IN A LITTLE TOWN.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 710, 8 January 1910, Page 6

IN A LITTLE TOWN.

; (Prom the Eusaan;of; Anton Tcheko<; '•: : ';- Translated'by" CDnstanoe'GamettO.. !.■.■;...■'.', waS;Uke'.aii^o7«£ ! :T]ie : 'aftw>' ; ' noon, sun/, blaajd;.; with ; Erich; energy; thai- y'■■;'. 'ey«ni;-tlie-'--tieimoTOttr-~'-liaJiging- , Vitt> , :tl«)'-'-\ : 'V;o excise;-officer's- TOomMost/.-its. head/it;, ■:. ran up ( to . 112.5, and! stopped -..:t%re';.ir-"i .'-; ; resolute'.'-,.The-inhabitants streamed-with./:.,, perspiration 'like ■; overdriven horses, ■ and t (•■■..:_ were" ; too';lazy''to.'ffiop;'their faoes;.','; : •;-. •'■'■ '■[ ;',.''" . > Two; ;pf; the'.'inhabitants/weM ■ along, the market .place- in front.of- the-':.: .'closely-shuttered'.'''houses.; : -; .. '.'■■■ .toch'eshjhini' : 'the ' local) -treasury;/: chirk, ■ '.-.-':...', and the..other.,was..Optimoy,, the - agent, • ■ ' fori many -years•a-correspdnde'nt: 1 'of; the,: .'-,■•■■■'. j"S.oa'.y'of • • the'' Fatherland""-newspaper.. '■ ; ;. They.walked'"in 'silence; , speechless from ■'■''■' - .the: heat."'OptMox-felt ; : tempted-to'.find'.,'. fault •with'-the• local"autKbrities/.fpr'ithe'..;l ■}■" dust -and disorder'of'jthe' , market.'place, 1 . ■■.-.'. .but,; awaro'''of;;;tlie'.■peace-loving,'disposi*: •'/;..:'■■'. ;tion-/ and' moderate "views ;of ■his'.cem-":--';' : panion,"he'.Eaid'nothing, - ,'~i --" *, - .' : •In 'the" middl«"of "the : market' place v '■' ■Joohesliihi3i.'-.-Buddenly.-':lielted'':and ,/ begwi i,i - : -'-'- gazing "into"the'.-sky, : y .'■ -'--J.- ■'•:• '■ ; ;.-; ■• '■-' ■>. '■'' ;■•■ "What" are'you: looking' at?"' ■.'''.■l-α; V-!". ■ V "Those, starlings -that Mm -up: ->-Ii waiVvi der iwherei-.they- hayei settled.- - and,clqnds-.of:.them. ..;v ; .;If one -weieo'' '•"• to- ;;go,; > and..;take,..a";sho't.■ at; t'hemj ■■••■' '•■' ;:were ; 'to, go, and,'pick them\upi.,.•.'.. , ; an£ '■"'" ■ ! then:;Arere-.^o, i go : v:;:i ; ;c;:; J They;'have ; «*.' , •tied •in - the Father ..Prebendary's l gari ' ■ den !'V\'-. ■;.-■■■.!•.:•■."• ,-■&'. ■;■';'-:,-.- f .. : :7j-:'(' -V. t, "? H, J 10 '■' •'*»:'«# in the~Fath»,r ? Prebendary/s,-'-they-'-are- in the JFathe- : : -:Dearan's.;;;;;;lfSyoir;did ; have' : a';shot"afrK ;;: * -them, :yqu_. wouldn't;.K|];/ ahything.! "lt%; bi ■? ■ fine 'shot;'"and,' won't ■cairy/sa'fari-'VAid • ■■ : ■ ; :why: r sho\Ud■ : ::y^u : ,thW,'■'aaywaj'?' :^'; /They're^birds'■■ destructive.