Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1873-01-24
GIN 1nteresting Story.
THE UNKNOWN BRIDEGROOM.
A RUSSIAN ROMANCE.

About the year 1911, memorable in
Russian history, there lived upon his
estate of Nemaradorff rich landed
proprietor, Gabrilovitch by name, not
ed for affability and hospitality. His
house was always open to his friends
and neighbors, who used to congregate
there every evening-the older ones to
enjoy game of cards with the host
and his wife Petrowna; the younger
ones in the hope of winning the favor
of Marie, beautiful girl of seventeen,
the only daughter and heiress of Ca
brilovitch.
Marie read French novels, which ma
turally rendered her very sentimental
and romantic. Under these circum-
stances love was not long in coming.
The object of her affections was a Rus
sian cadet, with scarcely penny in
his pocket, who resided in the neigh
borhood, and was then at home on a
leave of absence. AS a matter of course
he returned her love with equal ardor.
Marie's parents had strictly forbidden
her thinking of such union, and they
treated the lover, whenever they met
him, with just as much friendliness as
they would have shown to an ex-col-
lector of taxes. The pair meanwhile
carried on correspondence, and met
elandestinely beneath the shade of the
pine grove, or behind the old chapel.
AS will readily be supposed, they here
vowed eternal fidelity to each other,
complained of the severity of fate, and
devised beautiful plans for the future.
After sometime they naturally came to
think that should their parents persist
in opposing the union, it might in the
end be consummated secretly, and with
out their consent. The young gentle
man was the first to propose this, and
the young lady soon saw the expedien-
cy of it.
The approach of winter put an end
to these stolen interviews, but their
letters increased in frequency and
warmth. In each of them Vladimer
Nickoloyitch coniured his love to leave
the paternal roof and consent to a clan
destine marriage. 5--s|1 w will disappear
for a short WHILE" he wrote, "come
back, and cast ourselves at the feet of
our parents, who, touched by such con-
stancy, will exclaim, "Come to our
arms, dear children!"
Marie was long irresolute. At length
it was agreed, however, that she should
not appear at supper on day appoint
ed, but should retire to her room un-
der the pretext of indisposition. Her
maid had been let into the secret
Both were to escape by a back door, in
front of which they would find sleigh
ready to convey them distance of five
wersts, to the chapel of Jadrino, where
Vladimer and the priest would await
them.
Having made her preparations, and
written long apologetical letter to her
parents, Marie retired betimes to her
room. She had been complaining all
day of headache, and this was GER
talnly no mere pretext, for the nervous
excitement had in truth indisposed her.
Her father and mother nursed her ten
derly, asking her again and again,
'How do you feel now, Marie? Are1
you no better?" This loving solici-
tude cut the girl to the heart, and with
the approach of evening her excite
ment increased.
At supper she ate nothing, but rose
betimes and babe her parents good
night. The latter kissed and blessed
her, as was their wont, while Marie
could scarcely repress her sobs. Hay
ing reached her room she threw her.
self into chair and wept aloud. Her
maid finally succeeded in comforting
her and cheering her up.
Later in the evening a snow-storm
arose. The wind howIed about the
house, causing the windows to rattle.
The inmates had hardly gone to rest
when the young girl, wrapping herself
in her clothes and furs, and followed
by the servant with portmanteau,
left the paternal roof. A sleigh drawn
by three horses received them, and a.
way they went at furious speed.
Vladimer had also been active thro'-
out the day. In the morning he had
called upon the minister at Jadrino to
arrange LOT Ine ceremony, ana then he
went to look up the required witnesses.
The first acquaintance to'whom he ap-
piled was an officer on half pay, who
expressed himself ready to serve him.
Such an adventure, he said, carried
him back to the days of his own youth.
Undetermined Vladimer should remain
with him, taking upon himself to pro-
cure the other two witnesses. There
accordingly appeared at dinner Sur
yeyor Schmidt, with his spurs and
moustache, and Ispravalk's son, lad
of seventeen, who had just enlisted
with the Uhlans. Both promised
Vladimer their assistance, and, after
cordial embrace, the happy lover part
ed from his three friends to complete
his preparations at home.
Having dispatched a trusty servant
with a sleigh for Marie, he got into