The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1874-07-09
Thursday, July 9, 1874
Through the Heart.

There is a fine dramatic sentiment in
story translated from the Russian papers
by recent English exchanges. A Jew
miles out of Moscow the vast estates o,
noble landed proprietor, whose, veteran
steward, an old man of high character
occupies handsome house upon tne prop
erty, and had daughter of great beauty
and of notable intellectual gifts. A stew,
ard, from his years, long service, and
good qualities. may be very highly es-
feemed and Familiarity treated by an aris-
tocratic employer; but for all that his act
nal rank IS only higher servants, and
of course his children are born to lowly
station. The daughter in the present
narrative seems to have been peculiarly
conscious of this fact, and at the begin.
ming of her womanhood in the world
avowed her determination to encourage
no sutton whose social position was incom-
patible with her hereditary place in
life. She was aware of her attractive
beauty and mental superiority, and
wished to guard herself FROM the unsuita-
BILE homage which she knew such charac-
teristics were likely to bring her; but
even such precocious wisdom and discre-
ton were of no avail against the imperious
l.
proud merchant of Moscow was destined
recall and easily convince her that his
own love was such as to level all differ
ences of natal estates. Indeed his de
meanor towards her was peculiarly defer
entail on all occasions, and the chivalrous
courtship ended in betrothal promising
an almost poetical union. Just before the
IT. l. Al
day Of. the bride-elect, which she consen
ted should be celebrated by the lover
with dinner and ball at her father $
house National and local custom lusti-
fed this form of celebration, and a large
company came to it but alas, the young
man entered too freely into the festive
wine at the dinner than was good for his
manners. Like young Barnes Newcome
at the simple hearted Colonel s table,
his real and supercilcious nature was be
trayed by the wine he to freely imbibed,
and he conducted himself with such ex-
travagance and violence that the other
guests finally retired in confusion. Prob
ably majority of those who saw him in
his folly attributed it all to vinous exhil-
aration, but at least one shocked specta
Tor Ielt tnat, even III HIS DRUNKENNESS, inc
young fellow would not have dared to
conduct thus amongst those whom he re
garded as his equals At the ball on the
following evening he reappeared in pcni-
tential humility, and after heightened
apology to his very grave lady-love led
the latter out for ! dance When the
figure was finished the lady still looking
gravely, but perfectly placid of manner,
requested the band to play favorite air.
At the beginning ofthe music she retired,
to a balcony. whence, in another moment,
the report of pistol revealed tragedy.
The lover, followed by the startled guests,
hurried to the place of the affrighting
sounds, and there beheld the bride elect
iu the agonies Of death from bullet sped
through her heart by her own hand On
stand near by appeared an unsealed let
ter confessing the intention Of the dread
ful deed, and showing that the proud
spirited girl had been driven to the act
by discovering that it was possible for her
lover to hold herself and her class in the
less esteem because he had been born
to a nominaily higher station in life than
theirs. Wine had betrayed what love
would have concealed and the stewards
high-mnded daughter cared not to live
after the discovery