The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1881-10-07
A Man Who Lives With his Wife.
A RUSSIAN STORY.

A recent traveller in Southern Russia says
that at station Donski he met tall, fine look
ing, grey-haired man, and handsome Cos.
sack woman, about his age, who were hus-
band and wife. Said the man, pointing to
the woman, "she is my beloved wife and
widow, sir Ha ha you laugh, sir, but wait
| will tell you the history of n man who has
been dead fourteen years, and who married his
| widow"
And he proceeded: l am 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 | am a
partial judge, but find her still beautiful.
was wild young fellow, high tempered,
and of a rowing disposition. was postmas.
ter of the station when l married Olga. At
first was contented-she was loving, good
| wife-but grew weary of life, and restless
| for freedom. 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, Wanska ~ l
answered impatiently, "Oh, yes, you kno W
| do" But you don't love me as 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. loved her in
my way, but it nettled me that l was bound
to her for life, and l wanted my freedom. AS
she chung to me, pushed her violently away,
and she fell to the floor. Rising slowly she
looked at me rcproachfully and left the room
without q word.
was wild. Iran to the stable Harness
me troika instantly" cried to the hostler.
"There is a dispatch left here by the courier
that must take to Charkoff; make haste"
In few minutes the wagon was ready. Paul
took thp rpina thn hallc nj, mir n1o nj,
in the fresh air, and without Il backward
glance for Olga, was flying from the station,
and in twenty hours reached Charkotf
Diminishing the wagon, | went to the post.
master, who was my most intimate friend.
called for ink and pen and wrote letter,
which l gave to him, saying, do this favor
for me and be silent. l want to leave my wife.
In eight days send her this letter and ask me
no questions" In this letter wrote:
"OLGA: When you receive this letter shall
be dead. Forget me and marry some other man
who Will treat you better than have done. For
give me for striking you; it was a shameful act.
Keep the station, you can write, and can hold
it as well as L. Heaven bless you. WANsKA."
My friend shook my hand and promised to
fulfil my errand, and few hours later was
on my way to the military bureau Of
where told | wanted to enlist for fourteen
years in the Horse Guards and gave them
a different name from my own. | was
tall and healthy, and they were glad to accept
me, asking me few questions. My hair was
cut short, my beard shorn and in my new
uniform, with a glttering helmet on my head
rode through the streets of St. Petersburg,
and no one to know me among the thousands
who looked at us as we passed by. |
was ambitious and learned the routine
soldiers life quickly. The discipline was Sc
we're il was hard to be obedient, and ms for
the freedom had longed for, l found | had
lost it. was soon sergeant, and finally
became captain of horse in the regiment
won distinction in the service In the
war with Turkey and later the Crimea my time
was up, and was seized with most terrible
inconsistencies, for of late years had learned
to love my wife passionately, and to see her
again, even though she were the wife of
another, was my one thought l wondered
if she had changed in all these years; if she
had grown stout as beer cask or as thin as
a corkscrew. Twas offered many advantages
If | would remain in the army but | refused
them all, was honorably discharged, with
good pension, and the same day started for
the south, my heart beating wildly between
hope and fear reached Charkof, and found
that my old friend, the postmaster, was dead
My Heart tainted with the thought that Olga
too might be dead
"Who has the post at DonskiS' inquired
"A widow" was the reply.
"The same who held it fourteen years
ago?"
THE same," came the answer
In eighteen hours | was there | knew
the two old men who Embarrassed my horses
They were former servants of mine But
they did not know me in my uniform. has
tened TO the entrance of this house, then into
the office. Olga sat ut the desk writing and
seemed unchanged to me- True, her face was
more sad, and in her beautiful black hair |
saw few silver threads, yet she was still
beautiful
81 stole in, Olga, dearest !" / whispered
and sank on my knees before her. She didn't
look at me, but threw her arms in the air
her head fell upon the desk heavily. She had
tainted | sprang to her, took her in my
arms, while | told my story and begged her
forgiveness, and the angel forgave me. That
was sixteen years ago, sir, and the years
passed like spring days. We have been al
ways so happy.
After pause the old man continued:
But what do you think the stupid govern
ment at St Petersburg insists upon? That
| am dead, sir and the Donsk post station
must remain in the hands of my widow or
else the guardsman of the Cuirassiers must be
dead, and lose his pension. My widow laughs
over the dilemma She keeps the books, signs
the receipts and pays the taxes. draw my
very liberal pension under the name by which |
] enlisted, but rs the former postmaster of
Donski am II dead man. This is my history |
sir. There may be some who don't believe it, |
but we and our neighhors know better.