatl had become ccrtainty. Tb,
forest of Jadrino was nowhere to b.
discovered, and after two hours tn
jaded animal seemed reatly to drop t.
the ground. At lengtl, u Kind Of darl
line became visible in the distance
Vladimir urged his horse forward, and
reached the skirt of forest. Ho nov
hoped to reach his destination sOoD, a.
it was easier to pursue his way in thu
forest, into which the snow had no,
yet penetrated. Vladimir took fresh
courage; however there were NO signs
Of Jallrino. BY degrees the storm
abated and tho moon shone brightly,
He finally reached the opposite skirt o.
the forest. Still no JatlrinO; but 9
group of four or five houses met hi,
view. His knock at the door of the
nearest was answered by IN old man.
What do you want 7" he said.
"Where lies Jadrino2" asked Vladi
mir.
"About ten wersts distant" 5"
At this reply Vladimir felt as if hit
sentence of death was being announced
to him.
"Can you procure me- horse to takt
me thither3" he asked.
1--WE have no horses
"Or at least guide. I will pay any
price,"
Every we'll. My son o"n aocompan,
the gentleman"
After a little while, which seemed al
eternity to Vladimir, q young fellow
made his appearance, holding thicl
staff in his hand, and they took thei,
way across the snow-cOvered plain.
"What O'Clock is it z" asked Vladi.
mir.
"It is already past midnight"
And in very truth the sun began tC
gild the east when they finally arrived
at Jadrino. The church door was
locked. Vladimir paid and dismissed
his guide, and then Instantly hastened
to the minister's dwelling. What he
there learned viii appear from the
sequel.
| At Nemaradoff the night had passed
quietly. In the morning the master o1
the house and his wife arose rs usual
and proceeded to the dining room,
Gabriel Gabrilevitch in his woolen
JACKET and nightcap, Petrowna in he1
morning gown. After he had break.
tasted, Gabriel sent up one of the girls
to inquire how Marie was, She return
cd with the message that her young
mistress had a 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.
elbow do you feel this morning,
love?" inquired her father.
Better" was the answer.
The day passed rs usual: but, instead
Of the lOoked-for improvement, seri-
0us change for the worse took place in
Maric's condition. The family physi-
clan was summoned from tho nearest
town, who found her in state of most
violent fever. For fourteen days she
lay ut the point of death.
Nothing transpired of tue nocturnal
flight; for the maid took good care to
keep silence on her own account. and
the others who knew of it never be-
trayed themselves with syllable, even
when under the influence of brandy, 81
greatly did they dread Gabriel's anger.
Marie, however, spoke SO incossantly
Of Vladimir when delirlous, that her
mother could not remain in doubt as
to the cause of her illness. Having adj
vised with few friends, her parents
resolved to let Marie marry the young
soldier, seeing that one cannot escape
Oue's fate, and, besides that, riches do
not always lead to happiness.
The patient recovered. During her
illness Vladimir had not once shown
his face in the house, and it was re-
solved to apprise him of his unexpect-
ed good fortune. But to the astonish-
ment of the proud proprietor of Nema-
radof, the cadet declared that he should
never again cross the threshold of his
house, begging them ut the same time
to forget utterly 50 wretched creature
rs he, to whom death alone would give
repOse.
A few days afterward they learned
that Vladimir had again returned to
the army. It was in the year 1872. No
one uttered his name in Marie's pres-
ence, and she herself never made men
ti0n of his name in any way. Two or
three months had elapsed, when one
day she found lis name among the list
of the officers who had DISTINGUISHED
themselves in the battle of Borotlino
and had been mortally wounded. She
tainted away and had relapse. from
which she recovered but slowly.
Not long after :her father died be-
queathing his whole fortune to her.
But riches were not able to comfort
her; she wept with her mother, and
promised never to leave her. Thev
sold Nemaralof, and removed to an
other estate. Suitors thronged round
the wealthy and amiable heiress; but
none of them received the slightest en-
c0uragement from her. Often did her
mother press her to choose q husband
she would merely shake her head in
silence. Vladimir was no more he
died ut Moscow on tho evening before
the entrance of the French. Marie
seemed to hold his memory sacred ::
she carefully preserved the books thev
had read together, his sketches, the
letters he had written to her-in brief.
everything that could serve to keep
alive the remembrance of the i'll -fatctl
youth.
About this time the war, fraught
with such glory to the allies, of whom
Russia was one, came TO nn cnd The
victorious regiments returned home,
and large crowds Of people Hocked to-
gethci to greet them. Officers who had
gone forth as beartlless youths came
back with the grave faces OF warriors.
their gallant breasts covered with
badges
A lieutenant of hussars, Wurman bv
name, with all interestingly pale face,
and decorated with the cross of St.
George, having obtained leave of a},-
annoo f<r ao1,ornl ,n.,,,kI. l.1 49,