Evening star., 1927-10-21
WORLD FAMOUS STORIES
THE NIGHT FILTRATION
BY ANTON CHEKHOv

odAnton Paviovich Chekhoy. 1880
Russian 3reps rH of sort store. OF He
nas been hailed as the greatest figure in
wrote. besides some so short stores.
several CraI plays. among them the famous
The little town, consisting of two
or three crooked streets, was sound
asleep. II was close upon daybreak.
The only person not asleep was the
young wife of qualified druggist
who kept a chemists shop. She had
gone to bed and got up again three
times. but could not sleep-she did
not know why. She sat at the open
window in her nightgown. looking
out at the street. She felt bored de-
pregsed, vexed: she even felt inclined
to cry. and again she did not know
why.
A little behind her the druggist.
her husband, lay curled Up against
the wall, snoring contentedly. He
was smiling. for he was dreaming
that all the town had colds. and was
buying cough medicine from him. He
could not have been wakened now
by pinpricks or by bombardment or
by caresses.
Suddenly in the stiffness of the
night there came a sound of foot
steps and the jingle of spurs. She
could hear voices-probably some Of
ficers going home. Sure enough, two
figures in officers uniforms came into
view, one big and tall. the other short
er and thinner. They stepped before
the shop.
''Ah, the druggist-with sour face
and the jawbone of an ass" said the
thin one.
Yes" returned the other. "He is
asleep. His wife is asleep, too. She
is pretty. Obtyosoy.''
yes, / saw her. / liked her very
much. How do you suppose she can
love that jawbone of an ass?"
Probably she doesn't love him."
was the reply. ''She is now asleep
behind that Misunderstanding in the
heat, perhaps-I bet that fool drug:
gist doesn't know how lucky he ISL
ST say, doctor" said Obtyosov,
''let's go in and buy something. May
be We'll see her. They must serve
us. even in the night"
They went in. The druggists wife.
behind the curtain, heard a muff1ed
ring. She threw on her dress, slid
down to the shop Her heart was
humping hard. The big doctor and
the slender Obtyosov walked in. The
doctor was fat and dark: the smaller
man was clean-shaven, feminine-look-
ing. handsome.
What is it?" she asked.
I'VE want-er-er-some pepper
mint candies"
Slowly the druggists wife took
down a jar from the shelf and began
weighing out the candies. Her Gus.
toners stared fixedly at her back.
The doctor remarked it was strange
10 have a woman wait on them. She
said il was nothing strange-she al
ways helped her husband. AS they
were leaving they fingered. The
doctor suddenly wanted some soda.
Haven't you anything-well. some
thing revivifying," muttered Obtyosov.
''as seltZer-water. for instance?'
Yes" answered the druggist s
wife She hurriedlv sealed up the
soda and vanished into the darkness
for the seltzer
"A peach said the doctor, with a
wink You wouldn't find one like
that in long time. eh? Hear that
snoring. though, That's his worship.
the druggist. enjoying sweet repose. y
"Sssh. quietly" urged Obtyosov
when she dropped the corkscrew. on
her return. opening the bottles.
You'll wake your husba nd"
We'll. what if do wake him." she
asked.
He Is sleeping 81 soundly. perhaps
drea ming Of you. To your health
Besides" doomed the big doctor
drinking his seltzer, husbands are
such dull business that 1t would be
very nice of them 10 be always asleep
How good a drop Of red wine would
be in this water
What an idea" laughed th'
druggists wife.
That would he splendid. What q
pity they don't sell liquors in drug
cist's shop: Though you ought TO sci
wine as medicine. Have you any
thing in the line of red wine?'
YES"
"Well. then. give US some. Brin;
1t here"
SHOW much do YOU want?"
"Oh, enough Gives us an ounc
each in the water. and then we'll see
Obtyosov. what do you say? F'irs
with the water, and afterward by 1t
self"
The doctor and Obtyosov sat dowi
10 the counter, took off their caps
and began drinking the red wine
'"The wine, one must admit. is ter
rible Though in the presence of
er--it tastes like nectar. You ar
cncha nting. madam. In imagination
] kiss your hand"
u would give great deal not L