The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1881-08-16
A Man Who Lived with His
Widow.

the tedious journey with post horses'
For the first two days weather was
pleasa MT, but on the third morning the
heavens were covered with heavy, grey
clouds northwest wind blew furlously;
thunder, lightning, and snow flakes
followed--such storm as can only be
found In Southern Russia. In half an
hour the roads were impossible with
black mud, and as we reached the post
station Donskl we found there was no
more progress for that day. As enter
ed the station / was met by TALL, fine
looking, grey-helred man, whose black
velvet coat ewiih backward Greclan
sleeves made md iudge him as holding
some military or official position. Be
hind him came a handsome Cossack
woman about his age, and both greeted
me kindly. In reply to my request for
cup of tea, the woman said," Husband,
ask the gentleman If he would not Ikea
roast chicken with his ten. 1t will be II
long time before he can mount his troika
and continue his journey and he will
find the chicken tender"
n
at the man, and then left the room, not
before he had waved kiss to her rs she
closed the door.
"She is my beloved wife, and widow,
sir" said he, turning to me as / took
seat by the porcelain stove, warming my
hands on its smooth sides. I" Ha ha F!
you laugh, sir, but wait until you are
eating your chicken, and If you wish L
will tell you the history of man who
has been dead fourteen years and who
married his widow" OF course / was
eager for the story, and soon after when
my chicken was brought to me tempting
and warm, he drew chair near my ell
bow and commenced his story.
CT aim nearly sixty years old now,
sir my wife also. But she was once
beautiful, good, young girl she is as
good now as then, and perhaps 1 am
partial judge, but find her still beauti-
full"
TO this last statement l assented, and
he continued:
81 was a wild young fellow, high
tempered, and of q rowing disposition.
/ was postmaster of the station when /
married Olga. AT first was contented
she was a loving, good wife-but
grew weary of life, and restless for free
dom. One day, it was in the year of
1S4S, she seemed sad, and coming to me
put her arms around my neck, and said,
"Do you really and truly love me, Wan
ska 2" l answered impatiently, Oh,
yes, you know do" "But you don't
love me as L do you," she continued
In that moment an evil spirit must
have seized me. / don't know what
thoughts passed through my brain, only
it seemed as if she was right. L loved
her in my way, but it nettled me that L
was bound to her for life, and L wanted
my freedom. AS she clung to me, 1
pushed her violently away, and she fell
to the floor. Rising slowly she looked
at me reproachfully and left the room
without word.
I" was wild, l ran to the stable.
" Harness me troika instantly" !cri-
ed to the hostler. "There is dispatch
left here by the courier that must take
to Charkoff; make haste" In few
minutes the wagon was ready. Paul
took the reins, the bells were ringing
clearly in the fresh air, and without
backward glance for Olga, was flying
from the station, and in twenty hours
1 reached Charkoff.
I" Dismissing the wagon, 1 went to
the postmaster, who was my most init
mate friend. 1 called for ink and pen
and wrote letter, which gave to him,
saying, " Do this favor for me and be
silent. want to leave my wife. In
eight days send her this letter and ask
me no questions. In this letter L
wrote;
"OLGA; When you receive this let
ter l shall be dead. Forget me and
marry some other man who will treat
you better than L have done. Forgive
me for striking you it was shameful
act. Keep the station, you can write,
and can hold it as well as |. Heaven
bless you. WANsKA."
"My friend shook my hand and
promised to fulfil my errand, and few
hours later 1 was on my way to the mil
itary bureau Of, where told 1 want
ed to enlist for fourteen years in the
Horse Guards and gave them different
name from my own. was tall and
healthy, and they were very glad to ac-
cept me, asking me few questions.
My hair was cut short, my beard shorn,
| oud I'm M - nau mn form, With a o.litto.