Year: 1877

slhi u idufs OFeeeeu Win the UTMOST
elegance, was walking on the Moscow
promenade, leaning on her husbands
arm, and letting the long train of her
rich aress sweep the dust and dirt OF
the street.


A young officer coming hastily
from side street, was so careless as to
catch one of his spurs on the lady's
train, in an instant a great piece was
torn out of the costly but frail mateFi-
al of the dress.


L beg thousand pardons, madam.
said the officer, with a polite bow.
and then was about passing on. when
he was detained By the lady's hus-
band.


You have insulted my WIFE


Nothing was further from my In
tention, sir. Your wife's long dress Is
to blame for the accident, which 1
sincerely regret, and beg you once
more to receive my apologies for any
carelessness on my part Thereupon
hC aNSCAA W heSobCh Obs
90 You shall not escape So, said the
lady, with her head thrown back IN a
spirited way. To-day is the first
time I have worn this dress, and it
cost me two hundred rubles, which
you must make good


MY dear madam. L beg you not to
detain me. am obliged to go on du-
ty at once. AS for two hundred ru-
bles-I really cannot help the length
of your dress, yet beg your pardon for
not having been more cautious


You shall not stir, sir. That you
are obliged to go on duty is nothing
to me. My wife is right; the dress
must be made good


The officers face grew pale.


You force nae to break through the
rules of the service, and 1 shall re-
ceive punishment


Pay the two hundred rubles, and
you are free


The quickly-chsuglng color In the
young mans, face betrayed how in
wardly disturbed he was; but step
ping close to them both. he said, with
apparent self-command: You will
renounce your claim when tell you
that 1 am a-a-pooF young man, who
has nothing to live on but his officers
pay, and the amount Of that pay
hardly reaches the sum of two hun
dred rubles In a whole year. / can,
therefore, make no amends for the
misfortune, except by again begging
your pardon


%, anybody could say that; but
Well see If it Is true !, We'll find out If
you have nothing but your pay. 1 de-
clare myself not satisfied with your
excuses, and L demand my money
persisted the lady, in the. hard voice
of thoroughly unfeeling woman.


That is true-you are right the
husband added. dutifully supporting
her. BY good luck we have the open
court now just in session. Go with US
before the judge, and he will decide
the matter


All further protestation on the off,
GERS part that he was poor, that he
was expected on duty, etc., did not
help the matter. Out OF respect for
his uniform, and to avoid an open
scene, he had to go with them to the
~ rryha ha
.densely packed with a crowd of peo-
pie.


After waiting some time, the lady
had leave to bring her complaint.


'Whet have you to answer to this
oomplalnt?' said the judge, turning
TO the officer, who seemed embarrass- |
ed and half In dispair.


ON the whole, very little. AS the |
Iateness of the hour, and being requir-
ed on duty, compelled me to hurry, 1
did not notice the lady's train, which
was dragging on the ground. l caught
one of my spurs in it, and had the
misfortune to tear the dress. Madam
would not receive, my excuses, but
perhaps she might find herself more
disposed to forgiveness, when again
declare, 80 help me God, that 1 oom-
mitted this awk ward blunder without
any mischievous intention, and ear
nestly beg that she will pardon me-


A murmur ran through the gallery,
evidently from the people taking
sides with the defendant, and against
long trains In general and the lady in
particular.


Thejudge called to order, and ask
ed, "Are you satisfied with the de-
fendant's explanation p


Not at all satisfied. / demand two |
hundred rubles In payment for my
torn Dress


Defendant, will you pay this sum?'


Il would have paid it long before
this had been In a position to do so.
Unfortunately, 1 am poor. My pay as
an officer Is all 1 have to live on


You hear, complainant, that the
defendant is not able to pay the sum
you demand of him. Do you still wish
the complaint to stand?'


An unbroken stiffness Teigned
throughout the hall, and the young
officers breath could be heard coming
hard.


Il wish 1t to stand. The law shall
give me my rights


There ran through the rows of peo-
pie a murmur of indignation that
sounded like rushing of water.


Consider, complainant, the conse-
quences of your demand, The de-
fendant can be punished only through
being deprived of his personal liberty,
and by that you could obtain no sstis-
faction, while to the defendant it
might prove the greatest injury In his
rank and position as an officer, and