National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-11-22

The despair OF the poor lady was now
at its height. Listen !" she exclaimed
II will tell you everything now" And
she began the story of her life aud mar.
riage. She was the daughter of rustic
and she named the province and the vii.
lage Up to tho age of 10 she remained
with her father and looked after th,
sheep. But one day an engineer, hel
future husband, who was at work upon
branch line Of railway, came to stop in tn,
house, He fell in love with her, took hol
to town, placed her with his aunt, ant
had teachers to educate her, as sh,
was iliiterate and knew nothing Thou
he married her, and they lived very hap
PLY together for four years, but he had
since become discontonted. rough, irrita.
BILE, and she feared that he loved her nc
longer but she loved him rs much rs
ever, as she owed everything to him, and
could not be ungratoful. Then she said
that he would bo droadfully angry with
her, and would perhaps drive her away il
she went to the house in charge of the
police; that 1t would be a scandal; that
he would think she had stolen some.
thing, and SO on. All this and
much more of the same kind. with ond.
less details and ropotitions, did Olga
narrate interrupting her story from
time to time by signs, EXPLANATIONS, and
tears. She wept in very truth, and her
tears fell copiously, as she assured me
when she laughingly described this sconc
to me aiterward. | thought ut tho time
that she would have made u very good
actress.
The pristav, though inpatient, con.
tinued TO listen. lie was vexed mt the
idea Of returning with empty hands, and
he hoped this time at all events her story
would lead to something. Then, too. he
had not the slightest suspicion, and would
have taken his oath that tho woman he
had arrested was poor, simple creature,
who had fallon into his hands without
having done anything whatever, as so
I frequently happened in Russia, where
| houses are searched on tho slightest sus.
| pioion. When Olga had finished her
story tho pristav began to console her.
he said that her husband would
certainly pardon her when he
heard her explanation; that tho same
thing might happen to any one, and SO
on. Olga resisted for while, and asked
the pristav to promise that he would assure
her husband she had done nothing wrong,
| and more to the same effect. The pristav
promised everything, in order to bring
the matter TO an end, and this time Olga
proceeded toward her real residence. She
had gained three hours and half, for her
arrest took place at about 2 o'clock, and
she did not reach her own home until
about 5:30 She had no doubt that
Morosof had got away, and after having
cleared the rooms had thrice as much
time as he required for the operation.
Having assembled the stairs, accompa-
MED by the dvorniks and the police, she
rang the bell. The door opened and tho
asNW wnI E-@N Al A
then the stting-room. There a terrible
surprise awaited her. Morosofr in person
was seated at n table, in his dressing
gown, with pencil in his hand and pen
in his ear. Olga fell into Mysteries. This
time they were real, not simulated
How was it that he had remained in the
house? The lady previously mentioned
had not failed to hasten at once and
inform MorosoH, whom she found at home
with her three or four friends. At the
announcement of tho arrest of Olga they
all had but one idea-that of remaining
where they were, of arming themselves
and of awaiting her arrival, in order to
rescue her by main force. but Morosoff
theoretically opposed this proposal He
said, and rightly said, that it presented
more dangers than advantages, for the
police being in numbers and re-enforced
by the dvorniks of the house, who are all
species Of police agents OF inferior grade,
the attempt at the best would result in
the Liberation Of one person at the cost of
several others. His view prevailed, and
the plan. which was more generous than
prudent, was abandoned. Tho rooms
were at once cleared" with
the utmost rapidity, so that
the fate Of tho person arrested, which was
sure to be hard one and was now newt
able, should not be rendered more griey-
Gus. When all was ready and they were
about to leave, Morosof staggered his
friends by acquainting Thorn with the
plan he had thought Of He would re-
main in the house alone and await the
arrival of tho police. They thought he
had lost his senses; for everybody knew
and no one better than himself, that,
with the terrible accusation hanging
over his head, If once arrested it would
be all over with him. But he said
he hoped it wonld not come to that-nay,
he expected to get clear Off with Olga,
and in any case would share her fate.
They would escape or perish together.
His friends heard him announce this de-
termination with mingled feelings of
grief, astonishment, and admiration.
Neither entreaties nor remonstrances
could shake his determination. He was
firm, and remained at home after saying
farewell to his friends, who took leave Of
him as of a man on the point of death.
he had drawn up his plan, which, by
the suggestion of some mysterious in
stinct perfectly harmonized with that Of
Olga, although they had never in any way
arranged the matter. He also had deter
mined TO feign innocence, and had ar
ranged everything in such amanner as to
make il seem as though he were the most
peaceful of citizens. As he lived under
the false passport of an engineer, no COW
cred his table with heap of plans of
various dimensions, and, having put on
his dressing gown and slippers, set dill
gently to work to copy one while waiting
the arrival of his unwelcome guests.
1t was in this guise and engaged in this |
innocent occupation that he was surprised |
by the police. The scene which followed |
may easily be imagined. Olga flung her
arms round his neck and poured forth a
stream of broken words, EXPLANATIONS, ex- |
cuses, and complaints of these men who |
had arrested her because she wished TO |
call upon her milliner. In the midst, |
however, Of these ordinations she whis-
pered in his oar, Have you not been
Yes" he replied In the same manner,
" everything is in order. Don't be
alarmed" Meanwhile he played the part
Of an atIectionate husband mortified by |
this scandal. After little scolding and
then little consolation, he turned to the
pristav and asked him for an explanation,
as he could not quite understand what
had happened from the disconnected
words of his wife. The pristav politely
told the whole story. The engineer APP
peared greatly surprised and grieved,
and could not refrain from somewhat
bitterly censuring his wife for her un-
pardonable imprudence The pristav. who
was evidently treasured by the aspect of
the husband and OF the whole household,
declared nevertheless that he must make
a search.
81 hope you will excuse me, sir" he
added, but am obliged to do it; it is
my duty"
10 \ Il