Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1895-09-20
Washinatun Staudara
COST OF 4 TRAIN.

Russia, lady, dressed with the
utmost elegance, was walking on
the Moscow promenade, leaning on
her husbands arm and letting the
long train of her rich dress sweep
tie dirt # the ;treet.
\ Young officer, coming hastily
from side street, was so careless
as to catch one of his spurs in the
lady's train, and in an instant
great piece was torn out of the
costly but frail material of the
dress.
81 beg thousand parJons, mad
am said the officer, with polite
bow, and WAS about passing on
when he was detained 10y the lady's
husband.
. You have insulted my WIFE"
" Nothing was farther from my
intentions, sir. Your wife's long
dress is to blame for the accident,
which sincerely regret, and beg
you once more to receive my apol-
ogies for any carelessness on my
part" Thereupon he attempted
to hasten on.
You shall not escape So" said
the lady. To-day is the first time
l have worn this dress, and it cost
200 rubles, which you must make
good"
My dear madam, l beg you not
to detain me. am obliged to 60
Oh duty at once. As to the 200
rubles, l have not that amount
about me. l really cannot help the
length of your dress, yet l beg
your pardon for not being more
cautious"
You shall not stir, sir. That
you are obliged to 60 on duty is
nothing to Us. My wife is right.
The dress must be made good"
The officers face grew pale.
You force me to break through
the rules of the service and I shall
receive punishment"
Pay the 200 rubles and you are
Free"
The quickly changing color in
the young mans face betrayed how
inwardly disturbed he was, but
stepping close up to them both, he
said, with apparent self command {:
"You will renounce your claim
when tell you that l am poor
man, who has nothing to live on
but his officers pay, and the amount
of that pay scarcely reaches the
sum of 200 rubles in a whole year.
l can, therefore, make no amends
for the misfortune except by again
begging your pardon"
"Oh, anybody could say all that,
but we'll see if it is true. Well
find out if you have nothing but
your pay. I declare myself not
satisfied with your excuses, and !
demand my money" persisted the
lady in the hard voice of thor.
oughly unfeeling woman.
THAT is true-you are right"
the husband added, dutifully sup.
porting her. "By good luck, we
have the court now in session. Go
with US before the judge, and he
will decide the matter"
All protestations on the officers
part we're unavailing. To avoid
an open scene, he went with them
to the courtroom, where the gallery
was densely packed with crowd
of people.
After waiting some time the lady
had leave to bring her complaint.
"What have you to answer to
to this ?" said the judge, turning to
the officer, who seemed embar.
raised and in despair.
"Very little" was the reply.
"As the lateness of the hour and
being required on duty compelled
me to hurry, I did not notice this
lady's train, which was dragging
on the ground. l caught one of
my spurs in it and had the misfor-
tune to tear her dress. Madame
would not receive my excuses, but
perhaps now she may find herself
more disposed to forgiveness when
Iagain declared that l committed
this awkward blunder without any
mischievious intention. and I ear
nestly beg that she will pardon
me-"
A murmur ran through the gal.
lery, evidently from the people
taking sides with the defendant,
and against long trains in general
and this lady's in particular.
The judge called to order and
asked, Are you satisfied with the
defendants explanations ?"
mot at ALL" was the reply, II
demand 200 rubles for my Dress"
defendant, will you pay this
snm 2"