The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-05-04

( the door, and on top Of this a chair that
the room.
First. then. he dared to turn out the light
and go to sleep. but It was nearly dawn
before he did sleep. and then he slept SO
late that his wife. fearing something had
happened. opened the door and tho chair
fell with q crash.
Trofne Semionovitch Jumped out OF bed.
crying "MurderI' at the top OF his voice.
He could not get rid OF the idea that
they were trying TO assasslnate him.. but HI
tried to conceal his fear.
Still every one could sec that he was
greatly changed. He suspected everybody.
watched everybody. even his own children.
and while he before had been a loving
father and husband. he was now cold. ir-
ritable and excitable.
He spent most of his time drawing up
new wills. but none OF them was Just az
he wanted It No lawyer could satisfy
him. though he tried several every day.
His taste for food had also changed: he
never touched any OF his former favorits
dishes. Often he would take no dinner az
an, U I ne with Slt.AGL4J lilS4SG Ol Ldh4A8
his wife's or sons or daughters plate.
He bought his own wine, and kept It
locked up in a closet in his private room.
He neglected his business affairs. and
when he did work he never told anybody
about his profit or loss.
Money. that always before had been q
source Of pleasure to him. was now his
constant care and sorrow.
II. -hrv,uH - E,--,-.g-- "a "
some one else. but felt that he could not
trust any one.
He felt that II everybody knew, as he
and his son did. that there was no God
and no judgment, nothing would prevent
them from numbering him or to rob him
of his fortune.
There was only one way-rot to let peo-
pie find out that God did not exist. but
by all means try to make them believe.
He therefore seemingly grew more and
more religious. He tasted every wednes-
day and Friday; he attended church every
day: he never lost an opportunity to preach
to his family and servants about God and
the law of God. to preach about the terri
bic punishment that awaited those who
did not observe his commandments
But the fear OF assassination never left
tAA. 40 oNSPtCbCu every one around OF
planning against his life. He doubted and
hated even his own wife and Children.
Yes. even his little grandchildren, whom
he had loved above all. now seemed to
him little cruel animals.
He thought that everybody hated him
as he hated everybody.
His fortune still kept on growing, and
even this seemed like a curse upon him.
In thi, way he lived moro than tan
years Every one noticed his queer ideas
and behavior. but nobody knew Of his suf-
ferings.
He wished to die, and at the same time
he was afraid Of death.
One afternoon he came homs from
church. had his dinner sent to his room,
and had a glass OF wine from the closet
there, end then he lay down to take a
rest, but never woke up again
His body was buried IN his vault In
Alexander Newsky Cemetery.
a crowd of well-known people followed
the hearss and a famous preacher from
st. Petersburg conducted the services. and
spoke highly OF the dead mans piety,
goodness and Of his domestic happiness.
None but God ever knew his crime or
the punishment that had followed him
from the very day he gave up his faith
In God.