The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1876-11-22
TEE COST OF A TRAIN.

John q. FkHier
TEE COST OF A TRAIN.
At the time when the first oper
court OF law was established in Rus.
sa, lady, dressed with the utmost
elegance, was walking on the Mar
COW promenode, 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 trail
material Of the dress
] Il beg a thousand pardons, mad
ame, said the officer, with polite
bow, and thea was about passing on,
when be was detained by the lady's
husband
Nothing was further from nv in
tentions, sir Your wile's long dress
is TO blame for the accident, which |
sincerely regret, and beg you once
more to receive my apologies for any
carelessness on my part" Thereupon
be attempted to hasten on.
You shall not escape so. said the
lady, With her head thrown back in
q spirited way To-day is the frs.
/ time tine have worn this dress,
and it cost two hundred rubles, which
you must make good"
My dear madame, beg of you
not to detain me. am obliged TO
go on duty at once. As to the two
hundred rubles-l really capnot help
the length fyour dress, yet beg
your pardon for not having been
more cautious"
You shall not stir, sir That you
are obliged to 20 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 | shall
receive punishment
PAY the two hundred rubIes and
you are freen
The quickly changing color in the
young mans face showed how in
wardly disturbed he was; but step
ping close up 10 them both he said
with apparent self command:
you viii rencunce your claim
y hen tell you that | am-a-poor
man, who has nothing to live on hut
his officers pay, and the amount of
that pay hardly reaches two hundred
rubes 10 whole year. / can, there
fore make 90 amends for the misfor-
tune excep. By again begging your
pardon"
"Ob,any body could say all that;
but we i see If it's true; We'll find out
if yCu have nothing bat your pay, |
declare myself not satisfied with your
excuse, demand ny money" persist
ed the lady, in the hard voice of a
thoroughly unfeeling woman
"Tha. is ;rue-you are right" the
husband added, dutifully supporting
ber. by good luck We have the
open court now Just 10 session. Go
with Us before the Judge, aud he will
decide the matter,
"All further protestatioDs on the
officers part that he was poor, that
be was expected OH duty, aud 50
forth, did not help matters Out of
respect for bis uniform, to avoid an
open scene, be had to go with them
to the court room, where the gallery
was deasely packed with a crowd of
people"
After waiting some time, the lady /!
had leave to bring her complaint,
What have you to answer to this /
complaiutg:n said the judge, turning
10 the officer, who seemed embarrass- !
I'd and half 10 despair.
''On the whole, very little. As
the lateness Of the hour, aud being
required on duty, compelled me to
hurry. ] did not notice this lady's I
train which was dragging on the
ground | caught one of my spurs
in il. and had the misfortune to tear /
the dress. Madam would not re-
ceive my excuses, but perhaps now !
she might fad herself more disposed
to forgiveness, when | again declare. /
SO belp me God. that committed
this awkward blunder without any
mischierous intention, and ! earnest
/; beg that she will pardon me"
4 murmur ran through the gallery,
evidently from The people taking
sides with the defendant and against /
long trains in general, and the lady
iD particular. j
The Jddge called to order, and
asked, .dAre yoa satisfied with the
defendants explanations"
"Not at ali satisfied. | demand
two hundred rables in payment for
nv torn dress"
Defendant, will you pay this
sum. u
4 would have paid it long before
this had ! been in position TO do
so. Unfortunately ! an poor. My
psy ss an officer is all have to
live on"
"You hear, complainant, that the
defendant is not able to pay the SUN
you demand of him. Do YOU still
wish the complaint to s,and!"
An unbruken silence reigned
throughout the hall, and the young
officers breath could be heard CON-
ing hard.
Il wish it to stand. The law shall
give me rights.
There ran through the rows of
people muFmGr of indignation that
sounded Ike a rushing Of wa-er.
Consider, complainant, The con-
ssaueuces of YOUR demand. The de- !