St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1884-01-05

sake, was prudentlY silent on the sub
ject; nor did any of The other accom-
plices, even after having drunk Wi44e,
breathe word on the subject so much
did all parties dread the wrath of Ga
briel. Mari, however, during her deli-
rum, faved SO necessarily about Vladi-
mir, that her mother could not dodbt
that her illness was caused by love.
She and her husband consulted some Of
their friends on the subject; and, as the
result of the conference, it was unani-
mously decided that Mari was destined
to marry the ensign-that one can not
avoid ones fate-that riches do not in
sure happlneSs-an other file maxims
of the same kind.
The invalid recovered. Vladimir,
during her illness, had never appeared
ut the house; AMI it was determined
that his unexpected good fortune should
be announced to him-that he shoul9
be told he was now free to marry his
beloved. What was the astonishment
Of the proud owners of Nenaradof, wheI.
they received in reply a. letter from the.
young ensign, in which he declared he
would never enter their dwelling again,
and prayed them to forget an unhappy
being, for whom death was the cnly ref
uge!
A few Gays afterward they learned
that Vladimir had rejoined the army.
It was in 1872. No one ever mentioned
his name to Mari, nor. did she herself
allude to him in any way. Two or
three, months elapsed. and one day she
cow his r.yoa Toop+;onod op,or0 4bo
officers who had distinguis he'd them
selves at the battle Of Borooino, anr'
who were mortally wounded. She
tainted, and Tad a relapse Of fever,
froLA which she slowly recovered.
Not long afterward her father died,
leaving her the reversion of his whole
property. Wealth, however, brought
her no consolation; she wept with her
mothes, and vowed never to leave her.
They left their residence at Nenaradof.
and took IN their abode on another
estate. Numerous suitors thronged
around the rich and lovely heiress but
to ncne of them did she vouchsafe the.
smallest encouragement. Her mother
often iTnplored her to choose a has
band; but she silently shook her head,
Vladimir was no more; he expired at
Moscow on the eve of the day the
French entered that city To Mari, his
memory seemed sacred; she treasured
up the books they had read together,
his drawings, and the notes he had
written to her everything that could
perpetuateIhe remembrance of the I'M
happy young man.
IA lno1rf -
our country, ended The triumphant
regiments returned from the frontiers,
and the people rushed in crowds to
greet them. The officers, who had set
out as mere striplings, came back
with stern martial countenances, their
brave breasts covered with orders.
Time of ine:Faceable glory! How the
heart of the Russian then bounded at
the name of his country.
A Colonel of hussars, named Your
min, wearing in his hutt0n-hole the
cross of st. George. and on HE face an
interesting paleness, came to spend a
few months leave ofsabsence on his es-
tate, which joined that where Mari was
residing. The young girl received him
with far more show of favor than she
had hitherto bestowed on any of her
visitors They resembled each other in
many particulars; both were handsome,
pleasing, intellectual, silent and re-
served. There was a species of mystery
in the demeanor of Vourmin which
piqued the curiosity and excited the in
ferest of the heiress. He evidently adj
mifed her, paid her every possible at
tention why did he never speak of
love- He had acquired the habit of
fixing his. bright dark eyes on hers, half
in reYerie and half with an expression
that seemed to declare the approach of
ai decisive explanation. Already the
neighbors spoke of the marriage as a
decided business; and Petrowna reioiced
at the thought that her daughter would
at, length have a husband worthy Of
her.
One morning, when the good lady was
seated in her drawing room, Vourmin
entered and inquired for Mari.
s'She is in the garden, replied
Petrowna. ''You will find her there if
you wish to see her. =
The Colonel went out hastily, and
.Petrowna, making the Sign of the cross.
.murmured to herself: ''God be praised!
2 hope everything will be arranged to-
day.
Vourmin found his lady love dressed
in white, seated beneath a tree, close by
a lake, with a book on her knee, like
any heroine Of romance. After them
terchange of a few commonplace sent
.ences, Vourmin, with considerable agi-
tation, told her that for long time he
had been desiroes of opening his mind
to her, and now prayed her to listen to
him for few moments. She closed her
book and cast down her eyes in token
of assent. a
Il love you!" exclaimed Vourmin-
: / love you ardently.
Mari bent down her head q little
more.