The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-10-18

young merchant, Ivan Dmitrlevitch Ak
senov He had two shops there and
house OF his own.
Aksenoy was a handsome, fair-haired,
curly-headed young fellow full OF fun
and always singing. At first Aksenov
drank a good deal and was riotous when
drunk. but after he married this happened
very rarely and he almost gave - drink.
One summer Aksenov was going TO the
fair I'm Mimi, and as ne was bidding good
by to ms family his wife said: Ivan
Dmitrieyitch, don't go today, have had
a bad dream about YOU"
Aksenov laughed and said; You are
always afraid OF my going on spree a
the fair"
Il 90 not know what II is L am afraid
of, all / know is that / dreamt a bad
dream i dreamt you had come back
from town ana taken off your cap, and l
looked and saw your head had all -1nEAe1=
gray"
Aksenov laughed. THAT means good
luck" he said See If l don't sell my
whole stock and bring you some fine pres
cnts.'
And he said good-by to his family and
drove away.
When ne had travelled half way he met
d
put up at the same inn. They drank tea
together and then went to bed In two ad-
joining rooms.
Aksenov did not like TO sleep late. lie
woke before morning, reused his driver
and told him 10 harness SO as To start
while IL was cool.
Then he went into the cottage at the
back of the inn where the landlord lived,
paid him and continued his journey.
When they had gone about thirty miles
they stopped to feed the horses, and
Aksenov rested awhile in the passage AT
The entrance TO the inn. Then he stepped
out on the porch and ordered a samoyar
20 be got ready, brought out his guitar
and began to play.
Suddenly n three-horse trap drove up
with tinkling bells ard an official got out
followed by two soldiers. lie came up
TO Aksenov and began to question hirl-
who he was and whence he came. Ak
senov answered him very fully and then
said. Wont you have "A cup of tea with
me?" But the official went ou bothering
him with questions. Where have you
spent the night? Alone or with another
merchant? Did you see the other mer-
chant this morning? Why did you start
SO early?'
Aksenov wondered why he was asked
all these questions, but related everythins
Just as IL had happened, and then said:
.ANAS-da- question -tae-iti- -this-Ixl4-2-
/ am neither a thief nor roboer. i am
going or my own business and there IS
no need TO question me-
Then the official called the soldiers and
said: IL am the police officer of this dis
trict and am questioning you because the
merchant with whom you spent the night
has been murdered. Let me see your
things. Search him.,
They entered the house and the sol
dies and the police officer unfastened the
straps and searched Aksenov luggage.
Suddenly the police officer took knife
cut of the bag and cried Whose kniie
is this!''
Aksenov looked up, and when he saw
knife stained with blood taken out or his
bag ne was frightened.
And how dld the blood get on the
hnife!"
Aksenov was going to answer, but could
hardly utter a word and only stammered:
IL don't know--l-the knife-not mine
Then the police officer said:"This morn
ing the merchant was found In bed with
his throat cut. No one could nave done
IL but you. The house was locked from
inside, and no one else was there. Ana
here's this blood-stained knife In your
bag Besides your face betrays you.
Tell me how you killed him ana of how
much money you have robbed him
Aksenov swore he had not done 1t, that
he had not seen the merchant after they
had drunk their tea together that ne
had no money except 5000 roubies OF ms
own, and that the knife Gid not belong
TO him. But his voice was broken, ms
face pale. and he trembled with fear just
&c if he were guilty. The police officer
ordered the soldiers 10 bind Aksenov AID
to nut him in the cart. Aksenov crossed
himself and began 10 weep. His money
and his things were taken from him and
he was imprisoned in the nearest town.
References as to his character were tax
EN- In Vladimir. The merchants and other
inhabitants OF that town said that FORM
erlv he had been given to drinking and
merry-making, but that he was goou
man Then he was tried He was charg-
ed with robbing a merchant from Rlazan
of 20 900 roubles and of numbering hlm
His wife was in despair about her hus-
band and did not know what to think.
Her children were all qpte little, one "A
babV at her breast. ShA took them all
and went 10 the town where her husband
was in prison. At first they would not
let her see him, but at last she got the
prison authorities TO give her permission
and she was taken in to him. When she
saw him in prison garments, In chains
among robbers. she fell down and did not
come to her senses for long time. Then
she made the children stand near her
and sat down by his side. She told him
about affairs at home, and then began
questioning him about what had happened
To him He told her and she said:"What,
is 10 be done now?'
I'VE must petition the car. why
should an innocent man perish?"
His wife told him that she had sent
petition to the czar. but that ii had not
reached him.
Aksenov said nothing. only looked
downcast
Then his wife said: "It was not In
vain that 7 dreamt your hair had turned
gray. You remember? You should not
have gone that day" And she began
passing her fingers through his hair and
said "Vania. my dearest love. tcll tho
truth 10 YOUR wife. Il was not YOU who