Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1895-09-08
THE COST OF A TRAIN.

THE COST OF A TRAIN.
At the time when the first open court
of law was established in Russia a
lady, dressed with the utmost elegance,
was walking on the Moscow promenade
leaning upon her husbands arm, ana
letting the long train of her rich dress
sweep the dirt of the street.
A young officer, coming hastily from
side street, was so careless as 10
catch one of his spurs in the lady's
train. and in an instant q great piece
was torn out of the costly but frall ma
terial Of the dress.
81 beg a thousand pardOns, madame,
said the officer, with polite bow, ana
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 wifes long dress is
to blame for the accident, which l sim
cerely regret, and beg you once more
to receive my apologies for any care
lessness on my part. Ihereupon ne
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 two hun
dred roubles, which you must make
good"
my dear madame, I beg you not to
detain me. l am obliged to go on duty
at once. AS to the two hundred rou-
bles-I really cannot help the length Of
your dress, yet beg your pardon for
| not having been more cautious.
you shall not stir. sir. That you
are obliged to go 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 two hundred roubles and
you are free
The quickly changing color in the
young mans face betrayed how inward
ly 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 | am poor man, who
has nothing to live on but his officers
pay, and the amount of that pay hardly
reaches the sum of two hundred roubles
in a whole year. | can, therefore, make
no amends for the misfortune, except
by again begging your pardon"
ooh! anybody could say all that, but
we'll see if it's true; We'll find out if
you have nothing but your pay. l de-
clare myself not satisfied with your eX-
cuses, and | demand my money" per-
sisted the lady, in the hard voice of a
thoroughly unfeeling woman.
THAT is true-you are right" the
husband added, dutifully supporting
her. 'By good luck we have the open
court now in session. Go with us be-
fore the Judge and We 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 court room, 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 this?"
said the Judge, turning to the officer,
who 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 notice this lady's train, which was
dragging on the ground. / caught one
of my spurs in it and had the misfor>
tune to tear her dress. Madame would
not receive my excuses, but perhaps
Oh mi oh nd Il f-
posed to forgiveness when / again de-
clare that | committed this awkward
blunder without any mischeyious in
tention, and l earnestly beg that she
will pardon me"
A murmur ran through the gallery,
evidently from the people taking sides
with the defendant, and against long
trains in general, and this lady in par
ticular.
The Judge called to order and asked:
Are you satisfied with the defendants
explanations"
Not at all satisfied ! demand two
hundred roubles for my torn dress"
Defendant, will you pay this sum-"
Il would have paid it long before this
had I been in position to do so. In
LOI luudlelgs i dlu pOOl. MY pay DIS du
officer is all that have to live on"
you hear, complainant, that the de-
PENDANT is not able TO pay the sum you
demand of him. Do you still wish the
complaint to stand?"
Il wish it to stand. The law shall
give me my rights"
There ran through the rows Of people
a murmur of indignation that sounded
like a ruching of water.
Consider, complainant the conse-
quence of your demand. The defend
ant can only be punished through be-
ing deprived of his personal liberty,
and by that you can obtain no satisfac
ton; while to the defendant II might
prove the greatest injury in his rank
and position as an officer who is poor