Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1883-12-28
THE SNOW. STORM.

A Russian Romance.
About the year lS1l-a period so men,
orable in tne history of Russia-tnere
Lived on his domain of Nenaradof
rich proprietor named Gabrilovitch. He
was noted for h $ hospitable habits.
His house was ut all times open 10 his
friends and neighbors, who resorted
there in the evenings the elder ones in
or ler to EN- oy quiet game of cards
with their host and his wife Petrowna;
the younger in the hope of gaining the
good graces of Mari, fair girl of seven
teen, the only child and heiress of
Gabrilovitch.
Mari used to read French .romances,
and, as the natural and necessary conse-
quence, was deeply in love. The OBJ
ject of her affection was an almost
penniless young ensign belonging TO the
neighborhood, and then at home on
leave, who returned her love with equal
ardor 1t is scarcely necessary to add
that the young lady's parents had strict
ly forbidden her to think of such an alli-
ance; and whenever they met the lover
they received him with about that
amount of friendliness which they would
have bestowed on an ex-collector of
taxes. Our young lovers, however,
managed to keep up n correspondence
and used to meet in secret beneath the
sha low OF the pine grove or the old
chapel. On these occasions they, of
course. vowed eternal coustancy, ac-
cused fate of uns ust rigor, and formed
various projects At length they natur-
ally came to the conclusion that, as the
will of cruel parents opposed their
marriage, they might very well accom-
plsh it in secret. 1t was the young
gentleman who first propounded this
proposition, and it was most favorably
received by the young lady.
The approach OF winter put stop to
their interviews. but their correspond
ence went ON with increased frequency
and fervor. In each of his letters
Vladimir Nicolevitch .conjured his be-
loved to leave her home and consent to
private marriage "We will disap-
pear he said, "for short time; then
one day we will go and throw ourselves
at our parents feet, who, touched by
our heroic constancy, will exclaim:
"Children, come to our arms" For Il
long time Mari hesitated At length it
was agreed that on q certain day she
should not appear at supper, but retire
early to her room on the pretext of a
violent headache. Her waiting maid
was in the secret, and they were both
to slip out through back door, near
which they would find sledges waiting
to convey them TO the chapel'of Jadrino,
about five versts distant, where
Vladimir and the priest would await
them.
Having made her preparations and
written long letter of excuse to her
parents, Mari retired at an early hour
to her room. During the day she had
complained of a headache, which was
certainly more than pretext, for ner-
vous excitement had made her really
i'll. Her father and mother watche1
her tenderly, and constantly asked
"How do you feel now, Mari-are YOU
still sufferingp' Their fond solicitude
went TO the girls heart, and with the
approach of evening her agitation in
creased. At dinner she ate nothing
and soon afterwards rose to take leave
of her parents. They embraced her
and, according to their usual custom
scarce refrain from sobbing. When she
reached her chamber she threw herseli
into an armchair and wept aloud. Hel
waiting-maid tried to console and cheer
her, and at length succeeded.
There was snow-storm that night
the wind howled outside the house anc
shook the windows. The young girl
however, as soon as the household hat
retired to rest, wrapped herself up il
thick mufilings and, followed by he
maid, carrying yalise, gained the out
er door. They found a sledge, drawn
by three horses. awaiting them; ant
having got into it, they started off at
rapid pace. We will leave them to pur
sue their journey, while we return t,
Vladimir
All that day he had been actively EN-
ployed. In the morning he had visited
the priest of Jadrina in order to arrang,
with him about performing the cere
mony; and then he set off to procur
the necessary witnesses. The first ac
quaintance TO whom he addressed him
self was half-pay officer, who willing
ly consented TO what he wished. "Sucl
an adventure" he said, reminded hin
pleasantly OF the days of his youth.
He prevailed on Vladimir to remain
with him. promising to procure for hin
the other two witnesses. Accordingl,
there appeared at dinner the geomefrl
clan Schmidt, with his mustaches an,
spurs; aud the son of Captain Isprav
nick, lad OF seventeen. who had jus
entered the Union corps. Both prom
ised Vladimir to stand by him to tn
last; and the happy lover, having col
daily embraced his three friends, re
turned TO his dwelling in order to CON
plete his preparations. Having dis
patched servant on whom he coul
rely with the sledge for Mari, he him
self got into one-horse sledge and start
cd for .Jadrino. Scarcely had he sc
out when the storm commenced wit
violence; and soon every trace of tn
road disappeared. The entire horizo
was covered with thick yellow clont
whence fell masses rather than flake
OF snow; and soon all distinction b,
tween land and sky was lost. In val
did Vladimir try TO find his way. II!
horse went on at random, sometime
climbing over heaps OF snow. soms
times falling into rayines. Every mc
ment the slsdge was In imminent dar