The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1902-04-02
A Russian Romance.


tells in the st. Nicholas the following
fortune.telling:
Here is true story was once told
showing that once upon time this
prophecy actually came true.
1t happened somewhere in the coun-
try, many, many years ago. in the
good old days" when there were no
railroads, and people Travelled about
mostly in their own sledges or car.
riages drawn by posthorses, or II the
distance was not to great, by their own
"troika"-a Russian sleigh drawn by a
team of three horses.
The heroine of my story was at that
time a young girl still In the school
room, greatly troubled with lessons,
governesses. ani dancing. masters, AMI
becoming rather tired of her quiet life
In the country. So, one fine evening.
just before going to bed, she thought
she would like to cast one look into
the future and see from what direction
she was to expect her fate She step.
ped out accordingly upon the terrace,
and-whiz-her slipper went skim.
ming through the cold night air. But
what was her discontinue when she
saw ii fly over the high fence and into
the road beyond! Here was a predi.
cament.
She could not possibly follow and seek
1t In the deep snow, her feet clad in
silk stockings, and only one slipper
for them both! She Jill not like send
ing out the servants, who were all at
supper, and 1t did not seem worth
while to put on thick boots and begin
a regular search so late at night.
This comes of being too curious" she
sollloquized, as she limpei to her own
room. well, never nina; dare say
I'll find my slipper safe and sound to-
morrow morning" But her search
next day proved vain; fresh snow hal
fallen during the night, and the lost
slipper, she thought. was probably
buried deep beneath the soft white
covering.
Several years passed. Her parents
moved to Moscow, where. in the
course of time. she, married an officer
In the Emperor's guards. In her hus-
bands study, on the mantel shelf, she
often noticed, among other knlck-
lSnacks, girls dainty but faded satin
slipper. It certainly seemed familiar
TO the sleigh. The something prove
dered about 1t, she never could remem-
Der where and when she had seen Just
such shoe as that. At last her curios.
ity grew to such a pitch-the old
slipper was always nalf reminding her
of something, she knew not exactly
what--that she decided to question
her husband about 1t.
1T is an old story" he answered,
"and happened many years ago.
was then young fellow, just begin.
ming life, and travelling post-haste to
Join my regiment. Happening to pass
through a village one evening, at a
great speed tiny horses being fresh
and in high spirts), suddenly felt q
stinging blow on the cheek. | heard
an exclamation from the other side
OF fence-and something dropped In.
to the sleigh. hTe something proved
to be satin slipper, and as / took 1t
up, my cheek singing with pain, |
own that | felt very angry and indig.
nant at this unexpected assault.
"Then remembered it was Twelfth
Night; / remembered, too, the ancient
custom. and by that time my wrath
had Gained down. | even thought Of
turning back and delivering the weap.
on into the fair hands that had. unin.
tentionally, dealt the blow, but on
looking round. perceived that the
village, 'Krasnoe' think it was called.
was far behind us. and |, still holding
the slipper in my hand, was being car
ried along over the snowy steppes at
full speed
Il have never since been in that
part of the country, nor have | any
idea whose feet once tripped about
gaily In this old thing; but came to
have tender feeling for it. was
sorry for the girl who had surely been
looking for it and probably wondered
about It's mysterious disappearance.
and as time rolled on somehow came
to associate it with my early youth,
and all its golden dreams; that is why
have kept it all through these past
ten years. You are not jealous dear,
are your" he added. smiling.
Jealous! of my own slipper" she
cried. This Is fun! Why, it is mine.
mine. mine! and she clapped her
hands and laughed Joyous, ringing
laugh. you said the village was
Krasnoe. on Twelfth Night, and just
ten years ago? Why. It must be mine!
From the very first though It looked
familiar and like an old friend. Ten
years old! | was 10 then. and. oh, so
tired of lessons, lessons. lessons. and
snow, snow. snow, all day long, with
nobody of my age near. and the winter
evenings so lonely and dun that one
evening | decided to try the old ex-
pertinent. and see whether there was
any hope of change for me. And 1t
bae cnma tr,Iaf for di1u't ~ ct,.ilya vo,,