Middletown transcript., 1876-11-18
Select Storp.
TIE COST OF A TRAIN.

IHE UUST OF A TRAIN,
AT the time when the first open cour
Of law was established in Russia, lady
dressed with the utmost elegance. va.
walking on The Moscow promenade
leaning upon her husbands arm, and
letting the long train Of her rich dres,
sweep the dust and dirt Of tho street.
A young officer, coming hastily from,
side street. was SO careless as to catch
one Of his spurs in the lady's train, and
In an instant great piece was torn ou,
Of the costly but frail material of the
dress. sA.'4i.lal
1 beg thousand pardons, madame,
said the officer with a polite bow, and
then was about passing on, when be
was detained BY the lady's husband.
You have insulted my wife.
Nothing was farther from my iintsn-
tions. sir. Your wife's long dress is to
blame for the accident, which I sim
cerely regret. and l beg you once more
to receive my apologies for any careless
ness on my part.
He attempted to hasten on. iiig %
You shall not escape so.' said The
lady. with her head thrown back in
spirited way. To-day is the 6rst time
have worn this dress, and it cost two
hundred rubles, which you must make
good s p saalgsH Ela
MY dear madame. 1 beg you NOT to
detain me-. | am obliged to 20 on duty
at once, As to the two hundred rubles
II cannot really help the length Of
your dress. yet beg your pardon for
not having been more cautious aFsfl3
You shall not stir, SIR. That YOU
are obliged to 60 on duty is nothing to
US. Ny wife is right; the dress must
be made good
The officers face grew pale. e = ssi7
You force me to break through the
rules of the service, and shall receive
punishment 'e $50
Pay the two hundred rubles and you
are free
The quickly changing color in the
young mans face betrayed how In
wardly disturbed be was but stepping
close up to them both, be said, with
apparent self-command
You will renounce your claim when
l tell you that | am a-a-poor man. |
who has nothing to live on but his off, |
GERS pay, and the amount Of that hardly
reaches the sum Of two hundred rubles
in the whole year. l can, therefore. |
make no amends for the misfortune. ex.
cept BY again begging your pardon
oh! anybody could say all that;
we'll see if it's true; we'll find out if
you have nothing but your pay. I de-
clare myself not satisfied with your ex.
cuses. and l demand my money per-
sisted the lady. in the hard voice Of a
thoroughly unfeeling woman.
That is true-y6u are right the
husband added. dutifully supporting
her. BY good luck We have tie open
court now in session. Go with US be-
fore the judge and be will decide the
NATTER ssf 81 +
All further protestations on the off,
;er's part be was poor, that be was ex-
oected back, and SO forth, did not help
matters. Out Of his uniform, and to
avoid an open scene, be had to 20 with
hem to the courtroom. where the gal
cry was densely packed with a crowd {
# people.
Aftor waiting some time, the lady
lad leave to bring her complaint.
What have you to answer to this I
omplaint?' 2 said the judge. turning to q
he officer. who seemed embarrassed and i
'alf in despair
On the whole, very little. As the !
ateness of the hour, and being REQUIRED (
q duty. compelled me to hurry, | did
OF notice this lady's train, which was b
Raging on the ground I caught one 1
my spurs in it. and bad the misfor-
ane to tear the dress. Madame would
OF receive my excuses, but perhaps
ow she might find herself more dis. Il
osed to forgiveness. when I again, de- a
lsre, so help me God. that | com mitted d
lis awkward blunder without any mis- '
1ievous intention, and I earnestly beg t,
lat she will pardon me- el
A murmur ran through the gallery, r.
'idently from the people taking sides Il
ith the defendant, and against long 81
aims in general and the lady in par. fl
cular. .,
The judge called to order. and asked, .,
Ire you satisfied with the defendants m
,planation ? v
Not at all satisfied. demand two vi
inbred rubles in payment for my torn te
ess.' Ii
'Defendent will you pay this sum 2 v
1 would have paid it long before "
is had been in position to do SO b.
pfortunately l am poor. Ny pay as hi
officer is all have to live on to
You hear. complainant, that the de- m
ndant is not able to pay the sum yeu be
mand of him. Do you still wish the tv
mplaiut to stand :? ed
L wish it to stand. The law shall sli
We me my rights. 81 40
There ran through the rows Of people bu
nurmur of indignation that sounded vo
g rushing Of water. in
Consider. complainant, the cop,e- Sc,
ences o: your demand. The defend
1 L 4 -