The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1876-11-17
EBENsBURG, Pa. FRIDAY NOVEMBER IT, 1876.

with his spurs and mustache, accompanied
by Ispravnik's son, lad of seventeen,
who had just enlisted with the Uhlans.
Both immediately promised Vladimir their
assistance and after cordial embrace the
happy lover parted from his three friends
to complete his preparations at home.
Having dispatched trusty servant with
sleigh for Marie, he got into a one horse
sleigh himself and took the road leading
to Jadrine. Scarcely had he set off when
the storm bnrst forth with violence, and
soon every trace of the way was gone. The
entire horizon was covered with thick, yell
low clouds, Gischarging not flakes, but
masses of snow at last it became impossi-
BILE to distinguish between earth and sky.
In vain Vladimir beat about for the way
his horse went on at random, now leap
ing over banks of snow, now sinking into
bitches, and threatening every moment to
overturn the sleigh. The insupportable
thought of having lost the road had be-
come certainty. The forest of Jadrino
was nowhere to be discovered, and after
two hours the iaded animal seemed ready
to drop to the ground. At length a kind
of dark line became visible i'll the distance.
Vladimir urged his horse forward and
reached the skirt of forest. He now
hoped TO reach his destination soon, as it
was easier to pursue his way in the forest,
into which the snow had not yet penetra
ted. Vladimir took fresh courage how
ever, there were no signs of Jadrino. By
do N ahataI nnd ha
shone brightly. He finally reached the OPP
posite skirt of the forest. Still no Jadrino;
but a group of four or five houses me: his
view. His knock at the door of the near
est was answered by the old man.
"What do you want?''
"Where lies Jadrino ?' asked Vladimir
About ten miles distant
At this reply Vladimir felt as if his SEN
tence of death was being announced to
him.
Can you procure me horse and take
me thither? lie asked.
"We have no horse"
''Or at least ii guide. 1 will pay any
price"
'Eeiy well, my son can accompany the
gentleman.
After little while, which seemed an
eternity to Vladimir, young fellow made
his appearance, holding a thick staff in his
hand, and they took their way across the
snow covered plain.
"What O'clock is it ?' asked Vladimir.
''It is already past midnight
And in very truth the sun began to gild
the east when they arrived at Jadrno.
The church door was locked. Vladimir
paid and dismissed his guide, and then in
stantly fastened to the ministers dwelling.
What he there learned will appear floni
| the sequel.
At Nemaradof the nigh: passed quietly.
In the morning the master of the house
and his wife arose as usual, and procecdcd
! to the dining room, Gabriel Gabrilovitch
! in his WOODEN jacket and nightcap, PetrOw-
na i'll her morning gown. After they had
break tasted Gabriel sent one of the girls
up to inquire how Marie was. She re-
! turned with a message that her young
mistress had passed seepless night, but
that she was feeling better, and would
! come down presently. Marie soon after
entered the room, looking exceedingly
pale, yet without the least perceptible agi
! tation.
GLOW do you feel this morning, love p
inquired her father.
''Better,'' was the answer.
The day passed as usual, but instead
Of the looked for improvement seriou:
change for the worse took place in Mnrie's
condition. The family physician was sum
! moned from the nearest town, who foun6
! her in state of most violent fever. Fo
| fourteen days she lay at the point of death
| Nothing trauspired of the nocturna
flight, for the maid took good care to keel
silence on her own account and the Others
/ who knew of it never betrayed themselve:
with syllable, SO greatly did they dreao
Gabrilovitch's anger.
Marie, however, spoke so necessarily
of Vladimir, when delirious, that he
mother could not remain in doubt as t.
the cause of her illness. Having advised
with few friends. her parents resolved
to let Marie marry the young soldier, see
ing that one cannot escape ones fate, and
besides that, riches do not always lead t
happiness.
The patient recovered. During her i'll
ness Vladimir had not once shown his face
in the house, and it was resolved to apprist
him of his unexpected good-fortune. But
to the as.onishment of the proud proprie
tor of Nemaradof, the cadet declared tha
he should never again cross the threshold
of his house. begging them at the same
time to forget utterly so wretched a crea
ture as he, to whom death alone woult
give repose.
A few days afterward they learned tina
Vladimir had again returned to the army
It was in the year 1912. No one uttered
bis name i'm Marie's presence, and sh'
herself never made mention of him in an.
! way. Two or three months had elapsed
! when one day she found his name among