The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1875-12-03
omisrellsnenus.
4 DEAD MAN.

1t was Just before the opening of the
railway from TaGanrog to kharkof in
1868, that ! was driving those dreary dis
tances in Autumn. For the first two
days and nights the weather was lovely,
bat on the third morning, soon after sun
rise, the sky became covered with heavy
torn and Jagged clouds, Il northerly
wind arose, and with thunder, light
ming, cold gale and snow, the Winter
burst on us a. it yearly breaks On South
ern Russia. IN half an hour the rich
black rolling plains had become ali
ocean OF inky mud, and we reached the
post station OF Donski, only to find the
order: Impossible to proceed"
called for tea. and the samovaF was
brought In by a iiue, upright, gray head
ed man. whom. from hls black velvet
ttlitic and siasIed sleeves, took TO he
the postmaster himself. lie was follow
ed into the room by noble-loOking
Cossaek woman Of his own age, who
said: Little husband, why don't you
ask the lord if he will eat partridge and
bit Of bread. The kUrupatka is plump,
AMI tile day vii be- long before his
trOika can be- narpessed to face the
storm" She smiled sweetly as she spoke
-he smiled lovingly upon her; then she
left Us, looking lingeringly back.
''Yonr wife is in love with you still,
and you with her, postmaster" said
''Yon mast have treated her well when
she was young for her TO love you so.
How long is it since yoa were marriedl"
II am sixty, lie replied; II was mar
ried at twenty-five, thirty five years ago;
five year before died.
What said l.
Five years before my death. Is it
possible that you don't know my story.
You must have come from II long way
off, for have heard bat it il told even
upon the Azof.
And throwing his L., ;toross Il chair,
without more ado, he spoke thus:
II was born in 1909 and can remem-
Der the return from Paris OF my father
and uncle-Cossacks of the Don. Those
were grand days, and when the Hetman
Platoff was king OF Europe. oonquerer of
the Turks and of the French and equal
of the white tsar. Now, this Petersburg
tsar says that we're no better than his
Great Russian slaves, and for years my
sabre and long pistol have hung upon
the wall unused; aud when have worn
my red banded cap and my red striped
breeches, I've always iIii As much as
could OF the stripe in my boots, for IT.
ashamed of it now; aud they're even
going to take away our privilege of the
supply Of salt.
In 1884, "a young po5tmaster-for
my father was dead with II good place
and IA handsome beard, | was the best
match in the two church villages around.
could pick my wife, aud chose Olga,
that you saw just now"
There" said /.
'.Ah, wait and see Wait. little lord,
don't be- impatient Olga was as lovely
as she was good. You should have seen
her in her sixteenth year; hsT goodness
is what it was, and, though may be an
unsafe Judge, her beauty is not yet
gone"
He iooked nc HE | nodded.
ssWe were happy at first, hut was
| young. felt the chain I was faith
| full to her a. far a. women went, bat not
kind. We had 30 ehiiiren One day
in 80 she was in low spirits about me.
and flung her arms upon a sudden aboat
my neck, with: Do you really love me,
Jolin.1
'.You know ! do"
| Bat not as love you"
1t that very moment, Lord, the
devil must have been unclaimed from
he'll 70 tel you what thoughts flashed
in Al instant through my mad mind
would be impossible. That what she
said was true. That. while l did love
her in kind of way, was bound tC
her for life, whether | would or no. IL
fit OF wild rage l struck her one shor
sharp 5io9. She looked at Inc with des
pair in l4er eyes, and walked slowly int
our other room. / ran inso the stable
! yard.
Harness troika, said | to the star
os.a. II leave az once for kharkof witt
dispatehestilat the eouriers dropped, ,an'
that I've found upon the floor Quick
quick. the best courier horses." In a
instant they were ready. Merri;y jingle
the bells in the crisp cir. Paul took ih
reins, and OF whirled In twent