Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1895-10-18
Saint Maru's Beacon
The Cos. Of a Train.

- 1&NSS@& WASA& VIZ &S1&1@~
elegance, was walking on the Mos
COW promenade, leaning upon her
husbands arm and letting the long
train OF her rich dress sweep the
dirt of the street.
A young officer, coming hastily
from a side street, was so careless
as to catch one of his spurs in the
lady's train, and in an instant o
great piece was torn out of the cost
ly but frail material Of the dress.
Il beg thousand pardons, mad
ame,' SAID the officer, with polite
bow, and then was about passing on
when he was detained by the lady's
husband.
You have insulted my wife.
Nothing was farther from my in
tention, sir. Your wife's long dress
ia to blame for the accident, which
! sencerely regret, and ! beg you
once more to receive my apologies
for any carslessaess on my part.
Thereupon he attempted to hasten
on.
You shall not escape so,' said
the lady. To-day IS the first time
have worn this dress, and it cost
200 rubles, which you must make
good
MY dear madame, | beg you not
to detain me. l am obliged to go
on duty at once. As to the 200
rubles, | really cannot help the
length of your dress, yet l beg your
pardon for not having been 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 / shall
receive punishment
Pay the 200 rubles, and you are
Free
The quickly changing color in the
young mans face betrayed how IN
wardly disturbed he was, but step
ping close up to them both he said ,
with apparent self command:
You will renounce your claim
when tell you that am a poor
man, who has nothing to live on
but his officers pay, and the amount
of that pay hardly reaches the sum
of 200 rubles in q whole year. |
can therefore make no amends for
the misfortune except by again beg
ging your pardon.
ooh, anybody could say all that,
but we'll see if it's true. Well
find out if you have nothing but
your pay. l declare myself not
satisfied with your excuses, and |
demand my money persisted the
lady in the hard voice of thorough
ly unfeellng woman.
That's is true-you are right"
the husband added, dutifully sup
porting her. by good luck we
have the open court now in session.
Go with us before the Judge, and
he will decide the matter
All protestations on the officers
part that he was poor, was expected
on duty, and so forth, did not help
matters. To avoid an open scene
he went with them to the courtroom,
where the gallery was densely pack
ed with a crowd of people.
After waiting some time the lady
had leave to bring her complaint.
What have you to answer to this?'
said the judge, turning to the
officer, VINO seemed embarrassed
and half in despair.
'On the whole very little. As
the lateness of the hour and being
required on duty compelled me to
hurry did not Eetice this lady's
train, which was dragging on the
ground. ! caught one of my spurs
in it-and had the misfortune to tear
her dress. Madame would not re-
ceive my excuses, but perhaps now
she might find herself more dis
posed to forgiveness when / again
declare that l committed this awk-
ward blunder without any mischiev-
ous intention, aud i earnestly beg
that she will pardon me-
A murmur ran through the gal
lery, evidently from the people TAX
ing sides with the defendant and
against long trains in general and
this lady in particular.
The Judge called to order aud