Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1884-01-04
THE SNOW.STORM.
A Rn..Inn Rnmnnrr.

4 Russian Romance.
About the year Sil--a period so mem-
orable in the history of Russia-there
lived ON his domain of Nenqradof n
rich proprietor named GaIriloyitch. He
was noted for hs hospitable habits.
His house was nc all times open 10 his
friends and neighbOrs, who resortcd
there in the evenings the elder ones in
oricr to enjoy quiet game Of cards
with their host aud his wife Petrowna.
the younger In the hope Of gaining the
good gracrs Of Mari, fairgi Of seven.
teen. the only child and heirrss of
Gabrilovitch.
Mari used tO read French romanccs.
aud. rs the natural aud necessary conse-
quence, was deeply in love. The OBJ
lect Of her affection was an almost
Penniless young ensign belonging To the
neighbCrhOOd. AMI then mt home on
leave, who returned her love with equal
ardor. IL IL scarcely necessary 10 add
that the young lady parents had strict
" forbidden her to think of such nm alli-
ancei and whenever they met the lover
they received him with about that
amount of fricndliness which they would
have bestowed ON an cN-cOllcctor OF
taxes. Cur young lovers. however.
managed a. kc'p up correspondence
md used Ia meet In secret beneath the
sha low of the pine grove on. the old
chapel On these occasions they. of
course. vowed eternal coustancy, nc
cused fate Of un ,ust igor. and formed
various projects. At length they natur-
ally came tO the conclusion that. rs the
will OF cruel parents opposed their
marriage, they might very well accom-.
plish IL in secret. II was tn" Young
gentleman who first propoundcd this
proposition, and IL was most favorably
received 10y the yOun! lady.
The approach of winter put n stop 20
their interviews. hut their corrcspond-
cncc went ON with incrcas ri frequency
and fcrvOr. In each Of his letters
Vladimir NicOlcvitch cOniured hi, be-
loved tO leave her home and consent To
private marriage. I'VE will a sap
pear, he said. "fOr short time; then
one dat we will go and throw ourselves
mt our parents feet. who. touched by
our heroic constancy. will exclaim:
"Childrcn. come tO. our arms" For n
long time Mari hesitated. At length il
was agreed that on n certain day. she
should not appear ut supper. but retire
early tO her room on the prctcxt Of n
violent headache. Her waiting-maid
was In the secre', and they were both
To slip out through u back door. near
which they would find slcdres waiting
tO convey them To- tho chapel of Jahrno.
about live ycrsts distant. where
Vladimir and the priest would awnit
them.
Having made her preparations and
written long letter uf excuse To her
parents, Mari reti cd nj an early hour
To her room. During tho day she had
complained of hsa'lachc. which was
certainly mrri than prctcxt, for nicr-
vous excitement had made her really
tu. Her father and mother watche I
her tcnderly, and constantly asked:
How d. You feel now. Mari-arc you
still suilcrng' Their fond solicitude
went To 'hc girls heart. and with the
approach OF evening her agitation in.
creased. AZ dinner she ate nothing.
and soOn afterwards rose to take leave
Of her pa.cnts TheV embraced her,
aud, according To- their usual custom,
gave or their blessing Mari could
scarce refrain from sohbing When she
reached her chamber she threw herself
into an arm chair and wcpt aloud. Her
waitiug-mai trel to console aud cheer
hcr. and NJ length succeeded.
There was a snOw-stOrm that night:
the wind how,cd outs tle the house and
shook the windows. The Young Girl.
however. ~ soon rs the household had
re ir'd tn rrst, wrapped herself up In
thick muiilings and, followed by her
uenld. carry ny valisc. gained the out
er door. They found n slcdgc. drawn
BY thrco horses. awaiting them; and
having got into u. they started OF at a
rapid pace. We viii L. I'VE them To pur-
sue their journey. while we return TO
Vladimir.
All that Gay he had been actively en-
ployed. In the morning he had visited
the priest q; Jadrina in order to arrange
with him about performing the cere-
mony; and then be set off To procure
the NECESSARY witnesses. The first &C
quaintnncc to whom he addressed him.
self was n half-pay officer. who willing
~ conscnic Ia what he W shed. ''Such
an adventure he said. reminded him
pleasantly Of the days II his youth. -
lie prevailed on Vladimir To remain
with him. promising Co procure for him
NuN NNntN NWO Wltu0AseS. Accordingly
there appeared no dinner the geometri.
oian Schmidt, with his mustaches and
spurs; aud the son II Captain lsprav.
nick, n lad Of seventeen. who had iusi
entered the Union corps. Roth prom.
iscd Vladimir To stand by him to ths
last; aud the happy lover. having cor
daily embraced his three friends, re
turned To his dwelling in order TO com
plete his preparations. Having dis
patched servant on whom he coulC
rely with the slcdge for Mari. he him
self got into onc-horse sledge and start
cd for Jadrino. Scarcely had he Sc
ont when the storm commenced will
violence; and soon every trace Of tn,
road disappeared. The entire horizon
was covered with thick yellow cloud
whence fell masses rather than flake
Of snow and soon all distinction be
tween land aud sky was lost. In vail
cid Vladimir try to find his way. HI
horse went on at random. sometime
climbing over lloaps Of snow. some
tinos falling into ravines. Every me
mcnt the sledgc was Ia imminent dan