American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-10-11
THE BROKEN CHAIN.
A RUSSIAN STORY.


In the month of April there is gener
ally wintry weather throughout Russia
the beams of the sun can scarcely break
through the gray clouds which cover the
sky; the snow freezes, as it falls, into d
hard, thick mass. With dull sound the
| blocks of ice dash against each other as
they are carried down the rivers, which
sometimes and in some places are frozen
| over in a smooth surface of ice.
Here is man coming along driving a
One-horse sledge; he is Russian postil.
ion, with high leather cap and huge
boots reaching to the knees. A ftIrlined
jacket protects him from the cold. This
| sledgedriver has just turned round the
corner of dark pine forest, and has ar
rived before cottage roughly built of the
trunks of trees. Here he stops his horse
and alights. A young woman with an
| infant carefully wrapped up in her arms
stands at the door and greets the arriving
| traveller.
'Good-day, good-day, Catherine cries
the position. But what is the matter,
sister? why don't you welcome me with
your usual smile 9"
alas, good brother Peter" she replies,
with sigh, "mistOrtune and sorrow have
entered our usually so happy dwelling
You know that my poor Nicholas is in
arrears to our lord of the manor, Count
SilOwitZ, in delivering the corn and hay
he owes him. Last year was such a bad
one; and now, to-day, the count has sent
a strict order that before six days have
passed the arrears must be paid or he will
take measures to force us to do so. Alas!
alas! what shall we do? We have scarce
ly enough bread for ourselves and winter
is not over yet. What will become of us,
dear brother, if the good God does not
graciously come to our aid?"
Brother Peter had sat down on the
edge of his sledge, staring thoughtfully
straight before him. Suddenly he passed
his hand across his forehead, jumped up
quickly and said, "Yes, yes, that is it!
that will do, and will certainly be enough"
Then turning to his sister, he said, Don't
trouble yourself, good Catherine. To
morrow | will come back and bring what
is necessary to satisfy the count Silowitz."
You are always our deliverer in trou-
BILE, good Peter said his sister. ''But
tell me, how do you mean to do it this
timer
That is my affair, dear Catherine" re-
piled Peter; land the only thing l ask of
you and your husband is that you ask me
no more questions about it. l must re-
turn home again now, for we have no time
to lose. Farewell, dear sister, and be of
good courage"
Quickly Peters sledge glided along
the frozen snow, mourning was uc3Tu DuI
the bells on the horses neck.
Next day the good-natured Peter en-
tered his sisters humble dwelling. His |
brother-in-law, Nicholas, was also at home
now.
"You know" he began, in a grave |
voice, ''that l will not be questioned as to
the way in which l obtained what | hope |
will satisfy the count. Remember thatu' |
With these words he pulled out of the
pouch which he wore a broken silver |
chain, handed it to his brother-in-law, and |
said, There, good Nicholas, take that; | /
hope it will be enough" AT the end of /
the chain hung a little gold shield, on /
which Greek cross and the letters A. |
and 5. We're engraved.
The sister anu brother-in-law's wonder !
was so great that, in spite of the prohibi-
ton, they were eager to ask some qucs-
lions about it.
Il could tell you where | got it," said
Peter, but it would be rather disagreeable
for me to do so. Be content to know that
if | give you this half chain, L have per-
feet right to do so. 1t is my own proper
", and that's enough"
Nicholas and Catherine did not venture
20 press their good -natured brother any
urther; but they could not get over their
which was wonder mixed
with a certain degree of fear.
Listen, Nicholas" continued the good
position; Il have at this moment very
important dispatches with me which must
lot be delayed, and | have to go whole
laws Journey with them, otherwise l
would myself go and sell the chain to
some jew in the town of Astrachan; but
you must do it yourself now, and if the
money YOU receive should not be enough
% satisfy the count, | hope, when | re-
urn in Il couple of days, to be able to
make up the whole sum"
As if the good brother wished to with
lraw himself from all thanks as well as
rom further curiosity, he quickly en-
,raced his sister, gave his brother in-law
hearty shake of the hand, fastened into
lis sledge and drove away.
Faithful to his promise two days after
he stopped again before the log hut, got
nut. and entered the room. This time his
lister did not come to meet HIM, which ;
truck him as very strange. She sat sui {
weeping bitterly, while two neighbors {
before her were trying To com
ort her. Poor Catharine, however, was
20 sunk in grief that she did not at first
notice her brothers entrance. What ,
Peter now learned astonished him. His
brother Nicholas had gone into the town
md tried to sell the piece of silver chain I
o IA German Jew This man. who could i
lot understand how so precious Il treasure
lad fallen into the hands of poor peas I
mt, suspected at once that he had not ,
ONE by it honestly; and when, after a ,
more minute examination, he perceived l
he first two letters of the noble house of I
'ilowitz engraved on the golden shield,
lie thought he had discovered theft. He
lad Nicholas arrested by the police, and
he poor man was led at once 10 the castle
# the count, which was situated near the
own, to be examined by him, and cx- ;
lain how he obtained possession of the
rokep chain, After the examination he ':