The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1875-08-13
Vasile Carabas.

The following romantic sketch is from
late correspondence of Olive Hooper
, We were within about three hours
journey of the village where we were tt
stop that night, when in the course Of
our conversation we happened to touch
upon the robbers that were said to in.
fest these mountains, and to make occa
sional incursions very close to Athens.
Twas not prepared exactly to join theil
acquaintance, and was somewhat sur.
prised when the old captain proposed
that I should have the pleasure of 8
formal visit from the young robbel
chef, who has lately made such noise
a little, but the old captain, treasured
safety if I would promise on my word
and honor not to reveal in Athens, or,
indeed, in any part of Greece, his place
of retreat. Captain Strimbery also said
that, after having seen the robber chief,
1 was not charmed with him, he would
give me his fez for trophy.
We halted, and two of our guides
rode into the heart of the forest and
were lost to sight. In an hour there
was a sound of horses feet, aud fifteen
Albanians rode up, and, dismounting,
gathered round. One, the youngest OF
all. came forward and saluted the cap
tain fearlessly, and then, after few
words with him, was presented to me.
He spoke English perfectly well, and
had every appearance of a good educa-
ton. He asked polite questions as to
how 1 liked Albania, etc., and spoke of
the scenery like one whose whole idea
was to see the trees and rocks and to
hear the birds sing. He spoke of va
rious English books he had read, and
withal proved so pleasant companion
that I really forgot that he was the
terror of the English tourist, the re-
doubtable Vasile Carabas, and we
chatted while the captains men pre-
pared a supper for us all. / ate with
the robber chief, and the captain and
his son, and daughter, and the rest ali
ate at a little distance. After the meal
was concluded, Vasile~ Carabas rose to
go, and making low bow to me, and
taking q fold on my linen travelling
dress and pressing it to his lips, he
begged I would not think quite so
hardly of him as others did, and he
begged me to accept, as a slight token
Ol LIS pl0dSuGG LII hdNluS bCCh AAOf q
beautiful diamond ring. 1 somehow
could not make up my mind to do so
Cor perhaps required a little urging),
and so 1 coupled my refusal with a
request for one of the silver buttons he
had on his jacket. He cut it off and
gave it to me with pleased smile, and,
with the other hand, threw the ring
away, as far as she could. I will con-
fess that I was just a little sorry /
hadn't taken it, for it is pity to waste
diamonds like tears.
We were soon on our way again, and
itIwas dark. The old captain told me
the history of the robber chief.
Some four years ago he had posi-
ton in society as the only son of a
wealthy and respectable father, and was
himself respected as a young man OF
courage and intellect. He had one sis
ter, lovely young girl of fourteen and
half years. A certain man in high po~
sition in Athens stole the maiden and
kept her hidden from her people for
two weeks. Vasile loved this sister ten
derlv, and he searched for her far and
wide, and at last succeeded in finding
her in the retreat in which this man
had confined her, and on learning the
story of her outrage and disgrace, he
became almost beside himself with rage
against the eowardly villain who had
perpetrated it, and swore vengeance
against him to death. He embraced
his sister tenderly, and said, " My sis
ter is dishonored, and my sister dis
honored must die, tLat the fruit of thaS
dread disgrace may not rest forever a
reproach to all of her kin" and with
these words he plunged his knife in her
heart. That same day saw the death of
the wretch who had caused this sorrow
and death, and as the man was of high
position the story was hushed as much
as possible. The young man threw
himself upon he mercy of the govern
ment, relating the story and what he
had done, and demanding iustice-that
he should be acquitted of crime in what
he had done. But, instead of that, the
utmost rigor of the law was enforced,
and he was placed in prison, from
whence, by the aid of two trusty friends,
he escaped, and took to the mountains,
after one years imprisonment.