The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-10-14
THE SNOWSTORM.

About the year 1Sl1-a period so memoir
able In the history of Russia-there lived on
his domain Of Nenandof a rich proprietor
named Gabrilovitch. He was noted for his
hospitable habits. His house was at all
times open to his friends and neighbors,
who resorted there in the evenings-the
older ones in order to enjoy quiet game of
cards with their host and his wife,
Petrowna; the younger In the hope of gain
ing the good graces of Mari. fair girl OF
II, the only child and heiress OF Gabrilo-
witch.
Mari used to read French romances. and,
as the natural and necessary consequence,
was deeply in love. The object of her affec-
tion was an almost penniless young ensign
belonging TO the neghborbood, and then at
nome on leave, who relu Tned her love with
equal ardor. Ii is scarcely necessary TO add
that the young lady's parents had strictly
forbidden her to think of such an alliance;
and whenever they met the lover they re-
eeiYed him with about that amount OF
fTiendiness which they would have be-
slowed on an eX-colector of taxes.
Our Young lovers, however, managed to
keep up q correspondence and used to meet
in secret beneath the shadow of the pine
grove or the old chapel. On these oeca-
siOns they. of course, vowed eternal con-
staney, accused fate of unjust Tlgor, ana
formed various projects. Al -tHsbn tle4
naturally came to the conclusion that, as
the will Of cruel parents opposed their mar
rage they might as we'll accomplish lt IN
secret II was the young gentleman who
first propounded this proposition, and it
was most layorably received by the young
lady.
The approach OF winter put stop to their
Interviews, but their correspondence went
on with increased frequency and feryoT. In
each of his letters Vladimir Nichoeyitch
eonjuTed bis beloved 10 leave her home, and
consent to private marriage.
I'VE will disappear" he said, for short
time; then one day we will go and throw
ourselves at our parents feet, who, touched
by our heroic constancy, Will eXclalm,
Children, come 20 our arms ]"
For a time Mari hesitated. At length it
was agreed that on certain day she should
not appear at supper but retire early TO her
room on pTeteXt Of a violent headache.
Her waiting maid was in the secret and
they were both TO slip out through the back
door near which they would find sledges
waiting TO convey them 10 the chapel Of
.Iadrino, about i've versts distant where
Vladimir and the priests would await them.
Having made her preparations and writ
ten long letter of excuses 10 her parents
Mari retired al an early hour to her room.
During the day she had complained OF
headache, which was certainly more than
A pretext for nervous excitement had made
her really i'll. Her father and mother
watched her tenderly, and constantly
asKrd:
blow do you feel now. Mari; are you
suffering?"
Their fond solicitude went to The girls
heart. and with the approach of evening
her agitation greatly increased. At dinner
she ate nothing, and soon afterwaTd rose 10
take leave of her parents. They embraced
her. and according to thor general custom.
gave her their blessing. Mari could scarcely
refrain from sobbng. When she reach ed
her chamber she threw herself in an arm
chair and wept aloud. Her waiting maid
tried to console and cheer her, and al length
succeeded.
There was snowstorm that night: the
wind h0wled outside the house and shook
the windows. The young girl, however, as
soon as the household had retired to rest,
wrapped herself in thick muffiings and, fol-
lowed BIZ her maid, carrying e valise, gained
the outer door. They found a sledge, drawn
by three horses, awaiting them; and hay
ing got into it, they started of at a rapid
pace.
Next morning, when tea was served,
Gabriel sent maid to inquire for Mari. The
gr returned with message that her young
mistress had passed a restless night, but
that she noW felt better, and was coming
down. In few minutes Mari entered and
embraced her parents.
How do you feel, my poor little one?'
sohod htI IdtntT.
Better" was the answer.
Ire day passed on as usual; but toward
ID.
The family physician was summoned from
the nearest town, and when he arrived he
found his patient il a high fever During
fourteen days she continued on the brink of
the grave.
Nothing was known of her nocturnal
aigbt, as the waiting maid. for her own sake,
WIS pTudeEtiy silent on The subject; nor dId
any OF the other acc0mplces, even after
having drunk wine, breathe a word on the
subject, SO much did all parties dread the
uf "a Mari urin
her delirum, raved so necessarily about
Vladimir that her mother could not doubt
that her Illness was caused by love. She
and her husband consulted some of their
friends on the subject; and. as the result Of
the conference, it was unanimously decided
that Mari was destined to marry the ensign
that one cannot avoid ones fate-that
riches do not insure happiBess-and other
fine maxims Of the same kind.
The invalid recovered. vladimir. during
her Illness, had never appeared at the house,
and II WAS determined that his unexpected
good fortune should be announced to him
that he should be told he was now free to
marry his beloved. What was the astOnish-
ment of the proud owners of Nenandorf
when they received in reply letter from
the young ensign in which he declared he
would never enter their dwelling again, and
prayed them to forget an unhappy being, for
whom death was the only refugel
lew days afterward they learned that
Vladimir had joined the army. It WAS in
1872 No one ever mentioned his name to
Mari, nor did she herself allnde TO him in
any way. Two or three months elapsed
and one day she saw his maine mentioned
among the officerT who had distinguished
themselves in the battle of BorodnO, and
who were nortally wounded. She tainted,
and had a relapse Of fever, from which she
slowly recovered.
Not long afterward her father died, leav-
ing her the reversion Of his whole property.
Wealth. however, brought her no consoia-
ton; she WeDt with her mother and vowed
denee at Nenandorf and took up their abode
On another estate. Numerous suitors
thTonged around the rich and lovely hereSs,
but TO none Of them did she vouchsafe the
smallest encouragement. Her mother often
fmplOred her to choose husband; but size
silently shook her head Vladimir was no
more; he expired at Moscow on the eve of
the day the French entered that city. To
Mari his memory seemed sacred; she treas
ured up the books they had read together,
his drawings and the notes he had written
TO her-everything that could perpetuate
the remembrance Of the unhappy young
man.
About that time war ended. The tri
Rmphant regiments returned from the from
and the people rushed iD crowds Il
n. The officers who had set out al
jIings came back with stern N ar
.nances, their brave breasts GOV
orders. Time of ineffacsabl'
ow the heart of the Russian theI
at the name 81 his country.
.onel of hussars named Vourmin
..eeiIng In his buttonhole the cross OF St
George and on his face an interesting pale
ness, came to spend few months leave oi
absence on his estate, which joined thai
where Mari was residing. The young girl
received him with far more show CT favor