The Red Cloud chief., 1885-05-15
HASTILY MARRIED.
How q Russian Soldier Found His
Unknown Bride.

Unknown Bride.
Toward the end of 1911, an epoch SC
memorable in the history of Russia
there dwclt on his domain of Menaro
downo. Gabriel Gabriclowich. with BIZ
wife and only daughter Maria. a charm.
ing young girl about seventeen years o.
age.
Gabriel Gabrielowich was much loved
and respected; generous to an unusual
degree, his house was evcr open to ali
who chose TO accept his lavish hospital
ity. Maria Gabriclowna had. of course,
many s~uitors. attracted both by her per.
sonal charms and reputcd wealth. but
IA spite of all opportunities she remained
O~bstinately indifferent to all. Her TO.
mantle. and impressiOnablc mind,
affected by the constant reading OF
many French novels, led her to imagine
herself desperately and irrcvOcably in
Hove. Unfortunately. the object of hel
affections. who undoubtedly returned
her love. met with the contemptuous
d~isapprobation of her parents. in whose
mind q pcOr' nOn-commissiOncd officer
was no fitting match for the heiress OF
MenarOdownO. He was relentlessly for
hidden the house. but in spite of this
the lovers met daily at the old forest
well, and there plightcd their troth.
When winter came. these stolen inter
views were, perforcc. discontinued. At
length the separation became intolcra-
bile. ever with the sOlace of q daily in
aerchange of love-lctters. and Vlad mir
Nicolaewich, in one of these, poured
forth in glowing words all his love and
misery. and beSOught his lady love to
fly with him. assuring her of her pa
rents fOrgivcness-fOr who. indeed,
could withstand the humble prayer the
lovers would make for forgiveness. or
fail to be touched by such heroic love
and constancy?
Maria's romantic imagination was fas-
scinated; she could not resist. and soon all
preliuinarics for the fight were settled.
She would feign headache. and retire
early; at ten O'Clock q sleigh would be
waiting at the small garden gate. and
in this she would be driven. with her
maid. through the forest OF Jadrino.
where Vladimir would avail: his bride
in the village church.
On the eve of her contemplated elope-
ment. Maria. who was restless and un-
happy, retired early to her room and
spent part of the night inditiag a long
and sentimental epistle to her dearest
friend. and also a shorter one to her
parents. in which she entreated their
forgiveness for the step she was about
TO take. impelled by her unalterable
love for Vladimir. who. as her hus-
band. would return to beg their in.
diligence and blessing. After sealing
this etfGsion with two flaming hearts
and nm appropriate motto. the rest of
the night was spent in all the tcrrors
of manifold and complicated night
mares, 50 that dawn found our heroine
mp and dressed. pale. and with no need
to feign headache. Every anxious In
Iuiry on the part Of her atfectionate
parents cost her a pang. yet she man.
aged 10 get through the day without
exciting their suspicious, and retired
Immediately after dinner. The maid,
entering q little after nine to make the
final preparations, found her young
mistress weeping bitterly. In less than
an hour. though. she must go; SO,
quickly drying her tears. Maria soon be-
came Ouce more the love sick damsel,
flying from stern and cruel parents to
the arms of her own true knight.
All was quiet within tho sleeping
household. but without the wind
howled. and mOaned. and beat madly
against the easements truly. q threat
-cning night Maria and her maid went
softly down stairs, and reached the gar
den in safety. 1t was dark IA pitch:
the piercing cod wind whistled dis
.mally through the trees and blew fierce
.iy in their faces, ~ If bidding them
Turn back. At length through the dark
they could discern the sleigh and
Vadimir's trusty servant vainly irving
10 quiet the FESTIVE horses, who. As Il
aware Of the danger of freezing where
they stood. impat,ently struck the hard
frozen ground with their hoofs.
.
Meanwhile let us follow the hsppy
bridegroom. vladimir Nicolaewich had
had q busy day. what with his persuad-
ing the priest Of Jadrino to perform the
marriage ceremony. and searching for
witnesses among the neighboring land
owners The first he found was an ex-
officer. Drsvine by name. who accepted
the duty with pleasure. reminded
him. he said. Of his escapsdes when in
the regiment of hussarx He begged
Vladimir 10 dine with him. and under.
took to find the other two witnesses
himself. One Of these was Smidt the
surveyor. and the other young lspraeo.
mex. just turned seventeen. and abou,
% e:ter the Fifth Lancers. These two
not only promised to be witnesses to
Viadimir's marriage. bet enthusiastic
ally sworn they would face death itseE
to help him. Usdimir thanked them
heartily. and left to make the final prep.
Aratioos at his own place.
IL MAS already DARK: so. altar dis
patching his faithful Rcrodeka to Men.
ar0down0 with = froika (two-hors<
Asleigh). he ordered q one-h0rsc sleigt
Aor himself and started. Il Was nins
O'Clock; he could reach Jadrino fully
half IN hour before Maria. for he could
certainly drive there in thirty minutes
Bot driving was no easy matter: ths
Wind was full against him. and blew
90 blinding snow-dakes sharply int
- faca. Soon the very road disap,
sared under . white cloud. tho hors,
0nmhcd 6lindly q every step. and
Nladine Was obliged ~ and owe,
aGain . eek out and disengage IL
LID .ffu0 somc snow-heap. Wild
&4rakhto despair IL pooe below