The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1888-07-18
SCRATCHED OUT.

Ouflng TIE carrier years OIL the present cen
tury the russian mobiles ruled their house.
holds with high hand. Accordingly, when
the Dowager Countess Cheraski found that
her only son ivan, a young man Of about 90
years, was engaged to marrysa beautiful serf
on his estates, she forthwith banished 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 per-
formed. There we're present, beside her
father and herself, Michael Tokhtamish (the
bridegroom, his father, and the priest, an
old man who was upward of 20 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
s'You thought was out of the country
he said, shut not so; I have been biding my
time not far away from here knew all
about the infamous attempt to marry my be-
trothed to this clown, and have come to
prevent it. Everything is ready--the priest,
the altar and the bride. So. my good father,
you will please marry mo to Sophia Uscha-
kof at once, or you and Michael Tokhtanaish
shall die before five minutes are .over.n
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-
pendents AT all events, Ivan Cheraski was
nobleman armed with revolver, Michael
Tokhtamish was only serf who might have
been shot for the fun Of the. thing, while the
priest was very infirm old man, and bound,
moreover by his religion to discountenance
bloodshed. So the serf stood aside, the no.
bleman took his place, the priest performed
the service, and in a few minutes Ivan Che
raski and Sophia Uschakoff were man and
wife. The service over, the company entered
the vestry room, where the priest proceeded
to enter the particulars relating to the mar
riage in the registry book.
Now l must pause here to inform the
reader that in Russia it was the custom for
the priest, and not the parties who were mar.
ried, to sign the names Of the bride and the
bridegroom in the marriage register. Alex
ander Troubetskoi, the priest, was placed, as
the saying is, between two fires. If he had
not obeyed 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 en-
tered in the register Michael Tokhtnmish
instead OF Ivan Cheraski as the name of the
bridegroom. The parties who were inter-
ested did not observe the substitution. The
register was restored to its place, and the
Count and Countess Cheraski left secretly
for Paris that evening. ei
For five years they lived very happily in
ris.nce, anu .len ene coune aleat leaving the
o 'a, ",uow WIN TWO cniidren. his
rr1oonei neu uieu aooue year pelore, ana
t,i..', eNplieo shorUy aI.er they iete
.uo 'i,iaSo ., Na,ouei, where 1ne marriage
YooA pi'1ee. On 'iie ueaDh OIL ner husband tine
Tounsess "eu. W ono pro'ince Oh hiinsK, III
AsusAia, " eiain ms estate on Denalr OF her-
sei1 '',io nis cni,uren. Inc ciaim was OPP
poseu ~ nis iatiiiif VINO produced tne reg
oe "n .,s poae sNiuenee Oh her marriage,
=, mov WIN. ivan SnerastSl, puD with Michael
AoAl'1iillsn, 1nere seemed, men, 70 DO no
eas ~ tesosoins W iesai proceedings, as the
o WV u ene witnesses 70 tne marriage,
VIZ. mele an serls, would DC worthless
asss'sS ..lo ssl'aslles VI tno marriage regis
t :, 4Aos ~ uingiy cne co'in1ess as sne was
ne ne yuie, II noV ae lacpo, returned TO france.
Aa.s'y " ene sa,e ol ner Je"eiry ana partly
o"nis W nel nusoanu having invested some
an . ~ snen Ioino ,iaiies III prencn per
eo,V A.ss5 epo nau MUS more IMAM 9SUo
, anu "i'n snis oapi1al sne opened sort OF
, u.. ous nouse ~ aiiS' 1ere sue mad been
i1slIs LUZ aoouV Two years "nen young
s.'ii i leiieu Iuwih marsVon came TO
SOP SyDl az ncr eseaprisnment Tor Few days
" W ens preselis nave hop SAID anything
~ tou S VIZ on T,,a., OF appearance OF
.ne Souncess Oneraski, because, 80 far,
nave merely been reCitinp n niInbar nj fanfa
wn,cn are necessary TO enable the reader to
understand the curious tale that we are APP
proacnlng That she was either pretty, or
handsome. or beautiful, in some sense or
otner, the reader viii probably anticipate
from tne Iact Oh the count having fallen In
love with her. II mention that she was
ui, WIN Ozark nair and aqulllne features, all
VINO are interested IN the matter can fliup
tne resc OF her portrait to SUI their own
tastes. In character she must have been Of a
rather trustful disposition, as will, think,
appear from her conduct to Mr.. Marston.
ne was ner senior by about two years, and
mad been practicing as surgeon and physi-
clan Tor some time In very poor district In
the east end OF London. When he first came
10 ner house he did not intend to remain
many days In Paris, but his stay was pro- |
longed for one reason or another over a |
space OF about three weeks, during which |
time he and the countess had contracted a
very sincere friendship for each other. |
Finally, on the night before be left, she told |
him her story, and asked him IL he could see |
any way in which she could establish the |
rights OF herself and children.
Mot at present" said Mr.. Marston, when
he had listened attentiyely to her story; ''but |
I shall think tho matter over.n
The next day Mr.. Marston left for London, |
having babe the countess cordial farewell, |
and promised towrite to her at once if any |
idea should occur to him with regard to the
recovery OF her title and estates.
More than q month passed away, during
which she did not hear from him, and, con-
'equentiy, was beginning to think that he
mad probably forgotten all about her, or he
would have written, when one evening the
'ervane came up stairs to say that Mr.. Mar
ston was In the parlor on the ground floor,
and would like to see her.
have been thinking ever since left
YOU" ne said, when they had greeted each
other, "of the extraordinary history you told
me. And think now that see my way to
overcome your difhcuities. hut you will