Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1893-11-18

The drunkaru promptly concealed his
find In his packet and moved away, lie
sloachesi along. looking round about to sse
that no one was spying on him. To the
tavern kept by his old acquaintance, Proko-
witch. Before entering he cast a furtiye
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 Proko-
witch time To recognize him. he thrust the
trrrible find into his hand.
For some moments prokovitch's eyes
we're daxzied Next he felt himself In
cold sweat. He seemed to have vision
shat he WAS conducting his business with
out his pspers being Ina order, but a prompt
and general inspection proved neither
green. blue nor yellow paper that the au-
thorities -xacted was missing. Then his
eve fell ON the rag which he found In his
hands, and he seemed 10 recognize IT,
"iiel he.f he said. 4, is the very same
that | delivered myself from with such
difficulty before buying my patent of
tavern keepcru. Yes. IL 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 flood comes;
IL II finished. nothing remains; therefore
there can he no more business" He began
to tremble violently. he grew pale. he WAS
seized with fear snch as he had never
felt before. Conscience reawoke in him
and murmur~d:
No. no. you must no longer tgnomini
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 -he cried
out In a tone Of emotion: Help! Police!
| Thieves
why am ! condemned TO immediate
| ruin on account Of the fault of that
wretchS" thought Prokovitch. and great
drops az sweat gathered on his forehead
Meanwhile the tavern iillei rapidly with
people, but Prokoyitch. instead Of serving
his clients with his usual good humor,
threw them into great astonishmeut by not
only refusing TO pour out wine for them.
but by demonstrating TO them in n touch
ing manner, that with the poor all mis-
fortunes come from drink. .lf. however"
he continued through hts tears. you will
be contented with a small glass, 40 be 1t,
IL will even he profitable. But you only
think Of seizing opportunities to swallow
whole cs,skfuls. And what happens' You
intoxicate yourselves, you are dragged t.
the whipping post, and there you receive
100 strokes. Reflect little. my friends
IL IL worth while running after such 4
thing, and to have. TO cnp Il all. to pay all
the money you earn TO u wretch like meS
"But, Prokoyitch, you lose heartP' NJ
turned his amazed clients
"It " not extraordinary that do, friends
when struck with such a misfortune. Sc,
what kind Of patent ! have just received.
And he showed them the conscience thu
druukard hal slipped into his hands, ant
asked II any one would avail himself OF II
But M each one recognized its import h
Withdrew To the most convenient distance
from IT, No one showed any urgent wisl
, to accept Prokoyitch's offer.
See the pretty patent Who wants it'
be repeated.
"But what do you calculate on doinl
, nowf" they asked.
This IL how argue now. my friends
Only one thing remains for me TO do--dis
can no longer cheat my neighbor ! ca
, no longer muddle poor people with brandy
Therefore what remains. II not to diei"
|, HE II right" said his clients, laughin
l at him.
: Even this hns come into my mind, h
!. continued. Il have hankering to brea
! all the jugs and bottles and To make tn
contents Of the casks run into the neigs
I boring canal. One would be sure Of resis
: ing temptation this way" Here Arin
Ivanovna interrupted with these simp
words, Just try, merely 10 see.' For he
heart was evidently untouched by th
divine grace which had descended on he
= husband. Bnt II was not easy to stop hin
g he continued 10 shed tears and to tai
4 without ceasing
= IF similar misfortune overtake
= man." he said. lit In because 1t was d
creed IL had to come: that man was pr
7 destined to misfortune. In self examinI
|, :, tion, he sould no longer dare TO define hin
- self Il am "a merchant, a tradesman'-sus
u an explanation would cause him profour
y trouble tie must simply say 1 am .
, unfortunate
% Throughout the whole day Prokovit,
re gave himself up To these highly philosopt
cal exercises. and. although Arina Ivano
'e ma was resolutely opposed to her husband
project Of breaking their bottles and cRsk
y yet they sold no more that day. iowa
is evening Prokovitch became less sad, ey
=, =, gay, and In going to bed he said to his vii
~ "Well, my little soul and dear wife, thoul
=. we have gained nothing today, how lig
:. hearted one feels when the conscience
- :, purel'
a. lie was scarcely In bed when be q
rt asleep. perfectly, peacefully: hedid not CIV
id snore, whereas previously healways snor
N when he had gained-but then he had
q, conscience.
nd Meanwhile Arina Ivanovna regard
ne matters differently. She realized that
es the trade Of tavern a conscience was I
an agreeable acquisition, but a proftl
l,e one She resolved TO get rid OF this ,
~ welcome guest. She waited patiently
60 night, and the dawn had scarcely pc
Y. trated the dusty windows OF the tavs
10 when she took the conscience from
90 sleeping spouse and threw IL violently Il
% the street.
It was market day. Alressdy coun
90 neighbors were arriving, one behind
AS other. carts with peasants, and i.ovets,
ns' inspector OF police. was coming In pers
eir with hasty steps. to the market place
err oversee the proceedings
'rd Al sight OF Loyets. Arina iyano,
'od conceived a project which pleased
nd hugely. She ran breHthlessly after h
he and IN soon as she caught him up
slipped the conscience into his pocket v
ng; sleveriy without his being aware OF it,
'py I.ovets was not absolutely shame
Of scamp, but he had no scrnpies and pl
not ticed little peculations quite freely.
ess was not insolent looking, but he was
md dowed with the look OF prying inquisi
its His hands had not been steeped In n
the villainies. hut they took readily whate
nid came easily In their grasp. In word
was an excellent extortioner
an Now suddenly this man began TO feel
hey uualms Of repentance When he reac