•' to ■■■ the' 'frSfc'.'.'v ■'■■■■'■ ;ifs;.true;-'StiU'; they?re "? :? : :works> of :the'; -Lord.-: '...The; starUng anS r; ; ■.■■■•■ •■youiknoisr.c..i.i... And: : what-doesnt-''eait-:' J '-'- !PreT?.-.L;.Av.-s6ng 'ofupraise. "■•'. .fowls; -of ..:theA air.:;.praise.-; y«, thev ; : -S'' iNo'!..v;Vl:.dp-ibelie've"they haue;'settled!uxi''' ' ';F»tnißr':•^bMda^s■• , j[^ffdMii";.:v^•;.:;v,^ i^■i■v■■.■., !•| ; '. : 'i bark-shoes ;:and> carrying wallets, '• passed i T - ■ o noiselessly. ..by.,, vEoofciag*'''i' ; ' for-! some :nnkhowji'; reason stating; at-tMe'!; :'' ■Father/.Prebendary's: house, s.vh«y:-;dack.;..•/■.'■; 'enßd,-,their.i-,paoe, -;and. when ■ they--'Hebt'Stf-'i-avfeW:;.;yards,;.()2,i';Btop'pe^.Pglanc«a^et^; .them '"; again; V.and; ;; fell; .to'; gazuig = at; ■ tle ? :r W: same,. : house s.themselyes.-; , ; ■ ■ ..-v,',"-1 -i .5,:,•(,...■ i' ■:'■: v:;-'- .■; 'Tesi'-.f yousi were rigit': .theyo have's Wt-s'i -S - v ■Qpfan»v.v.\v?pße-'.'oMmes''Mß'ivripeiiiipir;»-<- ; * ; --' : ,'s'p .they.■ have}gone '.'ithaw. ,, . to s peck •itlieauftS!'« i --/ ft;Frpm i V.-tUe^vgardeft''-ii^gate .-.'emerged-"EheT-' : -i ■; Father ■ PreDendary ; . bimiaf,t l a'coompanie4'5 i i''^ 1 > jbyv- theHEexton.;:' -.Seeingithe^attengoii l^; -Z:. ■ebneentrated upon-.^rVab^e, : -Vand-t#0O"-i : •■ ;(Jering--whati'people;.; we're. Btoing' : atVflM-''i*^ : , .stopped,- -and'-:-. he,r top, ''i as":CweU tas I the;' "■ isexton,.';began ; .looHhg;'.-npwards: : ,'tdsfiid Ui '■■ '<■■ iOUt;:,: ':;<■»■ f-'yyr'C.■" &:f.^'>.-*;*fa;;y' , '3]\?UWi''''-*: j' "The-Father;is! going; to'a;Eerrioei' ; Epme-:-K-i .where.'rl-Vsuppose,"—- Baid'. / : Pociiesbihut ; |f -■;=>■ l''Thb-;^rd ! ;he,'-his■ ;succourl"i;l>i,\j'i;y- ;! ! ;^:\; -'.'* Spme, ; ;workmeh:-who; had-i bathiigvL j: ■ jin^-the' river; passed i.betweehvthe"; friend* •■■' ;and ■■theV'prieit."''":" Seeing'.-' thai- later'.; ab-ttv'": , .sorbed.'in ycontemplatton';of' the , 'heaven^'S-:?-. ■■and-; :the-'pilgrim'. , W6"mei4';.'to6i!'-' 'stfndiag.Ai-v'--a-'.'motipnlflss-."with'"-their.'eiyea'/.tuined up-('' '■:'■ Vstoodf;>tiU ,and'.; ;lie' , samV-'o!irectidiL'. , "i--^- : ;' : ;r;S->i!;j;ii-i..;-'^T: ; - .;■;'A■- small•'• boy,'.'leadin'g,'a'.blind:begiiji '■'■ '■ 0■ ; and; ;carrying'.a,>tab-lof^nk.i::;:. ; ' ■iiigifish "to j throw,' intoijthe! market .'plaoe, ! ,'"!- : ; ! ' ;4id-;the;-sanie;y;'j;^y;i:';iV-(;^fc;>,--^v;ft r i ;- i w ; : l .!':'^helβ : ;.m^'^M!\Bom;ethlos:vib•'.'ma!i&i^'.