Show THE BURNING MOUNTAIN yes was proud very proud it II was not in fit vain that she possessed suck such large eyes finely arched black eyebrows and a small aquiline nose her mouth too though somewhat large was rosy and well shaped and when she spoke or laughed her teeth showed liko like two white rows of shining pearls tier her jet black tresses were bound around her lead head like a coronet which made the country folks mockingly call her prim de imparato Im the young youn empress her tall figure and well poised head gave her so majestic a bearin bearing that sh sho eAvell well merit merited ed t the be so sobriquet bri 17 in question she was not however too proud to turn round when tannas passed by nor to listen to his compliments when they danced the hora together on sunday evenings on the villi village ge green but when any allusion was made to this love affair grew very verv red and gave sharp answers to what she considered impertinent remarks remark it many other young peasants in the neighboring villages as well as in their own bacani became envious of tannas more especially when they learned that lie he and were really betrothed but alas I 1 soon a cruel war broke out ind and tannas had to march with the army to the banks of the danube poor pent up her tears la in the presence of strangers and no one dared to ask her even it if she sheil shed them in secret it seemed very long before news ot of the army reached her but when she heard the villagers talking of a battle which had taken place she had to lean for support against the stone cross at the entrance of the village so BO sick and giddy did she become from that time forth night brought her no repose and sho she was compelled to burn her little lamp so as not to see the phantom which cons constantly tautly pursued her tannas covered with wounds dying or dead one gloomy night she was seated on oil the edge of her bed her lards hards crossed on oil her lap her eyes wide avide open looking out into the void and heeding beeding not footsteps which came stealthily along outside the house when some one tapped lightly at her herwin window dour she sprang to her feet and j stifling a scream turned round and tried to penetrate the obscurity it seemed to her that tannas was there and at tho the same moment she heard her name softly called Pao una Pa ouila dear come out to me fear nothing it is 1 I tannas only tannas had already her hand band on the lock of tile the door and in an instant she was avas outside immediately two strong arms clasped her round the waist but she quickly disengaged herself baying Is it really you tannas or is some one playing me a trick it is no trick darling I 1 I 1 said he see sec touch your own ring and here round my throat Is the little silver sAver image you gave me I 1 could contain myself no longer so I 1 came to see it if you were still faithful to me who then has sent you away from the army she asked why no one of 0 course IWO xo one and yet you are here the war then is ended oh no they are still fighting but I 1 stole secretly away tor for love ot of you 11 for love of me she cried bursting into a mocking laugh did you think then that I 1 should be proud to have a deserter for or my lover to go away instantly I 1 am in floso you Is this your love you send me away to my death you crush crash my dearest hopes go where you will avill but leave me and mark well what I 1 say never will I 1 become your rife never will I 1 take for my husband a man whom I 1 despise you lovo love another then said he be vo no tannas I 1 still love you and only you for foi you only le have I 1 watched through all these ion long and weary nights but never did the idea suggest su itself to me that I 1 loved a coward then hid bid her face in her hands and began to weep bitterly and ana I 1 who thought you would receive me so joyfully J oy fully dud and put me in such safe safa hidi hiding rig baid lie in a disappointed tone oh shame shame to me she cried that I 1 should be your betroth edl edi but hear bear now what I 1 say the bucedi itself shall burn bum before I 1 consent to be lour 3 our wife here the young couple exchanged such angry glances that I 1 their eyes gleamed in the obscurity of the night suddenly the sky became illumined by a roseate reflection and when they looked up it seemed as it if the summit of the great mountain the bucedi were in flames the brightness grew more and more intense and a red fire seemed to shoot upward from amid a mass of stars the neighbors rau ran to their windows and doors crying out that the forest was ou on fire that the mountain was burning dogs barked cocks crowed seized the young man by the shoulder and giving him a vigorous push cried in a I 1 low ov voice go away from here go and hide your head or I 1 shall die of shame then hastily she closed tho the door and exit extinguished her lamp in an agony ot of tear fear her eyes followed kaunas taunas creeping along under the shade ot of tho the cottages little heed gave aim ea 3 when tho the neighbors reigh bors called to her to come out and see the miracle of the burning mountain F from rom that night grew pale and thin and was no longer seen to smile she who used to he be so fond ot of jokes and smart speeches gave now but hasty and curt re plies piles all d day ay she worked silent and pensive pausing only oc occasionally caslo nally to seat of tho the fountain oun tain and herself hersel tat 16 the edge bathe her burning forehead sometimes sho she gazed on lier own reflection in tho