The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1876-11-17
The Co.t of rraIu.

H ne COSg OF a AE1tEs
At the time when the first open
court of law was established in Rus
STA, lady, dressed with the utmost
elegance, was walking on the Moscow
promenade, leaning upon her hus-
bands arm, and letting the long train
Of her rich dress sweep the dust and
dirt of the street.
A young officer, coming hastily
from side street, was so careless as
to catch one of his spurs in the lady's
train, aud In an instant a great piece
was torn cut of the costly but frail ma
terial of the dress.
1 beg a thousand pardons, ma
dame, " said the officer, with a polite
bow, and then was about passing on
when ne was detained by the Iady's
husband.
You have insnlted my wife.
Nothing was further from my in
tention, sir. Your wife's long dress
Is to blame for the accident, which
sincerity regret, and 1 beg you once
more TO receive my apologies for any
carelessness on my part." Thereupon
he attempted to hasten on.
You shall not escape so, said the
lady, with her mead 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, beg you not to
detain me. am obliged to 90 on du-
ty at once. As TO the two hundred
rubles-I really cannot help the length
OF your dress, yet 1 beg your pardon
for not having been more cautious. -
GU shall not stir, sir. That you
are obliged to go on duty is nothing
TO as. My wife is right; the dress
must be made good. -
The officers face 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 in the
young mans face betrayed how in
wardiy disturbed he was; but STEP
ping close sp to them both, he said,
with apparent self-command,
You will renounce your claim
when tell you that 1 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 a whole year.
L can, therefore, make no amends for
the misfortune, except by again beg
ging your pardon.
sob! any body could say all that:
but Wen Sc" if it's true; we'll find
out if you have nothing tut your pay.
declare my self not satisfied with
your excuses, and demand my mon
ey," persisted the lady, in the hard
voice OF thoroughly unfeeling wo-
man.
That is true-you are right the
hnShonH G.rfif ,.lI
her. By good luck we have the open
court now just in session. Go with US
before the Judge and he will decide
the matter -
All further protestatlon on the Off
GERS part that he was poor, that he
was expected on duty, and so forth,
did not help matters. Out OF respect
for his uniform. and to avoid an open
scene, he had to go with them to the
courtroom, where the gallery was
densely packed with a crowd of peo-
pie.
After waiting some time, the lady
had leave to make her complaint.
What have you to answer to this
complaint said the Judge, turning
to the officer, who seemed embarrassed
and half in despair.
On the whole, very little. AS the
lateness OF the hour, and being re-
quired on duty, compelled me to hur-
ry, did not notice this lady's train,
which was dragging on the ground.
caught one of my spurs in it, and
had the misfortune to tear the dress.
Madame would not receive nv ex-
cuses, but perhaps now she might find
herself more disposed to forgiveness.
when again declare, so help me God,
that committed the awkward blunder
without any mischievous intention,
and earnestly beg that she will par
don me. ?"
A murmur ran through the gallery,
evidently from the people taking
sides with the defendant, and against
long trains in general and the lady In
particular.
The Judge called to order, and ask
ed, '' Are you satisfied with the defend
ants explanation ,"
Not at all satisfied. I demand two
hundred rnoles in payment for my
torn dress.''
Defendant, will you pay this
sum-"
~ would have paid it long before
this had been in position to do so.
Unfortunately am poor. My pay as
an ofdcer Is all have to live,
You hear, complainant, that the
you demand of him. Do you still
wish the complaint to stand p"
An unbroken stiffness reigned
throughout the hall, and the young
officers breath could BIS heard coming
hard.
81 wish it to stand. The law shall
give me my rights. !"
There ran through the rows of peo-
pie mnrmur of Indignation that
sounded like rushing of water.
Consider, complainant, the con-
sequences of your demand. The
defendant can be punished only by
being deprived of his personal liberty,
and by that you could obtain no salts
faction, while TO the defendant il
might prove the greatest injury In his
rank and position as an officer. and
especially as he is an officer who is
poor and dependent upon his pay. Do
you still insist upon your complaint? -
L still insist upon it. Z"
The course the affair was taking
seemed to have become painful to the
iady's husband. He spoke with his
wife urgently, bat, as could be seen by
the way she held up her head and the
energy with which she shook il, qnite
uselessly. The Judge was just going
on to further consideration of the case,
when loud voice was heard from the
audience:
J will place the tive hundred rubies
at the service of the defendant. y
Then followed silence, during
which . gentleman forced his waV
through the crowd aud placed himself
/ by the young officers side.
Sir, am Prince w :, and beg
youwilI oblige me by accepting the
lsan Of the two hundred rubles in
question. y
, 7" Prince, am not worthy of your
lkindness, for don't know If / shall