The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-01-20

that no one was spying on MIN, 20 the
tavern kept by his old acquaintance, Proko-
witch. Before entering he cast furtive
glance into the interior through the win
dow. Seeing that there were no habitues
in the tavern, and that Prokovitch slept
behind the counter, he opened the door
quickly, ran in, and without giving Prcko-
witch time TO recognize him, he thrust the
terrible find into his hand.
For some moments Prokovitch's ewes
| were dazzled. Next be felt himself In a
cold sweat. He seemed to have vision
that he vas conducting his business with
out his papers being in order, but prompt
/ and general inspection proved neither
green, blue nor yellow paper that the au-
thorities exacted was missing. Then his
eye fell on the rag which he found in his
hands, and be seemed to recognize it.
"Hel he!" he said, sit is the very same
that ! delivered myself from with such
difficulty before buying my patent of
| tavern keepern. Yes, it is the very same"
Convinced on this point, he presumed
! that his ruin was imminent. Here is the
argument he used almost mechanically:
"a man is in business. The food comes;
| it is finished; nothing remains; therefore
! there can be no more business" He began
| TO tremble violently, he grew pale, he was
seized with fear such as he had never
| felt before. Conscience reawoke in him
! and murmured:
No, no; you must no longer ignomini-
| ously intoxicate poor people"
Beside himself with fear, he called his
wife to his aid. Arina Ivanovna ran in,
but the moment that she recognized Pro-
kovitch's involuntary acquisition she cried
out IN tone of emotion: "Helpl Police!
ThievesP'
why am I condemned to immediate
ruin or account of the fault of that
wretch;" thought Prokovitch; and great
drops of sweat gathered on his forehead.
Meanwhile the tavern filled rapidly with
people, but Prokoyitch, instead of serving
his clients with his usual good humor,
threw them into great establishment by not
only refusing to pour out wine for them,
but by demonstrating to them in touch
ing manner, that with the poor all mis-
fortunes come from drink. III, however"
he continued through his tears, you will
be contented with small glass, SO be it;
it will even be profitable. But you only
think of Selling opportunities to swallow
whole caskfuls And what happens? You
iDtoxicate yourselves, you are dragged to
the whipping post, and there you receive
100 strokes. Reflect little, my friends
is it worth while running after such a
thing and to have, to cap it all, to pay all
the money you earn to a wretch like me?"
But, Prokovitch, you lose hearth re-
turned his amazed clients.
1t is not extraordinary that do. friends,
when struck with such a misfortune See
what kind of patent have just received"
l. l. l.
drunkard had slipped into his hands, aud
asked if any one would avail himself of it.
But as each one recognized its import he
withdrew to the most convenient distance
from it. No one showed any urgent wish
to accept Prokovitch's offer
''See the pretty patent! Who wants it,"
he repeated.
But what do you calculate on doing
now" they asked.
This is how ! argue now, my friends:
Only one thing remains for me to do-die!
! can no longer cheat my neighbor can
no longer middle poor people with brandy.
Therefore what remains, if not to die?"
He is right" said his clients, laughing
at him.
Even this has come into my mind" he
continued. II have hankering to break
J
contents of the casks run into the neigh
boring canal One would be sure of resist
ing temptation this way" Here Arina |
Ivanovna interrupted with these simple !
words, Just try, merely TO seer For her !
heart was evidently untouched by the |
divine grace which had descended on her |
husband But it was not easy to stop him;
he continued to shed Il and to talk |
without ceasing.
IF similar misfortune overtake a |
man." he said, lit is because it was de- |!
creed; it had to come; that man was pre-
destined to misfortune. In self examina- |
tion he could no longer dare to define HIM |
self L am a merchant, tradesman'-such |
an explanation would cause him profound /
trouble. He must simply say L am an
Throughout the whole day Prokovitch !
gave himself up to these highly philosophi-
cal exercises, and, although Arina Ivanov-
IA was resolutely opposed to her husbands
project of breaking their bottles and casks,
yet they sold no more that day. Toward |
evening Prokovitch became less sad, even
gay, and in going to be tohis wife,
well, my little soula te, though
we have gained not t. ow light
hearted one feels when the CO.. ence is
purep
He was scarcely in bed when he fell
asleep, perfectly, peacefully; heidi not even
snore, whereas previously he always snored
when he had gained-but then be had no
conscience.
Meanwhile Arina Ivanovna regarded
matters differently She realized that for
the trade of tavern conscience was not
an agreeable acquisition, but profitless
one She resolved TO get rid of this IN
welcome guest. She waited patiently all
night, and the dawn had scarcely pene-
trated the dusty windows of the tavern
when she took the conscience from her
sleeping spouse and threw it violently into
the street
II was market day. Already country
neighbors were arriving, one behind the
other, carts with peasants, and Lovets, the
Inspector of police. WAS coming in person,
with hasty steps, to the market place to
oversee the proceedings.
At sight of Lovets, Arina Ivanovna
conceived a project which pleased her
hugely. She ran breathlessly after him,
and as soon rs she caught him up she
slipped the conscience into his pocket very
cleverly without his being aware of it.
Lovets was not absolutely a shameless
scamp, but he bad no scruples and prac-
ticed little peculations quite freely. He
was not insolent looking, but he was en-
lowed with the look of prying inqGisitor.
His hands had not been STEPPED in great
Tiilainics but they took readily whatever
,ame easily in their grasp. In word, he
MAS an excellent eNtortioner.
Now suddenly this man began to feel the
lualms of repentance. When he reached