Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-10-26

the worse took place in Marie's condition The
family physician was summoned from the near
est town, who found her in a state Of most VIC
tent fever; For fourteen days she lay at the
point of death.
Nothing transpired of the nocturnal fight;
lor the maid took good care 10 keep silence on
her own account, and the others who knew OF
1t never betrayed themselves with syllable,
even when under the influence of brandy, so
greatly did they dread Gabrie's anger.
Marie, however, spoke so necessarily of Vladi-
mir when delirious that her mother could not
remain insdOubt as to the cause of her Illness
Having advised with 4 few friends, her parents
resolved to let Marie marry the young soldier,
seeing that one cannot escape ones fate, and
besides that, riches do not always lead to hap
piness.
The patient recovered During her illness
Vladimir had not once shown his face in the
house, and it was resolved TO apprse him of his
unexpected good fortune. But to the astonish-
ment OF the proud proprietor Of Nemaradof the
cadet declared that he should never again cross
the threshold Of his house, begging them at the
same time to forget utterly so wretched a crea
ture as he, to whom death alone would give
repose
A few days afterward they learned that Vladis
mir had again returned to the army. 1t was in
the year 1872. NJ one uttered his name in Ma
rie's presence, and she herself never made men
ton of him in any way. Two or three months
had elapsed, when one day she found his name
among the list of the officers who had distin-
gUished themselves at the battle of Borodino
and been MORALLY wounded. She tainted away
and had a relapse, from which she recovered but
slowly.
Not long after her father died, bequeathing
his whole property to her. But riches were not
able to comfort her; she wept with her mother,
and promised never to leave her They sold
Nemaradof and removed to another estate.
Sutors thronged around the wealthy and anna
lplreSs. them
slightest encouragement from her. Often did
her mother press her to choose a husband-sh9
would merely shake her head in silence. Vladi
mir was no more; he died at Moscow on the
evening before the entrance of the French. Ma
RE seemed to hold his memory sacred; she
carefully preserved the books they had read to-
gether his sketches, the letters he had written
to her-in brief, everything that could serve to
keep alive the remembrance of the i'll fated
youth.
About this time, the war, fought with such
glory to the allies, of whom Russia was also
one, came to an end. The victorious regiments
returned home, and large crowds of people
fiocked together to greet them. Officers who
had gone forth as beardless youths came back
with the grave faces of warriors, their gallant
breasts covered with badges.
A lieutenant of hussars, Wurmin by name,
with an interestingly pale face, and decorated
with the cross of st. George, having obtained
leave of absence for several months, took up his
residence upon his estate, which adoined Marie's
present abode. The young girl received him
with far more favor than she had hitherto shown
to any of her visitors. They resembled each
other in many respects; both were handsome,
Intelligent, taciturn and reserved, There was
something mysterious about WUrmin, which
reused the curiosity and interest Of Marie. His
affection for her was soon unmistakabe; he
showed her every conceivable attention; but
why did he never speak of love though his
ls.F- lE
dreamily, half with an expression that seemed
to announce an early and positive declaration?
Already the neighbOrS spoke of their marriage
as a settled matter, and Mother Petrowna was
more than happy at the thought of her daugh-
ter's finding worthy husband at last
One morning, when the latter was sitting in
the parlor, Wurmin entered and asked for
Marie.
"She's is in the garden" answered her moth
or. You will find my daughter there if you
would like to see her.
The young officer hastily walked out into the
garden,
Petrowna crossed herself, murmuring: "God
be pralsed To-day, | trust his visit will have
some result"
Wurmin found his beloved, clad in white, sit
ting under tree by the side of the pond, book
upon her lap, like a heroine Of romance The
usual salutations over, Wurmin, who was
strangely agitated, told her how he had long
begged that she would listen to him a few mo-
mentS. She closed her book, and nodded in
token of assent.
81 love you" said Wurmin, 81 love you pas
sionately."
Marie cast down her eyes.
81 have been mprudent enough to see you, to
hear you-daily. It is now too late to escape
my fate. The thought of your lovely face, OF
your sweet voice, will henceforth constitute the
joy and the anguish of my existence. But
have duty to perform toward you; l must re-
veal to you secret, which has placed an insur-
mountable barrier between us"
"That barrier" murmured Marie, "existed al
ways-I could never have become yours"
81 know" replied Wurmin, in a suppressed
voice, that you have loved before; but death
three long years of mOurning-dearest Marie,
do not deprive me Of my last comfort, of the
blisstul thought that you might become mine
if"
"Cease, coniure you'll You rend my hearth
"1es, you will grant me the comfort Of know
ing that you would have become mine; but,
most wretched of men that AMI am already
married."
Marie gazed up at him with a look of aston
ishment.
Eyes, married for four years. continued the
lieutenant, land do not know either who my
wife is, where she is, or whether | shall ever
meet her."
"E&plain yourself more clearly, +" said the girl.
81 love you, Marie, and will conhde in you.
You shall know all, and you will not Judge too
severely an act of youthful levity it was in
the year 1872. happened to he on my way TO
wilma, with the intention of joining my regi-
ment. Late in the evening l reached station,
and had already ordered that horses should in
stantly be put to again, fierce snow storm
suddenly arose. My landlord and the position
urgently advised me to postpone my departure;
but was determined TO 90 in spite of the rough
weather. The position had got it into his
head that, by crossing a small river, the banks
of which were perfectly well known to him, he
should find a shorter route. He missed the
right crossing, however, and got into a region
to which he was an entire stranger. The storm
continued to rage; at length we deserted a light
in the distance. We made for it, and stopped
before a church, from the brilliantly Illuminated
windows of which the light shone The door
was open, three sieighs were in front OF it, and
! saw several persons in the yestibue, One Of
them called to me: This way this wayr | got
out and walked toward the vestibule.
"Ihe person who had called me advanced to-
ward me.
"'Great heavensP he said, how late you come!
Your intended has tainted, and we were on the
point OF driving home again.
"Haf bewildered and half amused resolved
to let the adventure take its course. And,
indeed. ! had little time for reflection. Ny
friends tugged me into the interior of the
church, which was poorly lighted by two or
three lamps. A female was sitting upon bench
in the shadow, while another stood beside her
and chafed her temples
=" 'At lastP cried the latter. God be praised
thatyou have comet My poor mistress liked to
have died
Gan aged priest emerged from behind the
altar, and asked: Can we beginP
Begin, reverend fatherP | cried, unad-
visedly
They assisted the half unconscious girl to
rise, she appeared to be very pretty. IN fit of
objectionable, and now quite inoOmprehensible,
leyity, | readily stepped with her to the altar.
Her maid and the three gentlemen present were
so much busted with her as scarcely to throw
look at me. Besides, the light in this part of
tie church was dim, aud my head was muffled
in the hood Of my cioak
Gin few minutes the nuptial ceremony was
over, and the priest according to custom, de-
sired the newly married pair to embrace.
My young vito turned her Eae charming
little face toward me, and was about to resi- her
head upon my shoulder with q sweet smile,
when suddenly she stared at me as if turned
Into stone, tottere1, and with the CRY OF 1T is
not he'll fell to the floor.
hAli tho laries ofhe dashed me out ofchurch,
Before any one could think of staying me | had
jumped into my sleigh, seized the reins and was
soon beyond the reach of pursuit"
The lieutenant was silent, Marie also gazed
in silence to the ground,
"And have you never discovered what became
of the peer girl}" she finally asked
"Neyer. ! knew neither the name Of the vii
lage where was married, nor do recollect the
station where ! stopped Al the tnue, my cgl-
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