American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1876-11-04
THE COST OF A TRAIN.

al 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 great piece was torn out
Of the costly but frail material of the
dress.
al beg . 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 1 sin
cerely regret, and beg you once more
to receive my apologies for any care
leuness 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, beg you not to
detain me. am obliged to go on duty
At once. As to the two hundred rubles-
I really can not help the length of your
dress. yet I 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
%. Ny wife is right; the dress must
b made good.''
The officers face grew pale.
You1orce me to break through the
rules Of The service. and shall receive
puni1hment- -
"Rny ths two hundred rubles and you
ase 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
self-command,
"You Will renounce your claim when
tell you that am a-a-poor man,
who has nothing to 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 MOI amends for the misfor.
tune, except by again begging your
pardon"
"Oh! any body could say all that
but wen see if it's true; wen find oui
il you have nothing but your pay. de.
clare myself not satisfied with your ex.
cuses, and I demand my money!" per.
sisted the lady, in the hard voice of q
: thoroughly unfeeling woman.
"ThAt Is true-you are right" the
husband added, datifully 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.''
All further protestation on the officers
part that he was poor, that he was 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 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
lsteness of the hour, and beng required
ON duty, compelled me to hurry, did
not notice this lady's train, which was
dragging on the ground. caught one
of my spurs in it, and had the misfor-
tune to tear the dress. Madame would
not receive my excuses, but perhaps n64
she might find herself more disposed y
forgiveness, when ! again declare, "a