, 1888-01-26
THE BURNING MOUNTAIN.

Yes, Pnouna was proud, very proud. It
WINS not in vain that she possessed such
large eyes, finely arched black eyebrows
md n small, aquiline nose. Her mouth,
too, though somewhat large, was rosy and
well shaped, and then she spoke or
laughed her teeth showed like two white
rows of shining pearls. Her jet black
trcsscs were bound around her head like
q c%oronet, which made the country folks
mockingly call her "Prim de Imparat"
(the young empress). Her tall figure and
well poised head gave her SO majestic a
bearing that she well merited the sobri-
quet in question. She was not, however,
too proud to turn round when Tannas
passed by, nor to listen to his compliments
when they danced the "Hora' together
on Sunday evenings on the village green;
but when any auusion was made to this
love affair, Paouna grew very red and
gave sharp answers to what she consid-
cred impertinent remarks.
Many other young peasants in the neigh
boring villages, as well as in their own,
became envious OF Tannas, more especially
when they learned that he and Paouna
were really betrothed. But, alas! Boon a
cruel war broke out and Tannas had to
march with the army to the banks of the
Danube. Poor PaOuna pent up her tears
in the presence OF strangers, and no one
dared to ask her even II she shed them In
secret. 1t seemed very long before news
of the army reached her; but when she
heard the villagers talking of a battle
which had taken place, she had to lean
= for support against the stone cross Mt the
entrance of the village, so sick and giddy
did she become. From that time forth
night brought her no repose, and she was
compelled to burn her little lamp, so MS
| not In goo the nhnntOm which ConCtontly
pursued her-Tannas, covered with
wounds, dying or dead.
One gloomy night she was seated on
the edge of her bed, her hands crossed on
her lap, her eyes wide open looking out
into the void, and needing not footsteps
which came stealthily along outside the
house, when some one tapped lightly at
her window. She sprang to her feet, and,
sitting n scream, turned round and tried
to penetrate the o~bscurity. 1t seemed to
her that Tannas was there, and at the
same momen she heard her name softly
called. "Paouna, Paouna, dear, come out
to me. Fear nothing; it is ], Tannas,
only Tannas." Paouna had already her
hand on the lock of the door, and in an
instant she was outside. Immediately
two strong arms clasped her round the
waist, but she quickly disengaged herself,
saying: "Is it really you Tannas, or is
boAA1 bAAN lthg Ah5 az SAAShA ~ ID III
trick, Paouna darling" said he. "See,
touch your own ring, and here round my
throat Is the little SILVER image you gave
me. l could contain myself no longer, so
/ came to see il you were still faithful to
me" ''NNho, then, has sent you away
from the armyF' she asked. "Why, no
one, of course" mo onei md yet
you are herel Tho war, then, is ended3'
"Oh, no, they are still fighting, but 1 stole
| garrnf1p nyvnv FIR 1nya Of n Doorpa ~
For love of me" she cried, bursting into
n hooking laugh; did you think, then,
that l should be proud to ave n deserter
for my lover? Go away instantly, l i'm
plose you" as this you love, Paounal
You sem me way to my death; you
crush my dearest hopes" go where
you will, but leave me, and mark well
what l say: Never will 1 become your
wife, never will l take for my husband a
man whom I despise." "You love an
other, then?'' said he. mo, Tannas, l
still love you, and only you; for you only
hay l watched through all these long and
weary nights, but never did the idea sug-
gest itself to me that 1 loved n coward"
Then Paouna hid her face in her hands
and began to weep bitterly. "And 1 who
thought you would receive me so joyfully,
And put me in such safe hiding" said he
in n disappointed tone. "Oh, shame,
1 " lllCy NV SllGNlt LIltI L SLOulll
be your betrothedl But hear now what 1
say, the Bucegi itself shall burn before /
consent to be your wife" Here the young
couple exchanged such angry glanccs that
their eyes cleaned in the obscurity of the
night.
Suddenly the sky became illumined by
n roseato reflection, and when they looked
up it seemed rs IL the summit of the great
mountain, tho Bucegi, were in flames.
VI -s-l L.
tense, and n red fire seemed to shoot up
ward from amid a mass of stars. The
ncighbors ran to their windows INT doors,
crying out that the forest was on fire, that
the mountain was burning. Dogs barked,
cocks crowed. Paouna seized the young
man by the shoulder, and giving him a
vigorous push, cried in q low voice, go
away from here, go and hide your head,
or l shall die of shame" Then hastily
she closed the door and extinguished her
lamp. In an ngony of fear her eyes fol-
lowed Tannas creeping along under the
shade of the cottages. Little heed gave
she when the ~peighbors called to her to
come out and see the miracle Of the burn
ing mountain.
From that night Paouna grew pale and
thin, and was no longer seen to smile; she
who used to be SO fond of jokes and smart
speeches gave now but hasty and curt re-
pies. All day Sne worked silent ana
pensive, pausing only occasionally to seat
herself Mt the edge Of the fountain and
battle her burning forehead. Sometimes
she gazed on her own reflection in the
water or cast n terrified look up to the
heights of the Bucegi mountains. Grad
ually the rumor spread that Tannas had
been seen in the village. There were
those who pretended to AVE recognized
him by the light of the burning mountain,
and had even heard his voice in CONVERSE
ton with Paouna. When they questioned
her rs to the truth of this large drops of
perspiration stood OIL her forehead, her
lips grew white and she trembled when
she answered: WAS not all dark and
silent with us when the Bucegi was in
flames'r The mother of Paouna shook
her head, bit her lips and pretended that
In the age of wickedness most extraor-
binary things would come to pass.
1T length there arrived news from the
Danube's banks, news Of n fierce strife,
OF a blooay battle having been fought.
This tim Paouna was among the last to
learn what had occurred, but when it did
rearch her ears she ran quickly home.
made up q little bundle of linen with q