The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1888-07-06
SCRATCHED OUT.

SCRATCHED OUT.
During the earlier years Of the present CEN
fury the Russian mobiles ruled their house
holds with O high hand. Accordingly, when
the Dowager Countess Cheraski found that
her only SON, Ivan, a young man Of about
twenty years, was engaged to marry a beau
tiful serf on his estates, she forthwith banish-
ed him TO France and ordered the girl TO
whom he was engaged to marry another
serf Immediately. As her commands had to
be obeyed, poor Sophia Uschakoff, for that
was the girls name, went with her father,
some six days after the counts departure, to
the chapel where the marriage service was to
be performed. There were present, beside her
father and herself, Michael Tokhtamish (the
~bridegroom), his father, and the priest, an
old man who was upward of seventy years OF
age. The service had scarcely commenced
when the door Of the little chapel opened,
and Ivan Cheraski, the young count, entered
with a revolver in his hand.
"You thought l was out Of the country
he said; but not so. have been hiding my
time not far away from here. I knew ell
about the infamous attempt to marry my
b~etrothed to this clown, andI have come
to prevent it. Everything is ~ready-the
priest, the alter, and the bride. SO, my good
father, you viii please marry me to Sophia
Uschakoff ut once, or you and Michael Takh-
tamish shall die gsiofef five minutes are over
do not know what would have happened
if the priest had refused to obey the counts
order. As ] have said, Russian mobiles used
to be, and very likely still are, rather high
handed, especially in dealing with their de-
pendants. At all events, Ivan Cheraski was
q nobleman armed with a revolver, Michael
Tokhtamish was only Q serf who might have
been shot for the fun Of the thing, while
the priest was a very infrm old man, and
bound, moreover, by his religion to discoun-
tenanee blooodshed. So the serf stood aside,
the nobleman took his place, the priest per-
formed the service, and in few minutes Ivan
Cherasd and Sophia Usehakod were man and
wife. The service over, the company entered
che yestry room, where the priest proceeded
to enter the particulars relating to the mar
riage in the registry book.
Now ! must pause here to inform the read
er that Ia Russia it was the custom for the
priest, and not the parties who were married,
to sign the names Of the bride and the bride-
groom IN the marriage register. Alexander
Trouhetskoi, the priest was placed, as thesay-
ing is, between two fires. If he had not obey
ed the counts orders he would have been
shot. on the other hand, il the countess
dowager found out what he had done, some
thing else as bad, or worse, would probably
happen To escape from the dilemma he ell
tered IN the register Michael Tokhtamish in
stead Of Ivan Cheraski as the name Of the
bridegroom. The parties who were interested
did not observe substitution. The register
was restored to it's place, and the Count and
Countess Cherash left secretly for Paris that
evening.
For five years they lived very happily in
France, and then the count died, leaving the
countess a widow with two children. His
mother had died about q year before, and
Troubetskoi expired shortly after they left
the village Of Naroyel, where the marriage
took place. On the death of her hushandthe
countess went to the province Of Minek in
Russia to claim his estate on behalf Of her.
self and his children. The claim WAS opposed
by his family, who produced evidence 81 her
marriage, not with Ivan Cheraski, but With
Micheal Tokbtamish. There seepaed, then,
to be no use in resorting 10 legal proceed
ings, as the evidence of the witnesses 20 the
marriage, who were all eerfs, would be worth
less against The evidence of the marriage reg
lister. Accordingly TIE countess, as she was
de jury, nnot de facto, returned to France.
Partly by the sale Of her jewelry, and partly
owing to her husband having Invested some
money il their joint names IN French 3 per
cent rentes, sheh had a little more than Co.,
600, and with this capital she opened q sort
Of boarding house IN Paris. Here she had
been living for about two years when q young
Engiiehmnn named Edwin Marston came TO
stop at her establishment for a few days. Up
70 the present | havenot said anything about
the character or appearance of the Countess
CheFasld, because. so far, 1 have merely been
reciting q number of facts which are
necessary TO enable the reader to understand
the curious tale that we are approach
ing. That she was either pretty, or
handsome, or beautiful, IN some sense or 9th
eT, the reader viii probably anticipate nom
the TACT OF the count having fallen IN love
with Der. Ill mention that she wac tan.
With dark hair and aquiline features, all who
are Interested in the matter can fIl up the
rest OF her portrait to suit their own tastes.
In character she must have been Of a rather
trustful disposition, as viii, / think, appear
from her conduct to Mr.. Marston. He was
senior hy about two years, and had been
Pfaesieing IS 6 surgeon and physician for
7otur ttmp N u very poor aletfitA IN Ene east
end Of London. When NJ FIRST came to her
honse he did not intend to remain many days
IN Paris but his stay WAS prolonged for one
reason or another oyer a space Of about
three weeks, during which time be and the
countess had contracted d very sincere
friendship for each other. Finally, on the
night hetore helef she told him her history.
and asked him If he could see any way Ia
which she could establish tile rights Of herself
and children
Not at pressnt, saFd Mr.. Marston, when
he had hstened attentirely 10 her story, but
! shall think the matter over. One some
hneas after rejection, gets ideas that would
ceyer come from mefe f~atioesnation, though
y is ratiocination which afterwafd makes
them prncticai-ideos that seem at FIRST to
have no bearing on the subject Of thought,
while ia ra0lity cc1tain its fud explanation.
! am not very hopeful Of icing nble tor give
you any advice that would b ~ use IS sou
70 this case; but / shall trv. II possible. Is
think 81 Rgmethlng thaS may guide y0u
The next day Mr., Morytou left for London.
haying bade tho countless 9 cordial farewell