The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1895-11-07

wife, Paraskovia Petrovna, and ami
able and prepOssessing lady Of 40, the
thoughts and aspirations OF the ma
jority were centered upon his seven
teen-yar-old daughter Masha.
But, like many other girls of her age
and station in the Russian provinces,
Masha had been brought up on the
French novel, and was passionately in
, love with a poor army officer, who
lived a few verSts away from her
fathers estates, and who faciprOcated
her love. But Masha's parents posi-
lively objected to the match, and the
young mans welcome became cooler
every day. This, however, did not
hinder the lovers from corresponding
or from meeting frequently in the for
est. Amid romantic surroundings, with
no human being to detect or to over
hear them, they would pledge to each
other eternal love. hewail their fate,
and devise all sorts OF schemes Elope-
ment was, of course. proposed in due
season by the young man, and as
MaSlMl was an ardent admirer OF all
sorts Of adventure pertaining to hero
ism, it more than pleased her romantic
imagination.
me cold winter put an end to their
secret interviews; the more volulnin-
Olls, however, became their correspond
ence Vladimir would emtreat his be-
loved in every letter to intrrst her des-
tiny to him; to elOpe. to keep out Of
sight until the excitement should be
over, then to appear before her par
ents, who would undoubtedly become
resigned to the inevitable, to kneeI
down before them and beg their for
giveness and blessing. And this, ac-
cording to his calculations, would
surely end in: Come, children. to our
embrace and be happy" AL this
seemed very fascinating to Masha, and
without much meditation she consent
ed to follow the course suggested by
her lover. And the course was this:
On the day of her departure she was
to decline taking her meals with her
parents at the table, pretending to suf-
fer with a severe headache. Thus she
would be enabled to make the neces-
sary preparations for her journey in
her room. Her servant, who was in
the secret, was to accompany her to
the garden gate. where a trOika, or
span Of three horses, sent by Vladimir
would be In waiting. They were then
to drive as fast as the horses could
carry them to the church in the village
of Dshadrino. where Vladimir would
be sure to meet them.
Vladimir had his hands full all day
In the morning he visited the Dsha-
dr1nO minister. who after considera bl e
difficulty and upon receiving Il hand
some deposit, consented to marry him
Then he set out in search OF the nee.
essary three witnesses.
The day drew to it's close. Night sci
in. "A strong northern wind filled the
air with burning cold "a mlatelv
(storm) Vladimir thought to himself
as he sat in the sleigh, driving as rap
idly as his horse could carry him tt
Dshadrino, where he intended to ar
rive before Masha. The road to Dsha
drino was familiar to him, and he ex
pected to traverse the short distance
in an hour at most. The reverse of his
expectations, however, was the result
The wind grew stronger and stronger
eliminating soon in a raging and blind
ing snow storm. The road was SWEEP
out Of sight the familiar surroundings
vanished. Vladimir's efforts to kee1
the right track were fruitless. The
horse went on at haphaZard, now as
cending snoWdrift and now falling
<Iuu GpoCUllLS lllC SlClSu Ill d IdN Lie
An noun, two hours passed, but no
the slightest sign Of Dshadrino.
At last a welcome object presented
itself to his sight. 1t was a small for
est. BLESSED be the Lord" he though
to himself. "Dshadrino must be near.
Thus encouraged. he drove onward
He lashed the horse; the poor ANNA
made an effort to move. He dashed i
again and again, but it would not trot
Gradually, 44owever, he passed the for
j. est. The plain, snowy field, stretchin.
in the distance as far as his eye coul(
reach, presented itself once more K
his sight. Although the storm sub
sided and the bright moon hung onc'
again over his cheerless and monoton
GUS surroundings, it was bitterly cold
AS he drove along, contemplating al
sorts Of means to extricate himsel
from his perilous position, he beheld
village, consisting of four or five littl
huts. He directed his horse toward II
and as he reached the first hut bega1
to rattle at the window with all tn
might of a man for whom there 1
nothing left but despair. A few mo
ments later the window raised, and
1ny,p 1,rav heard annaroo,tlv mol IN DIN