San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-12-21
THE ENCHANTED VIOLIN.

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tive for lowering his eyes than because it
was his custom to do so. He was poor, it is
true, but poverty Is not an infamous thing,
as every one knows Perhaps it was because
the young girls did not love him as much as
possible, for when have you ever seen mad
caps act otherwise than thoughtlesslyl
Vlasin Doroschenka was a handsome boy,
yes, even the handsomest boy In Sotwinka,
his features energetic and grave, his COM
plexion of brown amber, his hair thick and
black, cut short upon the brow, forming
whole to which two eyes, profound and
dreamy, gave something that was singu-
larly gentle and sympathetic. The young
girls, those pretty Knockers, seeing him
always remain silent and pensive instead Of
singing and dancing like the others, the
young girls, say, having formed their own
opinion of Vlasin, did not willingly follow
the same road as he.
Nevertheless, if he showed himself so little
communicative and lowered his gaze with
such persstency, it was to lend more at
tentive 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, yelled and mysterious, was an enigma
to which he as yet was unable to find the
key.
He did not comprehend it any more than
he comprehended the conduct of Dodena,
the daughter of the rich Betzkor, who seemed
to detest him if anything more than her COM
panions, and lifted her lip with a little dis
dainful movement whenever she encountered
the poor boy.
Was it to study and penetrate this charm
ing sphinx that Vlasin concealed himself so
frequently behind a tree stump to see her
pass, behind column to see her pray, and
never took his eyes from her whenever she
was in seeing distancel
One evening Doroschenka was traversing
the village; the moon was up and stripping
with shadows the road that she whitened
with her rays, tipping with silver the coral
las Of the sleeping flowers and the margin
of the we'll All at once he perceived &
human figure, tall, gaunt, and which seemed
to be striving to hide itself in the prickly
hedge. At the same time he heard trembling
voice that stammered out prayers and sup
plications Vlasin approached ana recog-
nized the old Abisch, a man much respected
and loved in the country side because of his
double talent Of violinist and chiromancer
They said, even that he was something of a
sorcerer, but sorcerer only in the amiable
acceptance OF the word.
"What is the matter with you, Abischn
the young man demanded
"What is the matterl What is the matter
with met" cried the unhappy artist in de-
spairing voice; "do you not see for yourself
that ferocious dog with my cap in his teeth,
and who wishes to tear me 10 piecesF' And
looking closely Vlasin did indeed discover a
tiny little pug dog which had stopped before
Abisch and played with his property as gayly
as any other young and inexperienced animal
would have done. He chased him away,
however, simply to reassure 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, Vlasinl" cried the good
man with effusion; 81 shall never forget it,
l swear it'll" and he walked away rapidly.
Some time after this he came upon Doro-
schenka alone upon the steppe, seated upon a
hillock, dreaming.
"What is the matter with you, VlasinT' de-
manded the violinist in turn.
"What is the matter with met" repeated
Doroschenkn. "God knows it doubtless, but
lam ignorant of it. All the same, little
important as it is, l should like to know why
every ono dislikes me, and why the young
girls turn away from me as If l had the evil
eye"
sis it sof' replied Abisch, ''eh bienl then
am going to give you a confidant for your
troubles, a friend to whom you can open your
heart, and who will respond like an angel
when you ask him questions"
"And it Isl
This, Doroschenka, this" and opening his
talas the good Abisch drew from its folds
violin far from appearing new, and at the
same time pressed into his hands the bow.
"Ah, thank you" said Vlasin, disappointed;
81 am unable to make it serve me.n
Pardon me; it is unnecessary that you
should know how to play it."
Unnecessary! Then is the violin en-
chantedp said the young man, still unde-
cided. The old musician shrugged his shout
ders, smiled and, turning away, disappeared
under cover Of the heritage of the steppe, like
a bird that regains in haste the shelter of its
leafy covert
Doroschenka remained alone with his pain
and his violin in the plain, immense and soil
tary, contemplating with the strangest and
most inexplicable sentiments the mysterious
present of his old friend. At last he took
courage and lifted it to his shoulder
"Why should / mott" he said to himself
Nobody can hear me-nobody but God
and perhaps it is not a crime to render upon
49,, good that he has created harSLoa .Oyls