The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-12-20

IVAN TourgenieH.


sit was in the year 1905" began my old
friend, "and not long before Austerlitz. The
regiment In which was officer was sta
toned in Moravia.
ave were strictly forbidden either to OPP
press or to annoy the inhabitants; but In
spite Of this they looked askance ht US, al.
though We were their allies.
~ had comrade, serf who had for.
merly belonged to my mother, called Je.
gor; he was an honest, quiet fellow; l had
known him from youth upward, and treat
ed him as a friend.
"One day there arose lamentations,
clamor, and abuse in the house where l
dwelt. Some one had robbed the mistress
OF two hens, and she accused my comrade
OF the theft. He strove TO yindicate him
self, and called me as witntss. He,
Jegor Awtamonow-a thiet! assured the
woman Of Jegor's honesty, but she would
not listen to me.
Suddenly the trample OF horses was
heard in the street. II was the Comman-
der-in. Chief with bis staff.
HE rode at walking pace; a corpulent,
bloated man, his head was bowed; and his
epanlets hung down over hrs breast.
Gas soon as the woman saw him, she
threw herself upon her kneet; her bair in
disorder, before his horse, complained
loudly Of my oomrade, and pointed with
her fuger at him.
"'General I she cried; Justice, my lord |!
Help Rescue This soldier has plundeted
me
"Jegor stood upon the threshold Of the
house in a soldierly attitude, his cap in his
hand. He had even expanded his chest,
and placed his feet in position-exactly
like sentinel-but no sound escaped from
bis lips. Had the array OF Generals, stand
ing close before him in the street, intimi-
dated him? or had the danger that threat.
ened him transformed him into stone? In
short, there stood my Jegor, only his eyes
moved, and he was white 40 chalk.
"The Commsnder.in.C Chief threw an alb.
sent, surly look at him, and growled irri.
tably, .Well?' = Jeg9r stood there
| like a statue; his teeth showed. An indif.
ferent spectator would really have imag.
ined that he was smiling.
sThen the COMMANDMENT. Chief said
shortly Hang him! apurred his horse
and rode away at walking.pace as before,
and then ut quick trot, the whole staff
followed him. Only one solitary Aujutant
turned in hissaddle, and glanced carelessly
at Jegor.
at was impossible to disregard the com.
mand. Jegor was instantly seized and led
off to execution.
sat first be shrank from death; and
twice he cried in agony, MY God Helpl'
After that he added to himself in an IN.
dertone, God Is my witness, 1t was not T.
"He yept bitterly when be babe adiep
to me. ] was In dispair. 'Jegor, Jegor !!
I cried, why did you not reply to the Gen.
eral?'
WGod Is my witness, It was not II re-
Piled the poor fellow, sobbing The mis-.
tress herself was shocked. She had not
In the least Anticipated such 9 frightful
issue, and she began, on her side, o,hoyl
She begged forbearance OF every one,
wringing her hands; she protested that ahe
had found her hens, that she was ready to
explain all.
hBnt naturally all this led to no result.
This, my dear sir, Is military torm-discip.
line! The woman lamented terribly.
"Jegor, who had already been confessed
by the priest, andswho had partaken Of THO
sacrament, turned to me: Hell her, one oil
noble birth, not to grieye 80. ! have quite
forgiven her." -
Ny friend, as he repeated these last
words Of his servant, whispered-"Jego'
ruscha, my little dove, thou righteous
onel" and the tears streamed down his
cheeks,-August 1879.