The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1889-11-08

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among the neighboring proprietors.
While many would visit him to partake
of his hospitality or to play a game OF
cards with his wife, Paraskova Pietrov-
ma, an amiable and prepossessing lady
of 40, the thoughts and aspirations OF
the majority we're chiefly centered up
on his 17-year-old daughter Masha,
who, in addition to her fine manners,
pretty face and statue-like figure, was
wealthy heiress. But like many
other girls of her age and station in
Russian provinces, Masha had been
brought up on the French novel, and it
goes without saying that she was pas
sionately in love. The object of her
affection, was poor army officer, who
lived few versts away from her
fathers estate. OF course her ''ideal"
reciprocated her love. But, alas, true
love seldom runs smooth. Masha's
parents positively objected to the
match and the young mans welcome
became cooler every day. This, how
ever, did not hinder the lovers from
corresponding or from meeting quite
frequently in the forest. Elopement
was of course proposed in due season
by the young man, and as Masha was
an ardent admirer of all sorts of ad-
venturers pertaining to heroism, it
more than pleased her romantic i'm
agination.
The cold winter put an end to their
secret interviews; the more volumin-
Gus, however, became their CORE
spondence. Vladimir would entreat
his beloved in every letter to entrust
her destiny to him; to elope. And
this, according to his calculations,
would surely end in: Come, children,
to our embrace and be happy" All
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Masha, and. without much meditation,
she consented to follow the course
suggested by her lover. And the
course was this:
On the day of her departure she was
to decline taking her meals with her
parents at the table. pretending to
suffer with a severe headache. Her
servant, who was in the secret, was to
accompany her to the garden gate,
where a troika, or span of three
horses, sent by Vladimir, would be in
waiting. They were then to drive as
fast as the horses could carry them to
the church in the village where
Vladimir would be sure to meet them.
Now if anyone spent a most misera-
BILE and sleepless night it was Masha.
After packing her things and clothes
she wrote two very long letters-one
to her intimate friend, a young girl of
her own age, and the other to her par
ents. She took leave of them in the
most touching and pathetic words. Az
ter sealing her letters, she threw her.
self upon her bed and fell in sort of a
dream. Awful visions kept her half
awake. At last she awoke, paler than
usual. and this time with real head
ache. Her parents saw at glance
that some trouble weighed on her mind
and their tender care and incessant
questions as to her health and welfare
made her heart the more oppressed.
She made an effort to soothe their
anxiety, to assume happy and cheer
full face, but failed. Evening came.
The thought that it was her
last day under her parents roof
gave her no peace. Supper was served.
declared that she would be compelled
to remain in her room.
1t was nearly midnight when Masha
and her maid left the house. Tereshka,
Vladimir's driver, was already await
ing them at the garden gate. He help
ed them into the sleigh, took up the
reins and in five minutes they were be-
yond the limits of Gavrilo Gavrilo-
vitch's estate.
While Tereshka is taking care of
Masha we shall turn our attention to
our gallant officer. Vladimir had his
hands full all day. In the morning he
visited the Dshadrino minister, who,
after considerable difficulty and upon
receiving handsome deposit, con-
sented to marry him. Then he set out
In search of the necessary three
witnesses. The first one he meta
retired colonel, Dravin--consented to
accommodate him. He insisted upon
Vladimir's staying for dinner, assur-
ing him that there would be no diff
/ g.