Year: 1872

About the year 1911, memorable in
Russian history. there lived upon his
estate of Nemaradof, a rich landed pro.
prietor, Gabrlovitch by name, noted for
his afrablity and hospitality. His house
was always open to his friends and neigh.
bors. who used to congregate there every
evening; the older ones to enjoy game
of cards with the host ard his wife Pc
trowna, the younger ones in the hope OF
winning the favor of Marie, beautiful
girl of II, the only daughter and heiress
of Gabrilovitch.


Marie read French novels, which natur.
ally rendered her very sentimental and
romantic. Under these circumstances
love was not long in coming. The object
of her affections was Russian cadet, with
scarcely a penny in his pocket, who re-
sided in the neighborhood, and was then
home on leave of absence. As matter
of course he returned her love with
equal ardor. Maries parents had strictly
forbidden her thinking of such a union,
and they treated the lover, wherever they
met him. with Just as much friendliness as
they would have shown to an ex-collector
of taxes. The amorous pair meantime
carried on correspondence, and met
clandestinely beneath the shade of the
pine grove, or behind the old chapel. As
will readily be supposed, they here vowed
eternal fidelity to each other, complained
of the severity of fate, and devised
beautiful plans for the future. After
some time they naturally came to think
that, should their parents persist in oppo-
sing the union, it might in the end be con
summated secretly, and without their con-
sent The young gentleman was the first
to propose this, and the young lady soon
saw the expediency of it.


The approach of Winter put an end to
these stolen interviews; but their letters
increased in frequency and warmth. In
each of them vladimir Nickolovitch con
jured his beloved to leave the paterna
roof, and consent to clandestine mar
marriage. ave will disappear for short
WHILE" he wrote, "come back, and cast
ourselves at the feet of our parents, who,
touched by such constancy, will exelaim,
"come to our arms dear children = "
Marie was long irresolute; at length it
was agreed, however, that she should not
appear at supper on day appointed, but
should retire to her room under the pre-
text of indisposition. Her maid had been
let into the secret. Both were to escape
by a backdoor, in front of which they
would find sleigh ready to convey them
distance of five wersts, to the chapel OF
Jadrino. where Vladimir and the priest
would avail :. sm.


Having made her preparations, and
~ritten a long apologetical letter to her
perents, Marie retired betimes to her
room. She had been complaining all day
of a headache. and this certainly was no
mere pretext, Tor the nervous excitement
had in truth indisposed her. Her father
and mother nursed her tenderly, asking
her again and again ''How do you feel
now, Marie? Are you no betterl' This
loving soil ritude cut the girl to the heart
and with the approach Of evening her ex-
citement increased. At supper she ate
nothing, but rose betimes and bade hen
parents goodnight. The latter kissed and
blessed her, as was their wont, while
Marie could scarcely repress her sobs
Having reached her room, she threw her
self into a chair and wept aloud. Hel
maid finally succeeded in comforting and
cheering her up.


Later in the evening a snow-storn
arose. The wind howled about the house
causing the windows to rattle. The In
mates had hardly gone to rest, when the
young girl wrapping herself in he'
clothes and furs, and followed by the ser
want with aportmsnteau, left the paterna
roof. A sleigh drawn by three horses re
ceived them, and away they went at
furious speed. ;,


Vladimir had also been active through
ont the day. In the morning he ha'
called upon the minister at Jadrino to ar
range for the ceremony, and then he wen
to look up the required witnesses. Th
first acquaintance to whom he applied wa
an officer on half-pay, who expressed him
self quite ready to serve him. Such a
adventure, he said, carried him back t
the days of his own youth. He deter
mined Vladimir to remain with him, takin
on him to procure the other two witnesses
There accordingly appeared at Dime
Surveyor Schmidt, with his spurs an
mustache, and Ispravnik's SOD, a lad of l
who had but just enlisted with the Oh