Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-22

| lIDlc bcPl tclFiDlg WILL lHls, however
/ did not hIrm him in the opinion of Maria
| who Oikc all other young ladies) excuse,
| with pleasare vagaries which were the re
suit of inpulsiyeness and daring.
But above all-more than his 1ove-mak
ing, more than his pleasant talk, more thar
his interesting pallor, more even than hi.
bandaged arm-the silence of the young
Hussar excited her curiosity and her imag
ination. She could not help confessing tc
herself that he pleased her very much
Probably he, too, with his acuteness and his
experience, had seen that he interested her
How was it, then, that up to this moment
she had not seen him at her feet; had not
received from him any declaration what.
ever? And wherefore did she not encour.
age him with more attention, and, according
to circumstances, even with tenderness?
Had she secret of her own which would
account for her behavior?
At last, Bourmin fell into such deep med.
itation, and his black eyes rested with such
fire upon Maria, that the decisive moment
seemed very near. The neighbors spoke OF
the marriage as an accomplished fact, and
kind Praskovia rejoiced that at last her
daughter had found for herself worthy
mate.
The lady was sitting alone once in the
drawing room, laying out grande-patience,
when Bourmin entered the room, and at
once inquired for Maria.
"She is in the garden,' replied the old
lady; Ego to her, and 1 will wait for you
here" Bourmin went, and the old lady
made the sign of the cross and thought,
"Perhaps the affair will be settled to-dayi''
Bourmin found Maria in the ivy-bower
beside the pond, with book in her hands,
and wearing a white dress-a veritable
Of he IN,
quiries, Maria purposely let the conversa-
tion drop; increasing by these means the
mutual embarrassment, from which it was
only possible to escape by means of q sudden
and positive declaration.
1t happened thus: Bourmin, feeling the
awkwardness of his position, informed
Maria that he had long sought an oppor-
tunity of opening his heart to her, and that
he begged for a moments attention. Maria
closed the book and lowered her eyes, as a
sign that she was listening.
81 love you," said Bourmin, IT love you
passiohately" Maria blushed, and bent
her head still lower.
81 have behaved imprudently, yielding,
as have done, to the seductive pleasure Of
seeing and hearing YOU daily" Maria rec
objected the first letter of st. Preux in 'rLa
Nouvelle Heloise'' "It is too late now to
resist my fate. The remembrance of YOU,
your dear incompatible image, must from
to-day be at once the torment and consola-
ton of my existence. L have now grave
duty to perform, a terrible secret to dis
close, which will place between us an insur-
mountable barrier"
at has always existedv' interrupted
Maria; 'T could never have been your
wife,
"I know" he replied quickly; 'T know
that you once loved. But death and three
years of mourning may have worked some
change. Dear, kind Maria, do not try to
deprive me of my last consolation; the idea
that you might have consented to make me
happy if-Don't speak, for Gods sake
don't speak-you torture me. Yes, know,
feel that you could have been mine, but
am the most miserable of beings-I am
already married p'
Maria looked at him in astonishment
81 am married. continued Bourmin sT
have been married more than three years,
and do not know who my wife is, or where
she is, or whether 1 shall ever see her
again.
"What are you saving?" exclaimed
Maria; show strangei Pray continue"
''In the beginning of 1872" said Bour-
min, 'T was hurrying on to Wilma, where
my regiment was stationed. Arriving one
evening late at station, 1 ordered the
horses to be got ready quickly, when sud
denly fearful snowstorm broke out Both
station master and drivers advised me to
wait till it was over. 1 listened to their
advice, but an unaccountable restlessness
took possession of me, just as though some
one was pushing me on. Meanwhile the
snowstorm did not abate. I could bear it
no longer and again ordered the horses and
started in the midst of the storm The
driver took it into his head to drive along
the river, which would shorten the distance
by three miles. The banks were covered
with snowdrifts; the driver missed the turn
ing which would have brought us out on to
the road, and we turned up in an unknown
place. The storm never ceased. I could
discern light, and told the driver to make
for it. We entered village, and found
that the light proceeded from wooden
church. The church was open. Outside
the railings stood several sledges, and
people were passing in and out through the
porch.
I" Here! here!' cried several voices.
told the coachman to drive UP.
Where have you dawdled?' said some
one to me. The bride has tainted; the
priest does not know what to do; we were
on the point of going back. Make haste
and get outr
'T got out of the sledge in silence, and
into the church, which was dimly
lighted with two or three tapers A girl
was sitting in dark corner on bench;
another girl was rubbing her temples.
Thank God,' said the latter, you have
come at last! You have nearly been the
death of the young lady
''The old priest approached me, saying:
Shall L begin?'
OF
piled, absently.
''The young lady was raised up. I
thought her rather pretty. Oh, wild, un-
pardonable frivolity! I placed myself by
her side at the altar. The priest hurried on.
"Three men and the maid supported the
bride, and occupied themselves with her
alone. We were married!
Kiss your wife, said the priest.
"My wife turned her pale face toward me.
I was going to kiss her, when she exclaimed,
'Oh! it is not he-not he!' and fell back in
sensible.
"The witnesses stared at me. I turned
round and left the church without any at
tempt being made to stop me, threw myself
into the sledge, and cried, 'AwayI"
"Whatl'' exclaimed Maria. 'tAnd you
don't know what became of your unhappy
wife?"
81 do not" replied Bourmin; "neither do
I know the name of the village where 1 was
nor that of the station from which
1 started. AT that time 1 thought so little
of my wicked joke that, on driving away
from the church, I fell asleep, and never
woke till early next morning, after reaching
the third station. The servant who was
with me died during the campaign, SO that
I now have no hope of ever discovering the
unhappy woman on whom 1 played such a
cruel trick, and who is now SO cruelty
avenged
"Great heavens!'' cried Maria, seizing his