National Republican., 1885-05-23
KASIA.


IfdfStUeu from INC ueTHtuH
Kasia was tho prettiest girl in the
Tarnower district. Her father had been
o wealthy farmer, far out behind the
Castle Gumnisk. But usury and strong
drink had brought him very low. His
homo was now chiefly In the street gut
ters, where his worst enemy, rye whisky,
had thrown him. So 1t fell to Kasia to
mako life possible for herself and old
iWladzo. She cultivated her little corn
field, fed her pair of geese with fax-seed,
and carried the milk of her two COWS,
Luba and Liba, to tho Tarnow market, or,
more frequently, to the Castle, where
they bought all the little stock that she
succeeded in getting together for sale by
economical management OF her little
place.
Staszo, a neighboring farmer, astounded
the whole community ono day by asking
of old drunken Wladzo the hand Of Kasia
In marriage. To think of it! Stazso, tho
wealthiest cottager in the vicinity, the
handsome, young, stalwart fellow, with
whom even the daughter of the commits
sary (who also owned tho distillery) was
in love! Staszo, who owned two beauti-
full blooded horses, and rich meadows and
an orchard and whole forest! Staszo,
who did not owe single kreutzer, and
whose mustachios were handsomer than
those of the colonel of the hussars in the
town
Kasia was certainly greatly to be en-
wed, but she took it all as a matter Of
course. She was not the least elated
over the fact that tho handsomest and
richest fellow wanted her for a wife, and
was foolishly in love with her. She
lctually said to him in reply to his offer :
you are brave follow, Staszo, and a
handsome fellow, too; and 1t is certainly
gerry kind and magnanimous Of you to bo
willing to marry poor girl like me, but
cannot consent just yet. Give me time,
beg of you. 1t is such a serious matter
to accept oil that you offer mo-a home
in your beautiful cottage, all your fine
property, your hearts love, and your
self, and your brave, good, dear self-and
not be able to give you anything in re-
turn but an old worthless father"
"And yourself, Kasia! Isthat nothing2
love you SO, and you are my oil W
Kasia turned very red, and dropped her
head, looking down at her feet as she
stood in the dust. Her lips trembled as
with repressed weeping and she said in
n hoarse voice: "Wait little, Staszo,
will your"
1t was the beginning of the year 40,
and trying time for this Polish settle-
mont. The mobiles had grown more ty-
rannical and arrogant and merciless to-
ward the peasants, for they (the peasants)
showed on every opportunity, anywhere
and everywhere, whenever the subject
was mentioned, that they, in opposition
10 the Polish nobility, were determined to
uphold the laws of the government in spite
OF the arrogant mobiles. "The peasant
is not q Pole" said the mobiles. He
knows no fatherland he is no patriot
Whoever will help him, or whoever
him he belongs, whether German or
Russian. Whenever we are forced to
take up arms in defense Of our ancient
independence or nationality the peasant
is tho first to make common cause with
abe government against us, his legitimate
rulers. The peasant is the slave of the
usurper; he 10 our enemy. Therefore, we
must put him down, And they did put
him down, and kept him down. But the
peasants, who under the more liberal rule
of strangers had begun TO take breath
again, rebelled against the opposition of
the "native petty lords" They muttered
and plotted together; they sharpened
their scythes and axes secretly in their
huts. when tho landlord was riding over
the folds on his fine racing horse, whip
In hand, to oversee the work, More and
moro Lhreatening grew the manner Of the
peasants and more and more arrogant
and disdainful tho bearing of the mobiles.
Never had they sold 80 much whisky at
the distillery AT at this time, And yet it
was remarkable and noticeable fact that
there wore not' yearly so many drunken
Ren on the strelNs as formerly. A thirst