Year: 1876

Ol INV WIS eslbOllS UeU IN hQSSld, lAlN, |
dressed with the utmost elegance, was
walking on the Moscow promenade, lean
ing on her husband 5 arm, and letting the
long train Of her rich dress sweep the
dust and dirt off the street.


A young officer, coming hastily from a
side street, was so careless As to catch one
Of his spurs in the lady's train, and in an
instant a great piece was torn out OF the
costly but trsil material Of the dress.
beg thousand pardons, madam" said
the officer, with polite bow, and was
then about passing on, when he was de-
tained by the lady's husband


" ou have insdlted my wife"


Nothing was further from my inten-
ton, sir. Your wife's long dress is to
blame for the accident which sincerely
regret, and beg you once more to re-
celvo my apologies for any carelessness
on my part" Thereupon he attempted
to hasten on.


" You shall not escape so," said the
lady, with her head thrown back in a
spirited way. ITO day is the first time
| have worn this dress, and it cost me two
hundred rubles, which you must make
good"


" My dear madam, l beg you not to
detan rae. | am obliged to go on duty
at once. AS to the two hundred rubles-
| really can't help the length OF your
dress, yet beg your pardon for not hav-
ing been more cautious"


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


The officers face grew pale.


"Yo on force me to break through the
rules of the service, and shall receive
punishment"


Pay the two hundred rabies and you
are free"


The quickly changing color in the
young mans face betrayed how inward
ly disturbed he was ; but, stepping close
to them both, he said, with apparent self
command:


You will renounce yodr claims when
l tell you that | am a-a-poor man,
who has nothing to live on but his oiIi-
GERS pay, and the amount of that pay
hardly reaches the sum OF two hundred
rubles in whole year. l can, therefore,
make no amends for the misfortune, ex-
cept by again begging your pardon"


"Oh anybody could say all that but
we'll see if it's true Wen find out il you
have nothing hut your pay. | declare
myself not satisfied with your excuses,
and | 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 mat
ter" All further protestation on the oili-
GERS part that he was poor, that he wa,
expected on duty, and 50 forth, did not
help matters. Out OF respect tor his uni
form, and to avoid an open scene, be had
to 90 with them to the courtroom, whcrt
the gallery was densely packed with a
crowd Of people.


Aftor waiting some time, the lady
HAD leave to bring her complaint.


What have you to answer to thi.
complaint ?" said the Judge turning tc
the officer, who seemed embarrassed ano
half in despair.


"On the whole, very little. As the
latencss of the hour, aud being required
on duty, compelled me to hurry, die
not notice this lady's train which was
dragging on the ground. | caught one
of my spurs in it, and had the misfortune
to tear the dress. Madam would not re
ceive my excuses, but perhaps now she
might find herself more disposed to for
giveness, when | again declare, so he'll
me God, that | committed this awkward
blunder without any mischievous intcn
ton, and earnestly beg that she vii
pardon me-"


A murmur ran through the gallery
evidently from the people taking SIDE
with the defendant, and against lonl
trains in general, and the lady in parlic
ular


The Judge called to order and asked
Are you satisfied with tho dotendan"
explanation ?'


Not at all satisfied. l demand tw
hundred rubles in payment for my tori
dress"


Defendant, will you pay this sum 2


- would have paid it long before this
had been in a position to do 50. Un
fortunately | am poor. My pay as AZ
officer is all have to live on"


You hear, complainant, that defend
ant is not able TO pay the sum you do
mand Of him. Do you still wish th'
complaint to stand ?"


An unbroken stiffness reigned through
out the hall, aud the young odicer'l
breath could be heard coming hard.


81 wish it to stand. The law sbal
give me my rights"


There ran through the rows Of people 8
murmur OF Indignation that sounded like
u rushing OF water.


" Consider, complainant, the conse
quenee OF your demand. The defendant
can be punished only through boing de-
priyed OF his personal hberalty, and by
that you could obtain no satisfaction
while to the defendant it might prove the
greatest injury in his rank and position
as an officer, and especially as he is al