The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1876-12-01
The Cost Of a Train.
An Interesting Story.

cow pIOIIebduoJ iC%ilHS uPou h0'
husbands arm, and letting the long
train of her 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
bat frail material of the dress.
IL beg a thousand pardons, mad
am" said the officer, with a polite
bow, and then was about passing on,
when he was detained by the lady, IS
husband.
"You have insuited my wife"
"Nothing was farther from my in
tentiou, sir. Your wife's long dress
is to blame for this accident, which
| sincerely regret, and | beg you
once more to receive my apologies
for any carelessness on my part" y
Thereupon he attempted to hasten
on.
"You shall not escape sos" said
the lady, with her head thrown
back in spirited way. "fo>day
is the first time | have worn this
dress, and it cost two hundred rus
bles, which you must make good"
my dear madam, beg you not
to detain me. | am obliged to go
on duty at once. AS to the two
hundred rubles-I really cannot
help the length of your dress, yet /
beg your pardon for not being more
cautious "
"You shall not stir, sir. That you
are oblige 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 | shall
receive punishment"
''Pay the two hundred rubles and
you are free"
The quickly changing color in the
young mans face showed how ine
wardly disturbed he was but step
ping 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
bat his officers pay, the amount of
that pay hardly reaches the sum of
two hundred rubles in a whole year.
can, therefore make no amend for
the misfortune except by again beg
ging your pardon"
"Oh! any body could say all that.
But we'll see if it's true we'll find
out if you have nothing but your
pay. | declare myself not satisfied
with your excuse, and | demand my
money" persisted the lady, in the
! hard voice of a thoroughly unfeeling
, woman.
"That is true-yOu are right, " the
husband added, dutifuIly supporting
her. "By good luck we have the
open court now in session. Go
with US before the Judge aud we will
decide the matter"
All further proteLtation on the Of
ticer's part that he was poor, that he
was expected on duty, did not help
matters. Out of respect for his IN
form, and to avoid an open scene,
be had to go with them to the courts
room, where the gallery was densely
packed with a crowd of people.
After waiting sometime the lady
had leave to bring her complaint.
"What have you to answer TO this
complaint ?" said the judge, turning
to the officer, who seemed embar,
raised and half in despair.
''On the whole, very little. AS
the lateness of the hour, and being
required on duty, compelled me to
hurry, did not notice the lady =
train, which was dragging on the
ground. | caught one of my spurs
ia it, and had the misfortune to tear
the dress. Madam would not res
ceive my excuse, but perhaps she
might find herself more disposed to
forgiveness, when / again declare, &c
help me God, that committed this
awkward blunder without any mis-
chievous intention, and | earnestly
beg that she will pardon me-
A murmur ran through the gall
lerS, evidently from the people TAX
ing sides with the defendant, and
sgaiust long trains in general, and
the lady in particular.
The Judge called to order, and
asked: care you satisfied with the
defendants explanation 2"
"Not at all satisfied. demand
two hundred rubles in payment for
my torn dress"
Defendant, will you pay this
sum 7"
~ would have paid it long before
this had been in position to do so
Unfortunately am poor. My pay
as an officer is all have to live on.
"You hear, complainant, that tn
defendant is not able to pay the san
you demand of him. Do you still
wish the complaint to stand 2
An unbroken stiffness reigneC
f throughout the hall, and the young
officers breath could be heard com