The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1876-11-02
THE COST OF TRAIN.

At the time when the first open court
of law was established in Russia, a lady,
dressed with the utmost elegance, was
walking on the Moscow promenade,
leaning upon her husbands arm, and
letting the long train Of her rich dress
sweep the dust and dirt of the street.
A young officer, coming hastily from
a side street, was so careless as to catch
one of his spurs in the lady's train, and
in an instant a great piece was torn out
of the costly but frail material of the
dress.
81 beg a thousand pardons, ma
dame," said the officer, with q polite
bow, and then was about passing on,
when he was detained by the lady's hus-
band.
"You have insulted my wife,"
"Nothing was further from my in.
t%ention, sir. Your wife's long dress is
to blame for the accident, which l sim
cerely regret, and beg you once more
to receive my apologies for any care
lessness on my part" Thereupon he
attempted to hasten on.
"You shall not escape So" said the
lady, with her head thrown back in a
spirited way. "To.day is the first time
l have worn this dress, and it cost two
hundred rubles, which you must make
good"
"My dear madame, l beg you not to
detain me. l am obliged to go on duty
at once. As to the two hundred rublcs-
I really can not help the length of your
dress, yet l beg your pardon for moi
having been more cautious"
"You shall not stir, sir. That you
are obliged to 60 on duty is nothing tc
us. My wife is right; the dress mus
be made good"
The officers face grew pale.
"You force me to break through tn,
rules of the service, and l shall receiv,
punishment"
"Pay the two hundred rubles and 20,
are Free"
The quickly changing color in tn,
young mans face betrayed how inward
ly disturbed he was; but stepping clos
up to them both, he said, with apparen
self-command,
"You will your claim whei
l tell you that l am a-a-poor man
who has nothing to live on but his off
GERS pay, and the amount of that pa,
hardly reaches the sum of two hundre,
rubles in a whole year. l can, there
fore, make no amends for the misfol
tune, except by again begging you
pardon"
sob! any body could say all that
but Wen see il it's true; we'l find on
you have nothing but your pay. I de
clare myself no satisfied with your o,
cuses, and l demand my money" pei
sisted the lady, in the hard voice of
thoroughly unfeeling woman.
"That is true-you are right" tn
husband added, dutifully supportin
her. "By good luck we have the ope
court now just In session. Go with U
before the Judge and he will decide tn
HlutOtT'
All further p~rotestation on the officer
part that he was poor, that he was Q,
pected on duty, and SO forth, did NJ
help matters. Out Of respect for h
uniform, and to avoid an open seem
he had to 60 with them to the cour
room, where the gallery was dense
packed with a crowd Of people.
After waiting some time, the lady hs
leave to make her complaint.
"What have you to answer to III
complaint" said the Judge, turning
the officer, who seemed embarrass,
and half in despair.
"On the whole, very little. As Il
lateness Of the hour, and beng requir,
on duty, compelled me to hurry, l d
not notice this lady's train, which W