Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1885-02-12
ARRoGANcE REBUKED.

A rich lady, with a sweeping train,
was walking with her husband on the
Moscow promenade. A young officer
ofthe gard, meeting them suddenly
at corner, acciuvASllyv struck one Of
his spurs against the lady's trsin, and
tore large piece out of the costly
cloth.
The lady was very angry, but the
officers time was very precious, for he
was on-hisi way.to HE post Of duty,
and fearful of being late, he made a
profound apology and was about to
hurry away.
stop, sir, said the husband. "You
have insulted my wife"
II assure you it was accidental.
Nothing could be further from my in
tention than to insult your wife.
"Pay me for the dress you have
spoiled, then T. cried the lady excit-
eddy. To-day is the first time have
worn it, and it cost me two hundred
rubles.
"Really madam, / cannot help the
great cost Of your dress or its great
length, which begging your pardon
was truly the cause of the damage
rather than any fault of mine. hope
you will accept my apology, and al
low me to go on. shall be missed,
and my absense from duty may cost
me my position and
"That makes no difference" inter-
rupted the husband. my wife is
right. You must pay the value of
the dress" "
Il The young officer hesitated, his face
betraying extreme distress.
"Sir," said he, in a changed tone,
, IL am utterly unable to raise such a
sum. I have nothing but my army
pay, and that amounts to scarcely two
! hundred rubles in whole year"
EASY to saylp sneered the lady.
1--WE will find whether you can raise
i toe mopey or not I shall not accept
your apology" ] ,-,
= mo, and you shall make terms with
us before you CO. chimed in the hus-
band. "Fortunatelyythe court is now
sitting; you shall step in with us, sir,
and let the judge decide this natter
The officer protested, but all he
could say produced no impression on
his'unfeeling prosecutors and asham-
ed Of an alteration on the street,
he accompanied them into the court
room.
After considerable delay hearing
was given, and The judge, after listen
ing to the charge, demanded, the de-
fendants side of the story.
The mortified officer could only re-
peat his explanation declaring under
the solemnity of his oath that he was
guilty of nothing but an unlucky mis-
step, for which he had already hum
bly, apologized, and thus made all the
reparation in his power.
Madam, are you satisfied" asked
the Judge.
mo, your Honor, / insist that he
shall pay me two hundred rubles, the
price of my ruined dress"
Defendant, will you settle on these
terms
II cannot, your Honor. I am a
poor man, dependent entirely on my
officers pay"
plaintiff, you hear his statement.
Do you still press your demand2"
II do; the law will give me my
rights"
The judge reminded the madam
that as the case stood her only redress
was in imprisoning the defendant, d
course which could be of no profit to
herself, and would greatly injure him,
but she still persisted in her claim.
The crowd listening in the galleries
of the court broke into angry MUIR
murs. The woman's husband whis-
pered something in her ear, at which
she shook her head impatiently.
There was painful pause while the
Judge considered.
Suddenly voice in the hall said,
loudly and distinctly:
II will lend defendant two hundred
rubles."
An excited whisper ran through
the throng. 1T is Prince Wendi-
koff."
And in another minute Prince
Wendikof approached the bar and
forced two one hundred ruble notes
into the reluctant officers hand
"Take your own time to pay me" he
said in low tone; II can wait, and