The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-02-09

how scandalized that ancient lady was |
"Harm What was the young woman
thinking Of had she NO idea Of virtue
or deceney I"
"But, explained Madez, 1--WE do no
wrong; he is as my brother; We are
yirtuous and decent"
"That may do to tel" sneered the
woman.
Poor Madez's face grew scarlet. How
II panied her, poor little woman.
hIf we live apart, " she cried, 1--WE
shall starve. What shall we doi"
"Do +? why, go and get married, like
other orderly people," answered the
= aoh. dear, we cannot marry" mur.
INJURED Madez.
"Then you must go tomorrow, (" was
the answer.
Madez pleaded and explained, but the
old woman was ine1orable. "Marry or
20, was the only answer.
Madex saw Il was useless, and she
went YEARLY up to the wretched little
room TO think. While she sat there
thinking, Ivan came in. She told him
their new trouble. He was dumb with
the weight Of 1t at first then he sprang
up fierce, bitter, reckless.
!" Good.by, Madez, dear, good, suffer-
ing little sister. lam going"
"Where, Ivan ?" she asked.
"To kill myself /; It's no use fighting
the tiger any longer. am tired. I'll
M and and ikH
Aladez looked with those far-seeing
eyes Of hers, into the pale, reckless face
Of her brother, as she had grown to feel
him. IN
"wai., Ivan" she said, gently, al
aoaa there be any planP Oh, God,
II Is too much !" moaned the boy, de-
"Ivansl" how clearly her voice
souded in the miserable place, "Ivan,
we will stay here, we will marry"
"MarryT Ivan sat upright and
stared at the woman. "Marry | Mades,
you are mad. could not marry you"
Madez rose, her face more resolute,
her voice more Gear, her eyes more far
away in their gaze.
eyes, she returned, slowly, "you
can and you will. You have life before
you, some great and noble work to do.
Shall I not help you 10 the last, for you
are no common clod, my brother ?
Listen, we will marry, this woman will
be satisfed-do not Interrupt me-we
will continue our life here. You will
finish your studies, you will graduate
with honor, you will go home. Who
will be the wiser Of what I have done
for you. l will destroy the proofs. /
will my life far from you, you shall
marry whom you will, and who in far
away Rustia shall say you nayp Not
one. Ivan, rouse, be not sad.hearted (;
trust 10 me"
Ivan rose, scarcely comprehending
this daring sister Of his adoption. He
cried, "No, no." in protest, but the
woman's stronger win prevailed. 1t
was done as she said.
Oh, woman's will2 oh, woman's
might, when she acts ont the goodness
OF her angle side Nothing daunts
her, heart and soul and life are laid
down calmly, bravely, that her aim may
be fulfilled. II she errs-if she puts at
defiance the rules Of "rigid right"
It's always for the aims sake, not for
her own self. Madez's reasoning
was faulty, It is true. Quite against
common law and order. Still was 1t
not from devotion 10 one she thought
worthy Of any sacrifice she could make?
Could you Judge her harshlya
In two years Ivan graduated with
honor. The heart Of Madez reioiced
over his success, and the day came for
him TO 20 away. II was sad and o
happy day too. They sat together and
talked Of THE hard years past and Of the
hopes OF Ivan. Then they prayed,
kneeling by his mean little pallet, and
Ivan tried 10 say goodbye" after he
had said his hearts full Of gratitude to
her. Twice he began, then sinking
down, with his head against the worn
little shoulder Of Madez, he wept like
q child.
"Oh, my sister, my brays, noble sis;
ter: where shall I ever find q friend
| like you? To you / owe all. May our
God bless and keep you, and make my
whole life expressive Of what l owe TO
you"
said goodbye. It was very lonesome
In the little room. Madez cried some
lonely tears when the boy was gone, but
she comforted herself, and maybe a sad
| little vanity came in her heartwhen she
thought Ethat she had made him
what he was"
serve credit as story.teller ."
q Assuredly," returned ], "but is
that all 2"
write II out, will you notP" answered
Carl.
"Your heroine's tale would do to
tall the world II the sequel Of o real love
match could be added as II stands y
would be 20 strange story to write,
aea aTbat may be-" cried my friend,
warmly, "but this was no love affair,
either real or false, simply matter Of
friendship and necessity, and all the
moro heroic, in that II had no prompt
ings from the side Of human nature,
that most often prompts to eccentric
coufses." ,
astill tho tale would sound strange
| in Western society.
NaWell, strange or not, tbs simple
fact. and in keeping with the habit,
we'll known here, Of the Russians, 70
divide with each other according 70
their wanta, to the last franc: This Is,
n course. case extraordinary and