Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1905-04-05
My Statuesque
Russian Wife
tOriginal.1

70 the TannanJOrS family OF Finland.
l had heard that people Of that en-
shaved country were very bitter against
the Russian government. What was
my surprise to hear the members of
this family declare that they were per-
fectly satisfied with their oppressors
and bitterly opposed to those who were
always fomenting trouble, thus incit-
ing the police to curtail the privileges
Of the people.
Bertha Tannanjors was one of those
light compleXioned, blue eyed, flaxen
haired beauties who come only out of
the north. l had always fancied trop-
ical women, with their black hair and
eyes and their intense natures. New
ertheless l lost my heart to a girl
whose disposition seemed as mild as
her pink and white cheek and her soft
blue eye. l could not but regret that
so beautiful a creature should be en-
tirely devoid of spirit But l was a
Pygmalion enamored Of Galatea.
There was life under the marble sur
face, and in time the real human be-
ing stepped forth.
Bertha yielded sort Of tacit assent
to my suit. OF course I was disap-
pointed in this, though it was in &C.
cordance with her character. / would
have preferred that she should have
thrown me off, so that l might come
again till l had conquered her. But
girls abroad are expected to accept any
sutton their parents approve, and
Bertha's parents not only approved Of
me, but seemed impatient for our mar
riage and departure for the United
States. Bertha herself betrayed no
preference in the matter. Had / not
been infatuated with her impressive
beauty and spirituelle characteristics
would not have assented to marriage
under such conditions.
The wedding took place In a great
church at Viborg, where the family
lived, and the usual wedding feast fol-
lowed. Our arrangements had been
made to go the same night down to
Cronstadt and thence by sea to Stock
holm. l would have preferred remain
ing in Viborg for several days after
the ceremony, but Bertha laid this plan
for our immediate departure, and in ad-
herring to it I noticed in her the first
signs of will. The wedding supper
over, we went upstairs to gather our
hand baggage. Bertha went to closet
to take out the hat and coat she in
tended wearing. Suddenly she ex-
claimed:
''How unfortunate! I have forgotten
to send the jar Of marmalade l intend
ed for parting gift to Kitty OlbOrd. l
expected to give it to her tonight, but
she is Ill and was unable to come. New
er mind; we can call on our way and
leave it at her house"
She put the jar In her satchel. and
we went downstairs, babe goodby to
family and friends, entered the car
riage and drove first TO Kitty Chords
home. On reaching II alighted, took
the jar and, going to the door, rang the
bell. Instead of servant man with
very red hair and very pale face, be-
longing apparently to the middle class,
opened the door, took the jar and with
out waiting for my explanations shut
the door in my face. Then we drove on
to the station. Early the next morning
we left Cronstadt.
We reached Stockholm the following
morning and proceeded to hotel for
breakfast. l purchased a morning jour
nal by the way and, having ordered a
breakfast, opened the paper to glance
at the news. The first thing saw un-
der large headlines was an account Of
an attempt the day before to assassi-
nate the governor of Finland. A man
with a red head and pale face had Sc
cured admittance to his eXcellency and
was about to hurl at him a glass jar
marked "Marmalade' when his arm
was caught by an attendant. The jar
was found to contain nitroglycerin.
what is 1t, dear?" asked my wife
in her usual mild tone as I showed
signs Of collapse. At the same time
she laid her hand on mine and added,
"Courage!' She had seen the head
lines and had read the news quicker
than I. "We have failed" she added,
''but l have done my part, and you
will not be thus jeopardized again."
looked into her mild blue eyes, and
save a trace Of disappointment there
was no sign of emotion.
Remain here" said, all Of a
tremor, "while go and learn by what
conveyance we can get on"
"Goodby," she said. And from the
look she gave me for the first time I
knew that 1t would be hard for her to
lose me.
II will be back directly" answered
her And she looked intensely re-
lieved.
learned that a ship would leave in
an hour by the Baltic and North seas
for Rotterdam, and, returning to my
wife without waiting for breakfast,
led her out to a carriage, and we were
soon aboard the vessel. This put us on
the sea again, where the police could
not reach us. At Rotterdam we found
ship just leaving for America and
had barely time to get aboard. Then
collapsed, for knew we were safe.
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