Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-04-09

SA'NA1 DO ilS lllC ldhCI
tumbled into bed, and soon began to
snore.
1t was still dark when Adrian was
reused. The merchant Truhin's wife had
died that very night, and a special mes
senger had been sent on horseback with
this intelligence. The undertaken gave
him a tencopeck piece for glass of
spirits, dressed in haste, took a dr0shky,
and drove to Rasgoulai. The police
were already stationed at the gates of the
house where lay the defunct; trades
people were going in and out like
ravens at their prey. The corpse
lay on a table, yellow as wax
but not yet disigured by decomposition.
Relations, neighbors and friends crowded
around. All the windows stood open,
candles were burning, priests were read
ing prayers. Adrian went up to Truhin's
nephew, young merchant in fashion
able coat, and assured him that the coffin,
candles, pail, and other funeral furniture
would be delivered with all punctuality
and without fail The heir thanked him
absently, saying that he would not bargain
about the expense, but should trust implic-
lily to his conscience. The undertaken as
usual swOre that he would not overcharge;
exchanged a significant glance with his
workmen, and started off to make the nee
essary arrangements. The whole day
was spent driving to and fro between
Rasgoulai and the Whisky gates; to-
ward evening, all being arranged, he set
tied with his driver and returned home
ward on foot. 1t was moonlight night.
The undertaken had safely reached the
Nikitsky gates. At the Church of the
Ascension our friend YoorkO hailed him,
and on recognizing the undertaken wished
him good night 1t was getting late. The
undertaken was approaching his house
when he suddenly fancied he saw some
one nearing it, open the wicket, pass
through, and disappear. What can this
mean?" thought Adrian, "Who is it
wants me again? Can it be a thief? Do
lovers perhaps visit my silly girls? 1t
BODIES evil" And the undertaken was on
the point Of calling his friend Yoorko to
come to his aid. Just then some other
person approached the wicket and was
about to enter, but, on becoming aware
that Adrian was nearing hurriedly, this
person stopped, and raised his cooked
hat; Adrian fancied he knew the face, but
was not, in his haste, able to examine it
closely. "You were coming to me-" said
Adrian, breathlessly; edo me the favor to
step in"
"No ceremonies, friend" said the
stranger, in hollow voice; "walk on
show thy guests the waym
There was no time to stand on cere-
mony. The wicket stood open. Adrian
went up the staircase, the person follow
ing him. Adrian fancied that people
were walking about his rooms. "What
devilry is this!" thought he, and hurried
in-but here his legs gave way. The
room was full of dead people. The moon,
shining through the windows, lit up their
yellow and blue faces, sunken mouths,
dull, half-closed eyes, and thin, protruding
noses. Adrian recognized in them, with
dread, people who had been buried with
his aid; and in the guest whom he had
preceded the Brigadier who had been in
tered during the pouring rain. All the
women and men assembled surrounded
the undertaken, bowling, and greeting
him; all except one poor fellow, who had
quite recently been buried gratis, and
who, shy and ashamed of his tatters, did
not venture to come forward, but stood
retiredly in a corner. The rest were re-
specially dressed; the women wore caps
with ribbons; those men who had served
the State were in uniform, but their faces
were unshaven; merchants wore their
holiday c0ft0nS. "Seest thou, ProhOrOff,"
said the Brigadier, in the name of this
select company, chow we have all risen
at thy invitation. Those alone have re
manned at home who could not possibly
come, who had quite crumbled to pieces,
or who had no skin, but only their bare
bones left; but even thus, one of them
could not rest-so anxious was he to see
theew
At thatmoment small skeleton pushed
his way through the crowd and approached
Adrian. His skull smiled affectionately
at the undertaken. Bits of light green
and red cloth and of old linen hung here
and there about him, as upon pole,
while the bones of his feet ratified in his
Hessian boots like pestle in a mortar.
"Thou dost not recognize me, Prohoroff,"
said the skeleton. 'Dost thou remember
the retired Sergeant of the Guards, Piotr
Petrovitch Kurilkin, the same for whom
thou soldest thy first coffin, in the year
ireland one of pine, too, for one of
oak!" So saying the corpse extended his
bony arms toward him; but Adrian, mus
tering all his strength, cried out, and
pushed him from him. Piotr Petrovitch
tottered, fell and went to pieces.
A murmur of Indignation was heard
among the dead; they stood up for the
honor of their fellow, threatening and up
braiding Adrian land the poor deafened
by their cries, and almost pressed to death,
losing his presence Of mind, fell across
the bones of the retired Sergeant of the
Guards and remained unconscious.
The sunlight had long been streaming
across the bed on which the undertaken
was sleeping. At last he opened his eyes,
and saw before him the maid, blowing at
! the charcoal of the samoan. Adrian re-
membered with dread all the events
of the preceding day: Truhin, the
Brigadier, and the Sergeant ap-
peared dimly before him. He was 81
lently expecting the girl to begin the
| conversation, and to relate to him the re-
suits of the nights adventures
"HOw thou hast oversight thyself,
Adrian Prohorof, SIR" said Aksinia,
! handing him his dressing gown. "Thy
neighbors, the tailor and the Waterman,
came to thee with the announcement that
it was the saints day of the Commissary
of Police, but thou vast pleased to sleep,
and we did not like to awake thee"
=" And did they come to me from the
late Madame Truhin?'
&c Late? Is she then dead?"
Fool that thou art didst not thou
myself help me to arrange things for her
funeral?"
Hast thou lost thy senses, sir? or have
the fumes OF last nights drink not passed
off yet? What funeral was there yester
day? Thou didst feast at the Germans
all day, and coming home tipsy didst
throw myself on thy bed, AMI didst sleep
until this very hour, when the bells have
/ oil V rI1Du for