the terrified look up to tile the water or cast a heights of 0 tho the buce bucell 1 mountains gradually tho the rumor spread that tannas had been seen in tile hc village there were those who pre pretend tendA 1 I to havo have lecog recognized nihed him by the light of the burning mountain nud and had even heard beard his voice in conversation with when they questioned her as to the truth of this largo drops of perspiration stood on her forehead her lips gr grew C w whito white ind and sho she trembled when she an answered was n not ot all dark and silent with us ns when tho the bucemi was in flames the mother of shook her head bit her lips ind and pretended d that in the ago age of wickedness most extraordinary things thing would come to li pass lius us at length there arrived news from the danules Dan b anks alks news of a fierce strife of a blood battle having been fought this time lime was among tho the last to learn what had occurred but when it did learch her ear cars slie she ran quickly home mado made up 1 little aurile bur 11 of 0 linen arit with h a piece of main mamaliga aliga indian corn paste and some slices of baked pumpkin and a wooden flask of water and saying to her mother have no fear for me you will seo see me home again very soon set oft off to walk her long and weary journey night came over the battle field the dead and tho the dying lay here and there indiscriminately mixed while horses struggled in their fierce agony and tried to get upon their feet unconscious that they were the remnant ot of the army was encamped aron around n d large fires and had no ears for the groans of 0 their quondam comrades now lying prostrate on the cold earth one woman alono alone traversed the ranks searching and inquiring for in every tent ar armed med only with her courage she went alike to friend and foe giving water to some and examining carefully the faces of 0 those who needed drink no longer at length the moon shone full on this scene of 0 horror ind and the young gill more easily continued her task turning now on this side now on that kneeling hero and there seeking seeking some one wearing g a little metal image tied around his stained and swollen throat some one with a ring which she could readily recognize encircling his stiffened finger the camp was now plunged in sleep lint still guided by the moons rays pursued her weary course amidst the dying and the dead sometimes she gently baided bailed called tannas tannas and occasionally a feeble sigh answered her appeal then she would hopefully approach but after searching from whence the sigh came and giving water to drink and carefully ex examining alining in vain she shook her lead head and went wearily and lorrow fully on her way at last the moon disappeared and the cold gray dawn replaced its friendly beams when perceived something shining in the distance she ran hastily along and found t herself benido a seeming cerase corpse partly stripped of clothing but with his stiffened objects hand clasped firmly round somo some object suspended suspend eafrom from his throat on one of tile the fingers was the ring which she knew so well and crym crying tannas she fell faint and exhausted by y the side of 0 a blood stained and scarcely recognizable figure after a few domenis moments she came to herself again and set to work to wash the face 0 of her lost lover through her tears she could perceive that a sword cut had bad traversed the eyes and injured the nose but oh ob joyl joy I 1 sure sign ot of life the blood I 1 began again to flow speedily she moistened the parched lips and bound the poor wounded head tannas sighed heavily and hearing bearing his name he sought with his hands to find the face of his benefactor my imy I 1 said he be in a feeble voice leave me alone to die I 1 am good tor for nothing more on earth for I 1 am quite bli blind nill 1 yes yes cried you ar emy beloved you are my betrothed husband and it the good god only wills it you yon will avill soon bo be my husband in reality only remain in ain quiet now you must rest and bo be silent while I 1 watch by you many long weeks have expired since that cold gray morning dawn long weeks during which by night and day has watched by the hospital bedside of she herself taking no rest content only to be always near him near him dim liar her herol hero then came a summer day when two pilgrims were seen coming up the village road a blind man wearing ti a soldiers cloak the medal of honor on his breast and led with tender solicitude by a young girl who said as old friends came out to greet them with a proud smile on her lips do you see him this is my tannas my betrothed my hero see the sign of honor on his breast 11 and on his countenance also 11 sighed g tannas never was such a marriane marri ape celebrated in the villa village 0 el numbers of peasants came from the surround surrounding ilig hamlets bringing their offerings of nuts and white rakes cakes and delicious dulcetta dul ceata a fruit sweetmeat many pitied others sympathized zed with because she was cRarry marrying ing a blind man but she answered joyfully to each ma and all 1 I ani am proud ol of him proud to have a hero tor for my husband and I 1 have strength and will avill enough to work for us both the mountain that they had seen in flames that fearful night was named a arsa the burnt stone f for or the shepherds and sportsmen who crossed the heights declared that the rocks were completely carmen silva the queen of 0 Roun roumania iania in rome home journal |