^:' i -I,.should; tiiiiiV,".vsaid Jpooheshfliini-j >&'¥■ j"-'.' : fire; or,; sbmethiiig. v.But there's noYsignV ?'■ ■r ■ .ofi sinok«; - anyw&reiv ; ; : 'Hey ?:'Si'-'-.heVshb'nted- ipeasant; , ' ' -matter V'rC :-^?- : : ■ #} .o :; The^BSMttmade^'kane,*'re^vvbo| , ;if-i-- i '' :Poaheshihin and. Optimoy; did-not:icatch:,:! I ■ jit.-'.; Sleepy-looking/ shopmen'inade'" their', ; ; •'■' ;ipp^ance , at';'the;dp6>s-6f'aU;;the. : shop£t'' : !:i'i jSome.plasfers'at-work;on :r a-warehouse/'•'-..;-' thear.vleft;vtheir.;liddera r and.joissd"the''•> ;i:. vs.The'. firemanV : 'on.''duiy^.M,-' ~:"' ;to'werv»' i looking,) steaa^!;at^them , V,for": ; ;B-'i.fe»!':- !; ; ; - 'minutes; -went -down.;v,. slie'jvratoh-towat-.' '';. ' : .' was '-/left > desertei •' :• Thisi;Beeihed;!.ena«i.i-:'-''.■-,piciOUS.' ; ;v,■;.;&'; j ;; >:V -'■'■■■•'■■ ; i! : - : ;.-be;C.a'f;;fi»,.eojnesiiiei!ei : "' show;: me!"/j'/ykv . i: '--;:; Si ;; {• -.' 'fWhere.'. 'do.; &k!' i■''. WWitV<.: i : ; ■' ■ :fire? ///Pass ,bnf ;.oiviJly.!"/j;^;^V.;\v!vK'.^ ! i'^i r % ; '-feW-■ V-'-jv;*''.' t"-j-.'..''lt mnst L be' burningjSritKin-doorsP'i/'.f ;*/-' < ; "Asks.'Us".'civiUyj'-,'and.i-;Keeps'-'p'okingV.,.';. fwithvhis! KeepV.your;,handsi to' ••>;". .yourself!:-''-Though;.you;areva•'head;';con-.-' ' ; , -stable, you v hay^'no.6oi;t of. kind : oi 'right-; ; ;'-.' ■to,- -r-r.'•'■■::V / r '- l ; : .i'lHe's-toddenirPn-mys-cbrnl.'Alll 'HI,;;/ v 'ornsh;yon'l".'s J ;i ! v,v.-!-"v)i;'.>:";.- , ; i ,-/! -■■.•j,'.■•;■:-.;.,- ; Who's■./■crishedf-/.la4st';i; -, man'srbeon'crushM!";/'^■■;■.-""-'•'■.'.. V '•.'■; -. »; ,-the ."'meaning, of ~'■ ihis* : crbwd?'-V; >' ; What-Uo;ypu : want?^--;:': : ;;:; v : ;-';. ■;;;;; v :';- ; ; -|?a-;manV;been,;,crußhed, i<pleaseV-;yoo»'-.'|'^m :. ■'nonoiir!":'i-!.'.'-''i';|''.'.■;;;'^"^.-a^ii-^-r^v^i'iO;.//-,"■'c/'':' :"'"Where ?;';Pas3'?bnl; I\*askvybu' : eivillji'. .;■.:.; I _aak;you., civilly,; ypnj blockhead,l"::'.';vV. ?.•',," ■'; ; ;. ■'/■/.Ton.v'may , '.^^Tetfaj;peasMAvs( , bnt;'SMSft':' ;; .:- daren't;, touch '.a r ottl - *. , -- ■■ .''Pidvyou'''::eyer l .'; knbw.'fcsuch': people?-'.-,' ;, : .There's'no. , doing;anything .witii'.them' by.' 'v ';■■ fair;words,', th6;devxls!'.';Sid6r6v,! ; run : 'for .':>;,■:'- : ■ AMm.;pahiHtch } r i, $»■■s<] ■' .■the;.w6rse^for;,^^ni'-:-tgei^emen!-.'-=':Alnia'v- ,, :iy--: 'Panffib&--.ie-'oo'miiig,. : 'Bßd-. : 'h'e'U'.'fhre;.-.it;tii'. ; .;j'.'-S .y0u!.,..T0n j here,'.'-Parfen?'. i< blind. man, ;*•";' ■'-'. and' at,his';ago, .'too! seei;but':\h*"; •■ -|;:-■ must ■ beVlike.