Evening star., 1928-08-01
WORLD FAMOUS STORIES
OLD AGE
By ANTON CHEKH0y

,Anton cn.khcy. isso.iaOa, vas Russian h. s.a,
known stories are The kiss "A work oil
Art" etc.
IJzelkov the architect. was on his
way 70 INSPECT a church which was 10
be renodeled. The church was in his
native town. where he had grown up,
was married and later divorced. Every
thing. however. had changed, and moth
inr SO much as the people. Nothing, no
one. was as he had known them in MS
youth
snolIired of the porter. "Uzelkov, the
architect who divorced his wtfe-he
lived in Svirioev street-surely. you re-
member him"
mo I don't remember any one of
that name.
why. of course you do-you must
The divorce was an exciting case. Even
the, cabnaen talked of IL. It was in the
hands Of the lawyer. Shapkin, the swind-
ler--tiae sharper who wae thrashed at
the club for his underhand deal
fiigs-
@oh. shapkin. Yes. And his honor's
still here. alive and we'll He's notary
,ov with an once. Well ofT-two
houses-lateIy married his daughter
of"
Being bored. Uzelkov decided 70 call
on Ghapkin. No sooner thought OF than
done. But Shapkin, too, had changed.
TTzelkoy remembered him az well built
cunning young attorney. with an alert
mind and a quick tipsy-like expression
Nov he was sray-haired nodestly al
tired shrunken little old man.
@TJzeIkoy?" uueried Shapkin. Which
rne9 Oh. yes. remember. Never ex-
pectsd--never thougft--well, what viii
you have? Champagne? Ny dear man.
what lot of money did get out Of YOU
vears a9one--so much. indeed. that
ought 10 give you anything you want
nov"
Don't trouble" said USelkov. I'VE
got 20 90 10 the church. I'm TO remodei
Fine" said shapkin, Wen eat and
10 together. I'll introduce you, nx up
everything for you. have influence
here. I'm respected-I didn't use TO be,
YOU know. but times have changed Once
I was pretty sharp. shrewd, and all
that-but old age uuiets one. and I'm
humble nov. ChiIdren-family- things
change It's getting time TO die.
On their way they talked Of old times.
Remember how you divorced your
wife?" asked Shapkin. Twenty years
ego. remember 1t all well. How rot
ten was! was smart and clever. afln
ceceftfuI I vas q scoundTel then, all
right. You paid me to get your wife 20
take the blame on herself. ! had to
kyioe f1er---it vas not easy---eile wouidn 7
see me even almost mad me thrown out
OF the house We'll, finally she agreed
70 take ten thousand"
If / remember rightly" put in Uzel-
koy ~ was fifteen thousand she got
cut of me- instead Of tsn thousand.
yes, Of courEe-flfteen tFo1ss no
said Shspkin hastily anyway. that s
shouidnf / be- frank gith you7 ! gave
her ten thoussnd-you paid me fifteen
thousand and kept the extra five
thoIssr1d a. part 81 my fee, or profit.
I deceived YOU both--~f was sharp In
trose GAYS. But where vas 10 get
rnv start If not from some one like you7
You were rich. Uzkikov. ana respected
I xs& poor and despised. taxed YOU
that's ali.
You naarrlsd In a notion Of the mo-
Enent and got divorced the same way,
You paid me to get you out of 1t and
Iet the blame fall on the woman. AL
right did T. gave you your moneys
yortf4--~yoU get "hst you wanted and
got what wanted It's past and
over nog"
"How cid my wife i've after that7''
esEed uzelkcV.
ON, rather badly Ehe TOOK II hard
Pride or conscience or whatever she
asscau1s~-aell Wild and irresponsible
Perhaps she loved you. don't know
she went TO parties, drank-took II
hard"
she is dead7" queried Uzelkoy
without feeling
Dead? oh. yes Years She's buried
r. the cemetery Of the church where
Nere going III show you her grave, :
The siedse stopped 81 the gate of the
chlrel1ysTd UzslkeY and Shapkin goi
cit. vent through the gate together
end walked along the broad avenue
Y9e cherry trees were bare. They anf
fne KYsy crosses end the stone monu'
nenfs tpsrkled vith hear frost. Ths
bright sunshine ot Winter was reflected
IA zach rake ri SNOW All about on
k0ule snaell the incense and freshness
lrf earth that always goes with cerne'
teries
ri ia beautiful cemetery you have
here. said uzelkeY In fact, It's al
hest az orchard" .-----