The Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1834-184?, 1846-03-19
A PASSAGE IN RUSSIAN HISTORY
BY MRS. L. F ELLETT.


In cottage in one of The small Russian
hamlels, not far distant from the great capital
OF The empire, there sat an old woman in
thoughtful attitude, looking out from The
window upon the snowy waste sprinkled with
houses, out of which spiral curls of smoke
rose in The evening air. The starlight was
clear and bright without, and within the even
ing meal was spread invilingly; but neither
the old woman nor her young daughter. who
was kneeliug at herfeet and resting her arm
upon her mothers lap, paid heed 10 the one
or the other. Ever and anon would the daugh-
ter lift up her beautiful face and look earn
estly, sometimes imploringly, at her parent
AT last she ventured to put her arm softly a.
bout her neck, aud TO say the sweetest and
most carressing tone in the world:
''Thou art thinking, dear mother, know
that Jaromr will behear to-night."
The old woman smoothed the wayy,
golden locks of the young gil, and answer
| ed -
"Nay, my daughter;I was indeed think
ing of Jaremir, but not that he should come
to-night, for | hope he will come hither no
nore.ll"
"And why, molher?' cried the maiden,
starting up, while her bright cheek grew
pale.
"Becanse l have forbidden him.. Ivano-
wa
The young girl looked in her mothers
| face moment with an expression OF sur
prise amounting TO terror, and then turn-
ed away, and covered her face with her
hands,.
Thou art not weeping, my child? Nay.
listen to me. Dost thou not remember the
prophecy of The old gypsy of the cave? | have
oft reminded thee of i'll
"'rhat should be the greatest and high
est lady of the land?"
Even so. Thou vast then l2 years old
now thou art fifteen, and beautiful, ms Ivan
owa.'
Sand Jaromir loveth me-"
''Last night in my dream saw again the
Gypsy. She held a crown in her hand, anc
said to me, 'It is for Isanowa.'n
''Bul dost thou remember, mother, the day
after the gipsy's prophecy, how the crue
eagle stopped upon my pet lamb and carried
hun off? What left the eagle in return
for nv beautiful lamb?n -
"There is something great in store for thee
my child" said the old woman; "let us no
i thwart destiny"
The young girl only mumured in reply
''Jaromii loveth me, and-llove Jaromir.
And as if the arlless confession had sum
moned the object OF her thoughts, the la C
s was that instant uplifled and Jaromir enter
ed. He was the handsomest, Tie braves
and the lightesl-hearted young huntsman at
lendant upon the grand prince. So far wa
his station above that of the widow Maria an
her fair daughter that none of the damsels il
the hamlet who enved her surprising beau
:, ly would believe that the Princes huntsma
meant TO wed the portionless girl; and man
A.. meaning smile and scornful taunt wer
flung after the lovers when they passe
10 and from the church, or when tn
hight in the widows dwelling denoted ih
presence of visitor. Bu the ambition
dreams of the mother, and the simple, loyin
earnesiness of the child, Kept from the
knowledge the enyiouS sneers OF 7the vi
layers.
The widow was visionary and ambition
but she loved her fair daughter beyond a
things on earth, and when Jaromir and lval
owa knelt at her feet to own their love, an
impIOre her blessing on their union, and 81
saw that heaven had formed them in the
youthful beauty for each other her opposite
gave way; she forgot the gipsy's predictic
IS and stretching out her hands in blessing
ID wepi lears of tenderness on the sweet ma
IS, ems head.
Is, The sun was shining brightly on NOR
r in in early summer. A procession of ii
u fairesl damseIs of the hamlet, attended
youag men-al in holiday attire, was sn i
= way TO the church, where the solemn betrot
al of Jaromir and Iyanowa was 10 take plac
The bride was dressed in white, the veil ia
F tened her hair wilma wreath of snowy TO-
he ers and floating like cloud over her dellca
X and graceful figure. She leaned on the ar
m ofJaromir and walked with her eyes fixed
M, M, The ground; but the soft smile OF happlne
III was on her face and whene yer she looked !
TO him who was to be her betrothed, b
, deep blue eyes were filled will. the hg
OF love.
Two young girls at her side bore garlan