The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1886-07-08

young girl approached Serbian to pick up
the coins which had fallen at his feet it
seemed to him that she had suddenly
pulled out his heart and hidden it away
under her magnificent chemise. And
when she had again put the collar on the
bear and left the square with her animal,
he felt as if he also were attached to- a
magical chain.an obliged to follow her
in spite of himself At the entrance Of
the forest, in the spot where stood the lit
tie cross beside which she halted in order
to take rest and to share piece of bread
with her savage friend, she perceived that
Serbian was following her.
What do you want ?" she asked.
Nothing. | - belong to the
place."
You are musician ~
No, my mother has house and gar
den in the neighborhood."
"Then what do you wairte"
| want to follow you"
To follow me ARE you crazy ?" A
chaste laugh played softly about the lips
of the handsome girl"
And why can't ?"-askcd Serbian,
quite discouraged.
Because forbid you to-!
The road is free for everybody"
" | shall take good care to compel you
to go back home"
You can't drive away your shadow.
| am your second shadow. | pray you
do not be so cruel | can't help following
you" She looked at him with her great
sybilinc eyes and did not answer.
While she was eating he also sat down
on the grass few steps away from her
When she had finished her meagre
meal he rose up. She took the imperial
road, and Serbian, after watching the
young girl for an instant, followed her at
the distance of about hundred yards.
lie followed her from farm to farm,
from village to village, from one town to
another Wherever she halted, or wher-
eve: she made her bear dance, he stopped
too, and never ceased admiring her. lie
rested in the same place where she passed
the night-whether under a peasants
matched roof or under the starry skv
he quenched his thirst at the same toun-
tain as she; he assuaged his hunger wher
ever she and her bear took their meals
to-day, perhaps, in a gloomy Jewish tav-
ern, tomorrow, among the stones of some
old ruined castle, or perhaps, in ditch,
under a wild sorb.
lie never approached her except when
he felt her to be in danger r-when a
drunken man attempted to take liberties
with her-when she happened to be in
some very lonesome place-or when,
through the night, he perceived the shin
ing eyes Of wolf.
Once, during violent storm, when she
had sought shelter under the willows bor-
dering stream, Serbian had placed HIM
self near her, under nut-trcc, and she had
spoken to him for the secnd time:
"What is your name 2"
C, 'l'hn anu T'epkUw,e SCI, II nv ron
lily name! And you 2"
"My name is Cadna"
" You are not of our country 2"
"No -
"Then where are you from -
From the mountains over there-ncar
the Hungarian frontier"
" lie asked her nothing more then he
began to look at her. He could not sa-
tiate himself with admiring the adorable
creature, whose chaste face was illumina-
ted by two great dark eyes that flashed
beneath. her magnificent hair
But what do you want to follow me
this way for?" she continued, after short
silence If it is simply joke, | think
it has been carried on long enough? 2"
con the contrary, it is very serious"
{" beg of you, go back home :" she
said to him in her gcntlest voice.
Serbian shook his head.
"You won't -
"I won't"
"And if order you %
And as she said these words she rose
and walked majesticaly toward him.
"Arnl if order you, will you obey
me -
"No."
"Scrban, do not provoke my anger
| have been we'll enough to tame my bear,
a d can just as easily conquer that OBJ
stinacy of yours"
81 pray you, Cadina, do not send me
away!'
The poor fellow had half risen up so
that he found himself on his knees before
her, looking up in her face with suppliant
eyes.
She approached him, and stood silent
for few moments. Suddenly her hand
some face resumed it's merriment again.
"Stay then," she said, "but in that case
you will have to perform tricks, like
Ivanok, my bear"
"What do you mean by that?"
{" Pm going to show you, right now:
She took off the chain around the bears
neck and fastened it upon Serbian.
"Comc now"' she cried, with burst
of laughter; pay attention for if yon
don't work hard you will get nothing to
eat; and if you show yourself disobedient
| will punish you. Up pnow"
Serbian got up.
"Dance, my dear, dance!
She commenced to beat her tambourine,
and the young man began to dance;
both of them bursting with laughter-just
like two children.
In the meantime the bear had ap-
preached them and stared at them in as
tonishment-Cadina, in her childish glee,
still kept cracking her whip. "Come,
Ivanok, come on my friend, if you want
to. Hop! hop!" The animal rose on
his hind legs, and made as if he was about
to embrace his young mistress. But Ser
ban misunderstanding this demonstration
of friendship and fearing that Cadina was
in danger, placed himself before her for
the purpose of protecting her.
Ivanok picked up his ears, and gave
vent to a deep growl then, taking Ser