Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1885-11-07

thence; and the coachman, after aseist
ing the ladies to ascend, seized the rein:
and drove rapidly toward Dscbadrinc.
Let us now leave them to pursue then
course, and zee what has become OF TIE
young ensign. !,
Vladimir has been actively engaged
during the whole day, in making nj
preparations-first with the priest, te
arrange the ceremony of marriage; ano
then with his neighbors, to invite them
to the church as witnesses.
After having sent his faithful Mlchae
with bis sledge, to wait for his Marie al
the garden gate, he took lighter one
draw n nv q horse, and drove toward
Dschadrino, where, in few hours, ne
was to meet his bride.
lie knew the way we'll, and thou9h1
he would reach there in twenty min.
utes. But scarcely had he reached the
open country, than the storm burst ID
its fury. and clouds Of snow hid every
thing from bis view.
In an instant the read was covered
with SNOW; the horizon was euveloped
with somber vail, through which ne
could distinguish neither heaven nor
earth.
Vladimir preceived that he had lost
bis way, and sought to return; but bis
horse fell from one ravine to another,
and at every moment the sledge was
overturned.
Although he bad been mere than a
half hour on his Journey, the young Off
car had not yet reached the forest of
Dscbadrido.
He continued his route through an
open field. The storm increased in vio-
lence; the sky become more gloomy and
threatening, and his jaded horse could
scarcely be urged forward.
What, hen, was his dismay when he
found he bad again taken a false direc-
ton? He paused, reflected, sought to
collect his thoughts, and decided at
lpst that be ought to turn to the right.
He had continued thus his wearisome
journey fully two hours, when he per-
ceived, at some distance, dark line,
which told him he was not far from the
forest. "God be praised" said the young
man-"I'm not far from the end of my
Journey" and he advanced along the
edge of the wood, hoping to find the true
direction. Some time after he emerged
from this extensive forest, but he looked
in vain for the villare of DSchadrino. 1t
was nearly midnight; he was in despair,
and wept in the bitterness of his disap-
pointment. Meanwhile the tempest
abated, the clouds dispersed, the heav-
ems became clear, and the young officer
discovered a large plain, covered with
snow; in the midst of which arose mis-
cradle hamlet, composed of four or five
cabins. He approached the nearest one
and knocked on the window. A minute
after, an old man, with white head, ap
peared, and inquired his wishes.
Gam far from Dschadrino?"
de Dschadripo?"
Eyes, yes-is it far from here?'
"No--not far-about ten versts."
At these words, Vladimir made a ges-
ture of despair, and remained notion
less as man thunderstruck.
And where do you come from?' asked
the old man.
Without replying to his question VIA
dimir asked if be could furnish guide
to show him the way.
Wait" said the cid man, "and I will
send my son."
The door opeIed, and young man
appeared, holding in his hand large
stick with which he felt his way through
the snow.
"What o'clock is lt?" inquired Wlad-
imir.
1T is nearly day." was the reply of the
peasant.
Vladimir was dumb with grief and
ert-
When they arrived at Dschadrino, the
blush of day wss upon the eastern sky,
and the air resounded with the growing
of the cocks.
The church was closed; the young en-
sign, after paying his guide. ran to the
house of the priest What news did he
learn? But let us return to the inhabi-
tants of Nenaradowo, and gee what is
passing there.
In the morning as the breakfast was
served, the father of Marie sent domes-
tic to her chamber to bring news of her
health. She soon returned to announce
that Mademoiselle Marie had slept bad
ly, but found herself better now, and
would come down. A moment after she
appeared. 10,
father.
Il am better" whispered Marie.
That evening Marie fell seriously ill. |
The physician, who was called in haste, |
declared that she had dangerous fever;
and for fifteen days she lay at the door
Of the tomb.
No person in the house knew of the
resolution she had taken to elope with
her lover. The letters she had burned.
The chambermaid had been discreet.
and also the priest and witnesses of
and these, for very good rea-
SONS. The secret was thus faithfully
kept by more than half dozen accom-
plices. But Marie betrayed it herself in
her delirium. She said things SO strange
hat her mother believed her profoundly
IN love with Wladimir, and attributed to
his unfortunate attachment the illness
If her beloved daughter. She spoke to
aer husband, and they decided to allow
Marie, if she recovered, to have her
wish, and thought, that after all, the
poverty of her lover was not very con-
siderable vice, or serious obstacle to
heir unien. Full of this thought, when
hey saw Marie convalescent, they wrote
vladimir, to inform him that they con.
Iented to his marriage with their
laughter. But what was their surprise,
IN receiving from him an Incompetent
Iible letter, wherein he said that he
would never again enter their house,
md that his only hope was to die! Some
4 "A y Al u Il