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

rolled from him like hail, in spite of the
fact that every moment his legs were disap-
pearing in the snow.
AT last Vladimir found that he was going
in the wrong direction. He stopped, began
to reflect, recollect and consider, till at last
he became convinced that he ought to have
turned to the right. He did so now. His
horse could scarcely drag along. But he
had been more than an hour on the road
and Jadrino could not now be far He
drove and drove, but there was no getting
out of the field. Still snowdrifts and
bitches. Every moment the sledge was
upset, and every moment Vladimir had to
raise it up.
Time was slipping by, and Vladimir grew
seriously anxious. At last in the distance
some dark object could be seen.
Vladimir turned in its direction, and as
he drew near found it was wood.
''Thank heaven!' he thought, 81 am now
near the end
He drove by the side of the wood, hoping
to come at once upon the familiar road, OF,
if not, to pass round the wood. Jadrino
was situated Immediately behind it.
He soon found the road, and passed into
the darkness of the wood, now stripped by
the winter. The wind could not rage here;
the road was smooth, the horse picked up
courage, and Vladimir was comforted.
He drove and drove, but still Jadrino was
not to be seen; there was no end to the
wood Then, to his horror, he discovered
that he had got into a strange wood. He
was in despair. He whipped his horse, and
the poor animal started off on trot. But
it soon got tired, and in quarter of an
hour, in spite of all poor Vladimir's efforts
could only crawl
Gradually the trees became thinner and
Vladimir drove out of the wood, but Jad-
rino was not TO be seen. 1t must have been
about midnight. Tears gushed from the
young mans eyes. He drove on at random,
and now the weather abated, the clouds dis
persed, and before him was a wide stretch of
plain, covered with white, billowy carpet
The night was comparatively clear, and he
could see a small village short distance off
which consisted of four or five cottages
Vladimir drove toward it. AT the first door
he jumped out of the sledge, ran up TO the
window and tapped.
After q few minutes q wooden shutter
was raised, and an old man stuck out his
gray beard.
"What do YOU want?"
GLOW far is Jadrino?"
"How far is Jadrino?"
'fGeS, yes. Is it far?"
Not far; about ten miles?''
AT this answer Vladimir clutched hold of
MS nalf anu SIOOu lnOLlOnlGSS, ike q man
condemned to death.
"Where do YOU come from?' added the
man. Vladimir had not the courage to re-
ply.
''My man." he said, 'can you procure me
horses to Jadrino?n
1--WE have no horses" answered the peas
ant.
Gould I find a guide? Twill pay him
any sum he likes"
"Stop," said the old man, dropping the
shutter; 81 will send my son out to you; he
will conduct YOU
Vladimir waited Scarcely minute had
passed when he again knocked. The shutter
was lifted and beard was seen.
"What do you want?''
"What about your son?''
"He'u come out directly; he is putting
on his boots. Are you cold? Come in and
warm yourself"
''Thanks; send out your son quickly"
The gate creaked; a youth came out with
cudgel, and walked on in front, at one
time pointing out the road, at another
looking for it in a mass of drifted snow
"What o'clock is it?'' Vladimir asked
him.
SIT will soon be daylight" replied the
young peasant. Vladimir spoke not another
word.
The cocks were growing and it was light
when they reached ,Jadrino. The church
was closed Vladimir paid the guide, and
drove into the yard OF the priests house.
In the yard his two-horse sledge was not to
be seen. What news awaited him!
But let us return TO the kind proprietors
of Nenaradova, aud zee what is going on
there.
Nothing.