The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1876-12-13
a Woman Who Didn't win.

elegance, was walking on toe Mos
r COW promenade, leaning upon hei
husbands arm, and letting the lone
train of Der dress sweep the dust anC
! dirt Of the street.
! 4 young officer, coming hastily
from a side street, vas 80 careless
as to catch one of his spurs in The
lady's train, and in All instant a
/ great place was torn out Of the costly,
buJ frail material of the dress.
81 beg a thousand pardons, mad.
am, " said the officer, with a polite
bow, ana then was about passing on,
when he was detained by The lady's
husband
"lou have insulted my wife"
Nothing was farther from my in
Fteutioa sir. Your wife's long dress
is 30 blame for the accident, which
sincerely regret. and beg you
once more % accept my apologies for
any caTelessness on my part"
%rhereupjn be attempted 10 hasten
on.
You sdall not escape so" said the
lady with her head thrown back in "a
spirited way.
To-day is The first time | have
worn this dress, ana 10 cost two bun-
dred rub!es, which you must make
good
MY dear madame, / beg YOU not
20 detliu me. AN obliged 10 20 on
duty at ouce As u the two hun
dred rubl-s-l really cannot belp
the length 0f your dress, vet | beg
your pareoa for not being more eau
tio0s.r
'Yoa shaIl not stir, sir. That you
are obi ged to go ON duty is Dotbing
TO u Ny 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
PAY the two hundred rubles and
you are free"
The quickly changing color of the
young mas face betrayed how in-
wardiy disturbed be was; but step
ping close up TO them both, be said,
with apparent self command:
You will renounce your claim
when | tell You that | am IA poor
man, who has aothing TO live on but
officers paw, and the amount Of paw
scarcely reaches two hundred rubles
10 a whole year. | can, therefore,
make no amends for the misfortune
except by again Logging your par
don"
con, anybody could say all that;
hat well see if it is true; we'll find
out it yea have nothing but your
nav. declare myself not satisfied
with yonr excuses. and demand my
money" persisted the lady, in the
bard tone Of a thoroughly ~unfeeling
woman.
"That is true-you ore right" the
husband added. dutifully supporting
her. CIV good luck we have the
omen court Just now is session. Go
with ~ before the judge and be viii
deride the matter"
Al. further protestation on the Of
fce~'s part that be was poor and
that be was expected CD duty, and
so forth. did not help matters. Out
/ Of resnect to his uniform. aud to
avoid an open scene, be had TO go
with them to the court room. where
the gallery was densely packed with
a crowd of people.
After waiting some time, the lady
had leave 10 bring her complaint.
"Whqt have vou to answer : this
complaint ?" said the Judge. turning
t. tho officer who seemed embarrass-
ed AMI half in despair.
"On the whole, very little. As the
1ator ess Of toe hour, and being re-
auirpd or DUTY, compelled me to bur-
~. 7 did not notice this ladv's train,
which wasdrapging On The ground.
I cauoht ore of INV spurs in it, and
had the misfortune TO tear the dress.
Madame would not receive my ex-
cnses. hut perhaps now she might
find herself more disposed TO forgive
ness when I again declare, 40 help
me Cod that | committed this awk-
ward hinder without any miscbiev-
ous intention. and | earnestly beg
that she will pardon me
4 murmur ran through rbe gallery.
avidentlv taking side with the de-
fendqni. and apainst long trains in
general and the ladv 10 particular.
The indigo called to order. and ask
Cd are Won satisfied with the defend
ants exnlanation ?"
"Not ct al satisfied. | demand
two bundled rubles in payment for
the torn dress"
Defendant will you pay this
sunni"
II wonld have paid it long before
this had I lpen in o position tn do 20.
Unfortunately ! sm poor. Ny paw
as an officer is all I have to live on s"
"You hear. complainant that the de-
fendant is not able to pay the sum
Won demand IF him. Do Won still
wish the complaint to stand?"
An unbrokpn silence reigned
throughout the hall. and the young
officers breath could be heard coming
hard
al wish It to stand The law shall
give me nv rights
There ran through the Fows Of
people Il mUrmur OF Indignation that
sounded Ike n rashing water.
Consider. complainant. the eOnse-
cuences Of youT demond The de-
se0dant Fan De punished ouly through
being deprived Of bis personal liber-
", and by that you could obtain no
satisfaction, while to the defendant it
might prove the greatest injury in
his rank and position as an officer
who is poor and dependent upon his
pay. Do YOU still insist upon youI
complaiot2p
The ccnrse the affair was taking
seemed TO have become painful to
the lady's husband. He spoke to his
wife urgently, but as could be seen
by the woy she held her head and
the energy with which she shook IL,
quite uselessly. The judge was go
ing to the further consideration of