Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1877-03-29
An EXTENSIVE TRAIN.

An EXTENSIVE TRAIN.
At the time when the first open court
| of law was established In Russia, a
lady, dressed with the utmost elegance,
was walking on the Moscow promenade
leaning on 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 ofhis spurs on the lady's train, and
in an instant great piece was torn
out Of the costly but frail material Of
the dress.
II beg a thousand pardons, madam, !"
said the officer, with a polite bow, and
then was about passing on, when he
was detained by the lady's husband.
''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 I
sincerely regret, and 1 beg you once
more to receive my apologies for any
carelessness 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 me
two hundred rubles, which you must
make good"
''My dear madam, beg you not to
detain me. am obliged to go on duty
at once. As for two hundred rubles-I
really can not help the length of your
dress, yet beg your pardon for not hav-
ing been more cautious"
"You shall not stir, sir. That you
are obliged to go on duty is nothing to
me. My wife is right; the dress must
be made good"
The officer grew pale.
''You force me to break through the
rules of the service, and I shall receive
punishment"
'sPay 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
to them both, he said, with apparent
self-command: ''You will renounce
your claim when tell you that am a
-a-poor young man, who has nothing
to live on but his officers pay, and the
amount Of that pay hardly reaches the
sum of two hundred rubles in a whole
year. can, therefore, make no amends
for the misfortune, except by again
begging your pardon"
so! anybody could say that; but
Well see if it's true; We'll find out if
you have nothing but your pay. I
declare myself not satisfied with your
excuses, and demand my money!"
persisted the lady, in the hard voice of
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 we will decide
the matter"
All further protestation on the
officers part that he was poor, that he
was expected on duty, etc., did not
help matters. Out Of respect for his
uniform, and to avoid an open scene,
he had TO 60 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 bring her complaint.
''What have you to answer to this
complaint?" said the judge, turning to
the officer, who seemed embarrassed
and half in despair.
Son the whole, very little. AS the
lateness of the hour, and being re-
quired on duty, compelled me to hurry,
l did not notice this lady's train, which
was dragging on the ground. caught
one ofmy spurs in it, and had the mis-
fortune to tear the dress. Madam
would not receive my excuses but
perhaps she might find herself more dis
posed to forgiveness, when 1 again
declare, SO help me God, that 1 COM
mitted this awkward blunder without
any mischievous intention, and
earnestly beg that she will pardon me.
A murmur ran through the gallery
evidently from the people taking sides
with the defendant, and against long
trains in general and the lady in
particular.
The judge called to order, and asked:
care you satisfied with the defen.
dant's explanation ?"
mot at all satisfied. demand two
hundred rubles in payment for my torn
Dress"
Defendant, will pay this sum-"
II would have paid it long before
this had been in a position to do so.
Unfortunately ana poor. My pay as