The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1888-10-19
The Enchanted Violin.

The Enchanted Violin.
Vlasin Doroschenkn had this pecul;
iarity, that he went always with his
gaze bent upon the earth, though he
had really no other motive for lower.
ing his eyes than becanse it was hid
custom to do so He was poor, it is
true, but poverty is not an infamous
thing, as every one knows. Perhaps
twas because the young girls did
not love him as much as possible, for
when have you ever seen madcaps act
otherwise than thoughtlessly?
vlasin poroschenka was a hand.
some boy, yes, even the handsomest
lboy in Sotwinka, his features ener.
getic and grave, his complexion Of
brown amber, his hair tlilk and
black cutshort Upon the brow, form
ing a whole to which two eyes,. pro.
found and dreamy, gave something
that was singularly gentle and
tsymputhetn: Tie young girls, those
pretty mockers, seeing him always re.
main silent and pensive instead ot
singing and dancing like the others
the young girls, ! say, having formed
their own opinion ofVlasin, did not
willingly follow the same road as he.
Nevertheless, ifhe showed himself
so little communicative and lowered
his gaze with such persistency, it was
to lend n more attentive ear. not to
that which was being said to him,
but to that which was passing within
him, and the melody which he heard
there, veilcd and mysterious, was an
enigma to which he as yet was un.
able to find the key.
He didnot comprehend it any moro
than he comprchended the conduct OF
Dodena, the daughter of the ricll
Betzkor, who seemed to detcst him il
anything morcthan her companions.
and lifted her lip witha u little dis,l;,ill.
full movement whenever she encount.
cred the poor hoy.
Was it to study and penetrate this
charming sphinx that Vlnsin con-
cealed himself 80 frequently behind a
tree stump to see her pass, behind a
column to see her pray, and never
took his eyes from her whenever she
was in seeing distancc?
One evening Doroscllcnka was trav.
ersing the village; the moon was un
and stripping with shadows the road
that she whitcnc.l with her rays,
tipping with silver tllecorull,s of the
sleeping flowers and the margins OF
the we'll. All ut once he perceived a
human figure, tall, gnunt. and which
seemed to le striving to hide itself in
the prickly hedge. At the same time
he heard ~ trembling voice that
stanlmere'l out prayers and supplica.
tions. Vlasin, approached and rccog:
nized the old Abisch, a man much
respected and loved in the country.
side because of his double talent oi
violinist and dclliromancer. They said
even, that llc was something of IL sor.
ccler, but a sorcerer only in the ami.
able ncceptancc Of the word, ,.-.-.
".Wlat is the matter with YOU
Abisch?" the young man demanded
"What is the matter? What is the
matter with met" cried the unhappy
artist in IL despairing voice; "do YOU
not see for oryourselfthat ferocious dog
with my cap in his teeth, and, who
wishes to tear me to pieccs?" And
looking closely Vlasin did indeed
discover a tiny little pug-dog which
had stopped before Abisch and played
with his property rs gayly as any
other young and inexperienced nni-
NAL would have done. He chased
him away, however, simply to rcas-
sure the old man, who decided then.
but not till then, to quit his refuge
all white with blossoms and sweet
with perfumes.
81 owe you my life, vlasin!" cried
the good man with. effusion; 81 shall
never forget it, ! swear it!' and he
walked away rapidly.
Some time after tliis he came upon
Doroschenka alone upon the stcppc,
seated upon n hillock dreaming.
"What is the matter with you,
Vlasin?" demanded the violinist in
turn.
"What is the matter with me" re-
peated Dorosclenka, "God knows it,
doubtless, but lam ignorant OF it..
All the same, little important as
it is, ] should like to know why every
one dfslikcs me, and why the young
girls turn away from me ns if had
the evil eyc?"
SIS it so?" replied Abiscll, "ch bien!
then am going to give you IL conf
dant for your troubles, IL friend to
whom You can open your heart and
who will respond like an angel when
you nsk him questions"
"Tllis, DorOschenka, tllis!' and
opening his talas the good Abisch
drew from it's folds u violin far from
appearing new, and Mt the same
time pressed into his hands the bow.
"Ah, thank you," said Vlasin, dis
appointed, 81 am unable to make it
serve mel"
.. "Pardon me, it is unnecessary that
you should know how to play It'll"
Unnecessary! then is the violin en-
chanted| said the young man, still
undecided. The old musician
shrugged his shoulders, smiled and,
turning away, disappeared under
cover of the herbage of the steppe,
like a bird that rcgnins in haste the
shelter of it's lcafy covert.
Doroscllcnka remained alone with
his pain and his violin, in the plain
immense and solitary, contemplating
with the strangest und most incxpli-
cable sentiments the mysterious pres
ent of his old friend. At last lie took
courage and lifted it to his shoulder.
s'Why should l not?" he said to
himself; nobody can hear memo
body but Gotl-and perhaps it is not