The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1872-09-13
COL. DEM. -. VOL. XXXVI.. NO. 80.

NiliONNt NAtii Nllt NIllRi0s lpbti b'Cbi
i9cd Vladimir their assistance, and Of.
ter a cordial embrace the happy lover
parted from his three friends to com.
plete his preparations at home.
Having dispatched trusty servant
with sleigh for Marie, he got into q
one.horse sleigh himself and took the
road leading to Jadrino. 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 covered with thick, yellow clouds,
discharging not flakes, but masses of
snow, till at last it became impossible to
distinguish between earth and sky. In
Vain Vladimir beat about for the way;
his horse went on at random, now leap
ing over banks of snow, now striking
into bitches, and threatening every
moment to overturn the sleigh. The
insupportable thought of having lost
tho road had become a certainty. The
forest of Jadrino was nowhere to be dis.
covered, and after two hours the jaded
animal seemed ready to drop to the
ground. AT length kind of dark line
became visible in the distance. Vladi-
mir urged his horse forward and reach
ed the edge of forest. He now hop.
ed to reach his destination soon, as it
was easier to pursue his way in thief or
est, into which the snow had not yet
penetrated Vladimir took fresh cour-
age however there were no signs of
Jadrino. BY degrees the storm abated,
and the moon shone brightly. He fl
nally reached the opposite side of the
forest, Still no Jadrino ; but a 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 ?" he said.
"Where lies Jadrino ?' asked Nladi-
mir.
"About ten wer5ts distant"
At this reply vladimir felt as if his
sentence of death were being pronounc.
cd to him.
"Can you procure me a horse TO take
me thither ?u he asked.
"We have no horse"
cor at least guido. | will pay any
price,"
VERY well. My son can accompany
the gentleman"
After d little while, which seemed an
eternity to Vladimir, young fellow
made his appearance, holding thick
staff in his hand, and they took their
way across the snow. covered plain.
"What o'clock is it 2" asked Vladi.
mir.
at 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 lock-
cd. Vladimir paid and dismissed his
guide, and then instantly hastened to
the minister's dwelling. What he there
learned will appear from the sequel.
At Nemaradorf the night had passed
quietly. In the morning the master of
the house and his wife arose as usual,
and proceeded to the dining ROOM
Gabriel Gabrilovitch in his wooden
jacket and night cap. Petrowna in her
morning gown. After they had break
tasted, Gabriel sent up one of the girls
to inquire how Marie was. She return
ed 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.
"How do you feel this morning,
love? ?" inquired her father.
Better" was the answer.
The day passed by as usual, but in
stead of the looked for improvement, a
serious change for the worse took place
in Marie's condition. The family ply
sician was summoned from the nearest
town, who found her in & state of most
violent fever. For fourteen days she
lay at the point of death.
Nothing transpired of the nocturnal
flight; for the maid took good care to
keep silence GU her own account, and
the others who knew Oft never betray-
cd themselves with a syllable, even
when under the influence of brandy, so
greatly did they dread Gabriels anger.
Marie, however, spoke so incessantly
Of Vladimir when delirious, that her
mother could not remain in doubt as to
the cause of her illness. Having advis-
ed with few friends, her parents re.
solved to let Marie marry the young
soldier, seeing that one can not escape
ones fate, and besides, that riches dc
not always lead to happiness.
The patient recovered. During her
illness Vladimir had not once showed
his face in the house, and il was resolv
cd TO apprise him of his unexpected
| good fortune. But to the astonishment
tho proud proprietor of Nomaradorf,
the cadet declared that he should never
again cross the threshold of his house
begging them at the samo time TO for,
get utterly so wretched q creature as he
to whom death aiono would give ro
pose,
A few days afterwards they learned
that Vladimir had returned TO the ar
my. 1t was in the year 1872. No on'
uttered his name in Marie's presence
and she herself never made mention o
him in any way. Two or three month!
had elapsed, when one day she fount
his name among tho list of officers VIII,
had distinguished themselves at thu
battle of Borodino, and had been NOR
tally wounded. She tainted away an,
had relapse, from which she recover
cd but slowly.
Not long after her father died, be
queathing his whole property to her
But riches were not able to comfort her
she wept with her mother and promis
cd never to leave her. They sold Ne
maradorf,and removed to another estate
SultOrs thronged around the wealth,
and amiable heiress but none of then
received the slightest encouragement
from her. Often did her mother pres