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

clare the approach of a decisive explana-
ton. Already the neighbors spoke of the
marriage as decided business. and
Petrowna rejoiced at the thought that her
daughter would at length have husband
worthy OF her.
One morning, when the good lady was
seated III her drs wing-room, Vourmin en-
tered and inquired for Mari.
''Sbe is In the garden" replied Petrowna.
"Y ou will find her out there If You wish to
see her,"
The colonel went out hastily. and Pc
trowna, making the signal of the cross,
murmured to herself:
God be praised! | hope everything will
be arranged to-day"
Vourmin found his ladylove dressed In
white, seated beneath a tree, close by
lake. with book on her knee. ike any
heroine of romance. After the interchange
of few commonplace sentences. Nourmln.
with considerable agitation, tdd ner thas
for long time lie had been deSirous OF
opening his mind 70 her. and now prayed
her 10 listen to him for few moments.
She cl osed her book and cast down her eyes
in token OF assent.
81 love your exclaimed Vourmin, Il love
you ardentlyV'
Mari bent down her head little more.
II have committed the imprudence OF
Mari recOllected the first letter of st.
PreuX). The memory of your sweet Ease
aud gentle voice will form henceforward
the JOY and torture of my existence; but |
have duty to fulfill toward you. / must
reveal to YOU strange secret, which places
between US an iDsurmountable barrier"
That barrier" murmured Mari, 'has
always existed. could never become your
wife"
81 know" continued Vourmin, in low
voice, shat you have loved, but death and
three years of mourning-dearest Mari, 90
not take away from me my last consolation ;
do not deprive me of the harplnesS oil
thinking that you might have been mine, IL
not"
"Hushp' cried Mari. Cease, beg you
you pierce me through the heart"
Yes, | have the consoling thought that
you would have been mine But l ain the
most unfortunate of men-I am married.
Mari raised her eyes with look OF per-
feet amaZement
81 am married." resumed the colonel
married these four years, and neither know
who my wife is nor where she is. nor
whether / snail ever meet her"
what can you meanP WHAT Is the
| mystery? But go on: l beg Of You; will
tell you afterward-"
Here, them" said the colonel, ''are the
| facts. In the year 1912 was goi3g TO wilma
| TO join my regiment. | arrived late one
| evening at station and had just given
| orders 10 have the horses Immediately haT-
messed when suddenly there arose a vlolen!
! snowstorm. TIE master Of the house and
| the position both strongly advised me 10
defer my journey; but. tempest or no
! tempest, | was resolved to push on. The
! position took it into his head that he could
! shorten the way by crossing a river whose
| banks he knew very well. However, he
missed the right ford and brought me to a
place which was totally strange 20 him. The
storm continued to rage, but at length we
deserted distant light / fastened toward
| il and found myself outside a church, whence
! the light proceeded. The door was open.
! Sledges were waiting outside and several
| persons were standing Ia the porch. One
! of them called To me: This wayl This
! way! l got out OF my sledge and entered
| the church. One Of the people In the porch
/ said
"'In the name OF heaven what has de-
| layed you? The bride has tainted and
! We were all on the point of returning
| home
"'Half bewildered and half amused, |
| resolved to follow up the adventure. H.
| deed | was allowed no time to del berate
| for my impatient friends hurried me into
! the interior of the church, which was
family lii up by two or three torches. A
| girl was seated on a bench in the shadow
while another, standing beside her. was
| TubeIng her temples
AT length said the latter; God be
praised that you are come! My mistres;
was near dying
IAN old priest approached and said
| Shall we begin?'
| " oh. begin by all means, my reverend
fatherp replied /, gddily.
They assisted the young girl to rise
| she seemed very pretty. Through leYity
| quite objectionable, and. as il now seem.
TO me, lncOnceivabe, l advanced beside heI
to the altar Her servant and the three
| hor
pied about her that they scarcely glanced
at me; besides the light. as have said, was
| very dim, aud my head was enveloped in
! the fur hood Of my travelling pelisse. In z
| few moments we were married
=" Embrace each other said one CT the
| witnesses. My wife turned her pale face
! toward me. For an instant she gazed as il
! petrIfed. then falling backward she ex-
| claimed:'
1t is not he 1t is not hep
" Out of the church l rushed, before The
| astonlshed priest and the bridal party haC
time TO think Of arrestng nv flight. As
did so sledge containing young man
| violently excited, drove up to the church
| door This was evidently the truaDt bride
| groom, who had been lost in the snow. ]
jumped into the siedge. and soon left all
| pursuit behind
And" said Mari, "did you ever ascer-
| tain what be anne Of that poor w0man?"
Never. did not know the name Of the
village where / was married, nor can i
TecOllect that of the station where | last
stopped. At that time so little importance
| did l attach to my criminal levlty that
! when all danger Of pursuit was over / fell
| asleep in the sedge and did not awake until
| ] found myself at another station. The ser
want whom l had with me was killed II
| battle, 80 that every elew seems lost by
which l might discover the scene of tina
| folly which | now eXpiate so dearly"
Mari turned her pale face fully toward
him and seized his hands.
What cried Vourmin. WAS 1t you?'
Don't you recognize me?"
a long and close embrace was the re ply