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

crime, that woman has to live not with
money but with man, and so on. Moral
proverbs are wonderfully useful on such
occasions, when we can invent little OF
nothing in our own justification.
Meanwhile the young lady began to re.
| cover. Vladimir had not been seen for q
| long time in the house of Gavril. so fright
ened had he been by his previous reception.
! 1t was now resolved to send and announce
to him the good news which he could
scarcely expect-the consent of her parents
to his marriage with Maria.
But what was the astonishment of the
proprietors of Nenaradova when in answer
| to their invitation they received an insane
reply. Vladimir informed them he could
never set foot in their house, and begged
| them to forget an unhappy man whose only
| hope now was in death. A few days after
ward they heard that Vladimir had left the
| place and joined the army.
A long time passed before they ventured
| to tell Masha, who was now recovering. She
never mentioned Vladimir. Some months
| later, however, finding his name in the list
| of those who had distinguished themselves
| and been severely wounded at Borodino,
| she tainted, and it was feared that the fever
might return. But, heaven be thanked!
the fainting fit had no bad results
Maria experienced yet another sorrow.
Her father died, leaving her the heiress of
all his property. But the inheritance could
not console her. She shared sincerely the
| atfiiction of her mother, and vowed she
would never leave her
Suitors clustered round the charming
heiress; but she gave no one the slightest
| hope. Her mother sometimes tried to per-
suade her to choose a companion in life; but
Maria shook her head and grew pensive.
IL LII I I'll
| at Moscow on the eve of the arrival of the
| French. His memory was held sacred by
| Maria, and she treasured up everything
| that would remind her of him; books he had
read, drawings which he had made; songs he
had sung, and the pieces of poetry which he
had copied out for her.
The neighbors, hearing all this, wondered
at her fidelity, and awaited with curiosity
the arrival of the hero who must in the end
triumph over the melancholy constancy of
this virgin Artemis.
Meanwhile, the war has been brought to
| a glorious conclusion, and our armies were
| returning from abroad The people ran to
meet them. The music played by the regi-
mental bands consisted of war songs, "Vive
Henri-Quatre, Tyrolese waltzes and airs
from "Joconde. Nourished on the atmos-
phere Of winter, officers who had started on
the campaign mere striplings returned
grown men and covered with decorations
The soldiers conversed gaily among them
selves, nlingling German and French words
every moment in their speech. A time
never to be forgotten-a time of glory and
delight! How quickly beat the Russian
heart at the words, e'Native landr' How
sweet the tears of meeting! With what
unanimity did we combine feelings of ma
tional pride with love for the Tsar, And
for him, what moment!
The women-our Russian women-were
splendid then. Their usual coldness dis
appeared. Their delight was really intoxi.
eating when, meeting the conquerors, they
cried "Hurrah!' And they threw up their
caps in the air.
Who of the officers of that period does not
own that to the Russian women he was in
debted for his best and most valued reward?
During this brilliant period Maria was
living with her mother in retirement, and
neither of them saw how, in both capitals,
the returning troops were welcomed. But
in the districts and villages the general en-
thusiasm was, perhaps, even greater.
In these places the appearance of an officer
became for him veritable triumph. The
accepted lover in plain clothes Jared badly
by his side.
We have already said that, in spite of her
GOODNESS, Maria was still, as before, sur
rounded by suitors. But all had to fall in
the rear when there arrived at his castle the
wounded young Captain of Hussars-Bour-
min by name-with the order of st. George
in his button-hole, and an interesting pallor
on his face. He was about 26. He had
come on leave to his estates, which were
close to Maria's villa. Maria paid him such
attention as none of the others received. In
his presence her habitual gloom disap-
peared. 1t could not be said that she tiirted
with him. But poet, observing her be-
havior, might have asked, "S' amor non e,
che dunque?"
Bourmin was really a very agreeable
young man. He possessed just the kind Of
sense that pleased women; a sense of what
is suitable and becoming. He had no affec-
tation, and was carelessly satirical. His