Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1876-11-04

OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES 4. 1885,
THE COST OF A TRAIN.
At the time when the first open court
of law was established in Russia, lady,
dressed with the utmost elegance, was
walking on the Moscow promenade, lean
ing upon her. husbands arm, and letting
the long train or her rich dress sweep the
dust and dirt of the street
A young officer, coming hastily from q
side street. was so careless as to eaten one
of his spurs in the lady's train, and IN an
instant great piece was torn OUT OF the
costly but frail material of the dress.
81 beg a. thousand pardons. madam"
said the officer, witha polite. DOW, and
was about passing on, when ne was de-
tanned by the lady's husband. -.
"You have insulted my wife,"
'sNothing was farther from my inten-
tions, sir. Your wife's long dress is to
blame for the accident, which sincerely
regret, and beg you once more to re-
ceive my apologies for any carelessness
ON my part" Thereupon he attempted
to hasten on. 20 uoli99-9> %
'You shall not escape So" said the
lady, with her head thrown back in a
spirited way. "To-day was thefirst time
/ had worn this dress, it cost two hun
dred rubles, which you must make gOod.'
''My dear madame. l beg you not to de-
tain me. am obliged to 60 on duty at
once, As to the two hundred rubles-I
really cannot help the length of your
dress, yet | beg your pardon for not be-
ing more cautious" - y-3-fff
You shall not stir, sir. That you are
obliged to go on duty is nothing to Us.
My wife is right the dress must be made
good"
The officer grew pale.
"You force me to break, through the
rules of the service, and shall receive
punishment" ,- >-rr.,t,-
"Pay the two hundred rubles and you
are free"
The quickly changing color of the
young mans face betrayed how inwardly
disturbed he was; but stepping close up
to them both, he said, with apparent self
command:
You will renounce your claim when
/ tell you that am a-a-pOOr man, who
has nothing to live on but his officers
pay, and the amount of that pay hardly
reaches the sum of two hundred rubles
in whole year. can, thel efore, make
no amends for the misfortune, except by
again begging your pardon"
"Oh! anybody could say all that but
we'll see if it is true; we'll find out if
you have nothing but your pay, /
declare myself not satisfied with your ex-
cuses, and | demand my money persist
ed the lady, in the hard voice of thor
OuOblv rnfao1iuU womau fr-
THAT is true-you are right" the hus-
band added, dutifully supporting her.
s'By good luck we have the open court
now just in session. Go with us before
the Judge and he will decide the matter.r
All further protestation on the officers
part that he was poor, that he was ex-
pected on duty, and so forth, did not
help matters. Out of respect for his uni
form, and TO avoid an open scene, he had
to 90 with them to the court room
where the gallery was densely packed
with crowd of people.
After waiting some time, the lady had
leave to bring her complaint. r~>v Z
"What have you to answer to this com
plaint?" said the judge, turning to the of.
ticer, who seemed embarrassed and hall
in despair. sse Fs sr
lon the whole very little. AS the
lateness OF the hour, and being required
on duty compelled me to hurry, did not
notice this lady's train, which was drag
ging on the ground. 1 caught my spurs
in it, and had the misfortune to tear the
dress. Madame would not receive my
excuses, but perhaps now she might lind
herself more disposed to forgiveness,
when again declare, SO help me God,
that committed this awkward blunder
without any mischieyous intention, and
earnestly beg that she will pardon me. >
A murmur ran through the gallery
evidently from the people taking side
with the defendant, and against long
trains in general and the lady in particu
The Judge called to order and asked
"Are YOU satisfied with the defendant
explanatiOn?'
Not at all satisfied. / demand TIVE
hundred rubles in payment for the tori
dress.s' rfs
Defendant. will you pay this sum-?
81 would have paid it long before thi
had been i'm position to do so. I'm
fortunately am poor. My pay as an of
ficer is all [ have TO live On." Hf
You hear, complainant. that the de
PENDANT is not able to pay the sum yol
demand of him. Do you still wish tn
complaint to stand p
An unbroken stiffness reigned through
out the hall, and the young officers breatl
could be heard coming hard.
81 wish it to stand. The. law shall
give me my rights"
There ran through the rows OF peOpl
amurmer of Indignation that soundet
like rushing of water. 'H - i
''Consider. complainant, the cOnsequen
ces of your demand. The defendant cal
be punished only through being deprive'
of his personal liberty, and by that vol
could obtain no satisfaction, while to tn
defendant it might prove the greatest in
jury in his rank and position as All officer
and especially as he is an officer who /
poor and dependent upon his pay. d,
you still insist upon your complaint ?',n
The course the affair was taking seemed
to have become painful to the lady's hus
band. He spoke to his wife urgently
but. as could be seen by the way she helt
her head and the energy with which sh
shook it, quite uselessly. The judge wa
going on to a further consideration of til
case, whenfa loud voice was heard iron
the audience:
Il will place the two hundred ruble
at the service of the defendant"
There followed silence, during which
gentleman forced his way through tn
crowd and placed himself at the youn,
officers side.
''Sir, am the Prince W, and be,
you will oblige me by accepting the LOAF
of the two hundred rubles in question.
4 sPrince, am not worthy of your kind
ness, forI don't know if shall ever b
able to pay the loan," answered tn
young man, in voice tremulous wit