The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1914-11-20
The Price Paid
For a Wife
r. EUNlCE BLAKE


will you not buy Tatiana for me? We
love each other. Tatiana is serf,
while | am free. cannot marry her
unless her master will sell her."
II fear, my son." replied the father.
that the count will not sell Tatiana.
have never been on friendly terms
with him. he being rich landowner
and small farmer. Besides. there
was that trouble about the woodcut-
ting. No. do not believe he will grant
any request OF mine. But ! will go to
him and offer him good price for the
girl"
That was a time when large pro-
portion of the Russian people were
serfs. Paul and Tatiana had played
together as children when the little
ones Of other nations were at school,
for education Of the lower classes has
never been permitted in Russia. and
after they were old enough to work
they continued the intimacy. And
now that they had reached marriage
able age the fact Of Tatiana's slavery
doomed up great barrier between
them.
Alexander. Paul's father. counted up
the money that he might spare to buy
Tatiana and found by straining point
he could gather 1000 rubles. He went
to Count Korloff and very humbly told
him of the affection between the boy
and the girl and asking him II he
would not make them happy by selling
the latter SO that they could be mar
ried. Il will give them a slice OF my
farm" he added. ''and, as for the price,
| will pay you LOCO rubles"
II cannot spare Tatiana," replied the
count 1.-The countess needs her to
dress her hair"
The refusal came SO CURLY that the
farmer dared not pursue the matter.
BE went away and told his son the re-
suit of his mission. Paul was crushed
by the news. for In Russia the auto
cratic system has prevailed for SO
many centuries that the weak-until
the recent revolution-did not think of
resisting the strong. Paul told Tatiana
Of the reason given for refusing to sell
her. and she said that she had never
dressed the countess hair.
Paul had great many friends, and
Tatiana was also much beloved. All
tile world loves lover, and their case
excited good deal of sympathy. A
few Of those who heard Of the case
together to add to the price
that Alexander could raise to buy Ia
tiana, and one OF them went to the
count and asked him II he would not
Ok price on the girl. He was very
man, and. thinking this
might be an opportunity to get good
deal OF money for what was not worth
very much to him. he replied that II
1000 rubles were offered he would ac-
sept them.
An effort was made to raise 1000
.ubles, which was the amount re-
CURED In addition to what Alexander
sould give. But there is no great
wealth In Russia except among those
with the government. and
he subscriptions came in such small
'ums that the amount finally SUBJ |
'cribed was far below what was re-
luired.
The matter looked hopeless when +
Paul went one day to do some work
or one Mouriensieff. a we'll to do man
4 the middle class. In talking with
Paul he learned about his love affair
md how he and Tatiana were made
by Count Korloffs mean.
less. Mouriensief asked Paul how
much was lacking altogether OF the
'und to buy Tatiana. and Paul said that
was 1000 rubles $500. Then Alou.
iensief told Paul that he would lend
dm the money at the legal interest
nd he could pay of the loan In eight
ears. or 200 rubles year.
raul accepted the proposition CRATE
nlly and sent word to the CONT that
e was ready to buy Tatiana, paying
600 rubles for her. Count Korloff
las astonished that so much money
Duld have been raised for such O pur-
ose. and It occurred to him that, Mt.
SO much had been got together. a
tile more might be added He re-
lied that he had found a new use for
.sSs~H" SA1"t AAuuC ucl lluCu l0OTe Val.
able. but. since he did not wish to
and between her and Paul Alexan-
rovitch. he would complete the bar
ain for $500 rubles.
Paurs disappointment was all he
ould bear. He went to Mouriensieff
18th tears In his eyes to tell him OF
,e failure.
ut would be OF no avail" said the
tier. ITO continue to follow such q
ian up the scale Of his prices Let
le matter rest for awhile"
Paul took this to mean that he would
ever possess the girl he loved and
ent away sorrowful.
A few weeks after this when Paul
a. working In a field a messenger
ON Count Korloff came to him and
lid that the count had decided to &C
.pt 5000 rubles for Tatiana. Paul
,plied that he did not know If the
oney would now be Forthcoming, but
9 would make inquiries. He did 30
nd succeeded in collecting the neces-
Try amount But just as he was !