Golden Valley chronicle. (Beach, Billings County, N.D.) 1905-1916, 1910-01-21
H|SPECUL|AR METHOD
BY JOEL D. WILLARD.

BY JOEL o. WILLARD.
copyright. 1909. by American Press Asso.
citation.
Ivan Karibanof was sitting in hts
study in Moscow when his daughter
Ekaterina entered.
Papa" she said. II wish to attend
lectures ut the university"
The father looked seriously at his
daughter. pretty girl OF eighteen.
Her large brown eyes contrasted with
her very light hair. her willowy femi.
nine figure with certain determine.
ton of expression.
MY child. don't you know that II
Is not considered proper for unmar.
ried women to become studentsY
II do. and ! also know that many
maidens marry for the purpose. can
do that. need never even see my
husband. After ! have finished the
course the marriage can be annuiled. "
The father objected to the plan. q
common one in Russia. but. finding bis
daughter obdurate. at last reluctantly
consented. Steps were taken to lind
the girl Il husband. and a student OF
the name of Stepan Aleksandrovna
was found to supply the place. So op'
posed was the father to his daughter
having anything to do with the young
man that he stipulated that they
should be married by proxy and no,
meet during their student lives.
Ekaterina pursued her studies with.
out even hearing of Aleksandrovna
He was the son of nobleman who
had entered the university in order tc
enjoy university life and did not pu,
in an appearance at lectures oftenel
than was absolutely necessary to main
tain his connection with the institn
ton. His father died while he was g
student. and this took him away to,
a long while. Months passed before
Ekaterina happened to hear his name
mentioned. Then it was in connection
with a duel he had fought with one OF
his fellow students, named Paul Poll
zoff.
Now. it happened that this l'olizot1
lived near the Karibanofs. He haC
made Ekaterina's acquaintance ano
on a number of occasions had carried
her books for her on her way to lee
lures. She was interested to know the
cause Of the quarrel. Polizoff. who
had been but slightly wounded in the
affair. pinking at the same time hif
adversary. told her that he did no,
know the real cause himself. He had
accidentally spilled some ink Oh booh
Aleksandrovna had been taking notes
of lectures upon and for this ostensi
bly, had been challenged.
Ekaterina soon heard her husbands
name mentioned III connection with
another affair OF arms with DmtrI
Paskudin. who had been somewhat at
tentfve to her at social gathering
Paskudin was not Il student, and he
and Ekatertna had long been friends
Ekaterina endeavored to find out thu
cause of this quarrel. but. as in thu
other case. failed. In both cases sht
noticed that she afterward received NJ
attention from either Of her husband.
opponents.
And SO ithappened that the momen,
she received any attention from a mar
she was sure to hear that he haC
fought with her husband and after
ward retired from the tield. Finally
she sent for Aleksandrovna. He drove
up to her house in drosky wearing
a jaunty student suit. jumped out
threw the driver coin and entered
as though he was making an ordinary
call. He was handsome fellow anc
by no means displeasing in appearance
to his wife.
II have sent for you." she said se
verely. ito learn why you persist Ii
challenging any man who shows mi
any attention. 1t is becoming annoy
Ing"
II cannot allow my wife to receive
attentions from other men. My honol
would not suffer it,
Nonsense! Our marriage was bu
to enable me to become student"
students should not receive atten
SAVAA ssOAS yV0A6 u1O0s ~ uA6lI0CSl
their minds from their studies"
"And who. pray. made you the pro
tector Of my mindY'
'"The law makes me your husband
I claim no other Of my privileges ex
cept this. do not even ask this.
require the men to leave you to youl
studies. in which you will surely dis
tingufsh yourself If they let you alone.
Thanks for your kind protection
against them. hut l do not wish OF
need it,
Nor do admit your right to inter
fere in my duels."
Thus far the dialogue had, outward
~ at least. been serious. At this turr
the girl could not repress faint curve
Of the lips which portended a smile
However she mastered herself in time
and said:
"How did you come to know that
am the girl you married?"
II knew it before you married me
! met you just before you entered the
university at garden party. I had q
dozen Vorf1a vifh vou. thns, mo ,,,or~