The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1876-11-02
THE COST OF Al 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,
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
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 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
tentiOn, sir. Your wife's long dress is
TO blame for the accident, which | sin
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
have worn this dress, and it cost two
hundred rubles, which you must make
good"
My dear madame, beg you not to
detain me. l am obliged to go on duty
ut once. As TO the two hundred rubles-
really can not help the length of your
dress, yet l beg your pardon for not
having been more cautious"
"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 officers face grew pale.
"You force me to break through the
rules Of the service, and 1 shall receive
punishment.
"Pay the two hundred rubles and you
are free"
The quickly changing color in the
young mans face betrayed how inward
ly disturbed he was; but stepping close
up TO them both, he said, with apparent
sef-command, a .-.s...... s...
You will renOunce your claim when
tel you that l am a-a-poor man,
who has nothing 10 live on but his Off
GERS pay, and the amount of that pay
hardly reaches the sum of two hundred
rubles in whole year. can, there
fore, make no amends for the misfor-
tune, except by again begging your
pardon" q lD~ E--
"oh! any body could say all that /;
but wen see if it's true; wen find out
if you have nothing but your pay. l de-
clare myself not satisfied with Your ex-
cuses, and demand my money!" per
sisted the lady, in the hard voice of a
thoroughly unfeeling woman.
"That is true-you are right" the
husband added, dutifully supporting
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"
AL further protestston on the officers
part that he was poor, that he wss ex-
pected 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 court
room, where the gallery was densely
packed with a crowd'of people.
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 beng required
on duty, compelled me to hurry, did
not notice this lady's train, which was