>other and twon't -.do.•-.:;;.:, :what;hs'a..'t»ldy;/-Sinrabyi\Tmte;hfa"nanie' : .yi.: : '.;; •'dbwh-l'-v./-'''--'--': , .;''-.' , '' 1 .-,;- , -'^'/- , .-.'.'?- , : :^'': ij"[.'. r .:.: ''.. 'TTes,: sir !;.ind' shall-liwrita, down'.the.- ; i V; men' from That ■■•man; .there , ;ri;.7 with'.the swollen cheek,;he's-fromvPiW/e■■.;.;;;. : i '^ivV'^^^X^Vvr^v;;^; J ': •'./'TQonS'.-put down'.the;men ,frpm ; Piiroy'a. ; ; ■ V,/;. It's"Purov'e. birthday, to-morrow 1",-',,,:'; - : ;,;v.-I ' .in<;a".;Uack ;;"clond ■^■ ;: i from fthe.Father .Prebendarj^e : garden.';,'.'■:.,. -.-but-; Pocheshihin." and ;;Optimoy; / did^'nbt : ': ;,s, : ; notice) them..: .They,; stood ■ Btaring -into; the ; .;; i; ;"■;■ air;-'wbndering■ whati'cbuld'have;'attracted' : v;-. such:£vcrbwi"iaDd''what ; it'.was-looMng ;;:;'/, - at,'-, ■:'':io: : r. ''-.Ur-'i it Jistfi::?»'swrt*i % ,;,'Akimi'Paiiilitch '. appeared.'* Still munchSi« V■'•' ing'-andjwiping'ihiS;lips,.-he ; ;.''::;.. ■i.n , tdi.-thei;o^w.d I .bjellpma^! l^'r';v^'o^ ; -v. ! -''-V*;'. : j , '.!f' : '■('.' 'Tiremehi':' ■'■ be/readyj.- Disperse.!';!■-. Mr.■. ■ Optiinbvv',disperse! r.vYou'll.suffer : .;for v .itl V'-'-'V! V Instead ; of ...writing.- aU;>-kinds.iof ;-thin^liy^.-:•; about,decent people' in";the'pa'perß,;you :''■. better'-.by.: far..- try ■to; -.■.behave:■•; .yourself ':V,---■.oo'n£orm , alily'!'^.No'-:g^.dieyer.v;'ootaes:';\of-.y i .;.'' readirig : ';the.ipapersr' : /-\':; .;/■ ■ '..- ;frbm Areneobonai/upon j.t':.. iliterature,!".;cried...Optimov,"';hotly.-.:;,'.'l;;' ' i v ; .am va' literary,.;inau,vand : ,l;.will .allowjnoV.;:-.'.'/. ofae! toi make irellections 'upon, : litcrature!. ..;;.■;-. is citizen; ;-I^ ; respect ■: you :: as; a', father' ■ arid /superior!";.-.". ■■••-; r '.-''l?ireman,;turn;the ;hbse on , .them!." ';£ ■■"■ ;: '\;:- } : ;'no';; water, 1 ;-;; •honour !";;i v : : '-^ , ;;\v ■'O^'' v " ;';;/;S; V';"Pon't.answer;me!'::..Go..and.get some! .■;.:■;..- ;Lbok ; ; : sharp !".';;■■>.-'.■,:.■ ■- - "How;-can-; we;"your.V.honour?.'. .'>,The\.',i..: rmai'pyev'.tatari'^.the'^fireybrigade^hor^/te.r'-.'V'K 5 -. 'drive'Miis launtHo"the';station.">.': : .'./.'Ji : ;..";■■ '' "Disperse!;',Bapk':,the're|;-fGo : to;'tie''Vj,.',: t ; idoyil'!v^s ; ;j;bAt\t6.'yquTj;fci|isUl>:'jQt.'.hto/\:.;'-'J-;, 'down,';the'rascal!' 1 :?"' : r '\':' : p.-''i'??;\'-;y. ! :;' : £':. V"l've';lpst;iny:;ponca,:'pleaserypur;.h6nr..."