Wilmington argus. (Wilmington, Del.) 1880-18??, 1880-01-14

| lfo lOunu upon Lue HOOr. NJulCkl QUICK
the best courier horses.
SIN an instant they were ready. Merrily
| jingled the bells in the crisp air. Paul took
the reins, and off l whirled. In twenty
hours was at Kharkof. To my friend the
starosta at the great Kharkof station, who
was equal in rank and pay to most post.
masters themselves, said, DO me ser.
vice, little friend, as l would do one fol-
you. am going to leave my wife to whom
l have been unkind, and am going to enlist
| in the Guard. But / wish her to forget me,
and she must think me dead. Write to her
in a week, and tell her l was taken with
the cholera and died. Beg her to forgive
me for my unkindness. Say that l was
grateful for her love; and that it was my
last wish that she should marry again, some
lad more worthy of her than myself. Make
interest to have the station continued TO her
as postmistress. She was priests daughter,
| and can write.
1--WE crossed ourselves; he swore; we
bowed to the image in the corner Of the sta
BILE; and in five minutes was gone.'
"At the recruiting Office l enlisted for the
Empress's regiment OF Culrassiers Of the
Guards as fourteen years volunteer, and
in false name I'd of course no papers,
but they ask no questions, for l was fine
recruit. My beard was. shaved, my hair
was cut, and when 1 got to st. Petersburg,
and was f:ted with my uniform and eagle
crowned hemlet, no one would have known
me. rose TO be sergeant and second rid
ing-master. From your padarojna see
that. you are English.
'tNow, in 1868, when had served my
time, there were rumors Of war in Turkey
against you, and tempting offers were made
to me to stop and drill the recruits. But
was wretched, and home sickness drove me
South; though, if found my wife dead or
married, sgain, intended to kill mvself."
Petersburg is not place for Cossacks
either. By brooding over the past had
become madly in love with my wife. 1t
was no use for me to tell myself that had
left her well off; that she was married
again and happy, that she was fourty-four
and fat; or else, perhaps, scarecrow. l
was madly in love. l got my discharge
and pension papers, and started South. AT
Kharkof my friend was dead. What if she
too were deadf"
WHO keeps the Donski post station
nowp l murmured, crossing myself the
while under my long cloak.
The widow.
ga widow that has kept 1t fourteen
years2'
81 The same
SIN eighteen hours was there. Irecog-
missed two Of the old men, but they not me.
/ rushed into the house. She was at her
day book, writing not changed; only gra-
yer, and with silver in her black hair. My
own little Olga, in the best style of old days.
She did not turn to look at me, but threw
up her arms and fell forward on the table.
! rushed to her and felt her heart, with
mine, too, all but ceasing to beat. In a
moment she came to herselfAour lips press
ed together. That was in 1858. This is
1869. Sixteen years gone like day. We
have made up for the past. little lord.
But would. you believe its. Tess wretch
q ilslsvs thati
's'-yi-a-sd, and that thsDonsN stations kept
py widow Or else, they say, thecuiras-
sier riding-master must be dead, and with
him his pension. My widow accepts the
situation with smile, for our neighbors all
know better than to believe the Government,
but she keeps the books, signs the receipts,
and pays the taxes. draw my pension in
my cuirassier name.