\:. : 'ourl''"/:£";'y:;y',-";;;.;.l : ,s/.;/;"'';S; / -'M: •i'Thevcrpwd';'. grew I .,' larger tandvlarger.'.;' ■',; .Therc;Hs; no; knowing; what: proportions j., .;■/..; ■.it)migb.t;-haye.;reMfiep,?iif,jthe..nevr-;6rgaaf - just arriyed"!from Moscoj\' : . had: not, for-; ;'■:./,] ;t'untttely.'.'beß™' , "' : pl^ns-'»''in'. , -.'.tlie' : .'.tiivem : i.':" - .:j; xlose.'by.-''Hearihg. their;;-favourite-air,;;.-'/i the'iprowd gasped;and,rushed io'fl; to , , the.;,:.:;/ tuverh. , .So.-'nobddy.; ever,; knew;-.why;Uhe -i-..';'■ crowd had;.assembled;'; and g Pocheshihin' -■'/'/ and'.' Qptimov;'•-.had' now.; forgotten': the'. f^..; eiistenpe\of ;the;starlings>:who/wero .the/j"-." inuocerit"authbrs'of'the: , disturbance.vV^r'.;■,;;! ■v-Aii.'-li<)ur ''•later • the"r|tqvrn.. L -wae: still ; .tad , .>*''--y 'silent again.iiAndiprily'::a.;solitary.'figure'-.;'^; ;was 'to.,be 'seen, T the fireman- pacing-round;' ;.",i and'round -pnVthe; watch-tower, 'j:'; ;,':.'.;'-':. ' { ■.•The..'sanie'. : evening;;Akim ..pani]itcU''sat : '::-;,/J in ;tho,grpwr's;shop ;drinldn^i;Umonade : '-j gazeuse; and;; brandy,,-.ahd'iwriting :."-:'.*,'■'.( r."ln /addition. it 6- the '-'.official; repprt,v'l '.■•■:'. j ypnturej'; , your-; ErcbllencyV;•,'to';,'append'-. , -a , ];-. ■;-j ! few ; snpplementary : :-observations''of,xmy ,-v ,i ownli. Father.-and-. benefactor I: ;;vln. very i;VJ. truth,-butfor,,tbo l prayers; .of.':jpur...;virtu-'!? ; 'j ons spouse'in;her .elogant''villa"<riear*-thia'/.i : .:--j town,: thefo'sr.hp ■ knowing vrhat -.might-I.; 1 .-;i not /have : conie,;to,pass! .Wh'al.;l, : haye«" j :been through this day,'.' I, can. fiiid; no v ' : J words to-express !';• The Krts-':: ;•) hensky-'-and -'.off-tho . major.-' of-'.-the''fire'*;"] • brigade/ is.-beyond, all/ praise!jV.'.-'I. : ;,Mf;,-'.' \ proud (,of;, su'eh^idevoted , - servants';-'of : .'our i.;;-, j country. ■;■' ! As -for -.mo, vI; did v'alF.thit. "a .;''■,' j weak man cohld .d6i'.whose:.oniy, .desire 'ia ;;..;..,' the welfare;of his;neighbour';.and'sitting.-v,'.;;] :hero-m ; .the;bpsom--of : niy;'famay;'l;;thanlc', , . | y-' , -3 .God ; with; tears in ",my; ;eypsi iha,ti: ; H« 4 ';' :.j spared us; bloodshed! ■ Ixi-i absence;: of; eyi-r ,V:.. ] guilty;;parties/remain ; ";in I.cuS-v ;/| tody. '-But.;l'.ani;thinking' of/r^leasing'?./ i them in;o-iwepk or so.;;:lt;was;Hh'eir-i-.'.'::',: iguoranco thai, led them/astray."r?"Tbe:.:; '! Nation.";:■?;.;■;,>;;;:>:■•; r; I ';!,','-;'.!;':^ : rT:;'--^s- : /^