Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1888-02-11
THE BURNING MOUNTAIN.

Yes, Paouna was proud, very proud. 1t
was not in vain that she possessed such
large eyes, finely arched black eyebrows
and small, aquiline nose Her mouth,
too, though somewhat large, was rosy and
well shaped, and when she spoke or
laughed her teeth showed like two white
rows of shining pearls. Her jet black
tresses were bound around her head like
q coronet, which made the country folks
mockingly call her tPrim de Imparat"
(the young empressl. Her tall figure and
well poised head gave her so majestic
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 anusion was made TO this
love affair, Paounn 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, alasi soon
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 10 one
dared to ask her even il she shed them in
secret It seemed very long before news
of the army reached her; but when she
heard the villagers talking of battle
which had taken place, she had to lean
for support against the stone cross at 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 IS
not to see the phantom which constantly
pursued her--Tannas, covered with
wounds, dying or dead.
One gloomy night she was seated on
the edge of her bed, her hapds 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 scream, turned round and tried
to penetrate the obscurity. 1t seemed to
her that Tannas was there, and at the
same moment she heard her name softly
called ''paouna, Paouna, dear, come out
to me. Fear nothing; it Is I, 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: SIS it really you, Tannas, or is
some one playing me tricky' at is no
trick, Paouna darling" said he. "See,
touch your own ring, and here round my
throat is the little sayer image you gave
me- l could contain myself no longer, so
came to see If you were still faithful to
me-" "Who, then, has sent You away
from the army?' she asked. "Why, no
one. of course mo one? and yet
you are here! The war, then, is ended?"
''Oh, no, they arc still fighting, but stole
secretly away for love Of you, Paouna.
''For love of me, she cried, bursting into
mocking laugh; ibid you think, then,
that should be proud to have deserter
for my lover: Go away instantly, i'm
plose you" as this your love, Paounas
You send me away to my death; you
crush my dearest hopes" $50 where
you will. but leave me, and mark well
what | say: Never will become your
wife, never will take for my husband a
man whom l despise." you love an
other, them" said he. mo, Tannas,
still love you, and only you; for You only
have watched through all these long and
weary nights, but never did the idea sug
cest itself to me that l loved q coward. "
Then Paouna hid her face in her hands
and began to weep bitterly. ''And / who
thought you would receive me so joyfully,
And put me in such safe hiding" said he
in a disappointed tone. ''Oh, shame,
shame to me-" she cried, ''that / should
be your betrothed! But hear now what
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
a roseate reflection, and when they looked
up it seemed as if the summit of the great
mountain, the Bucegi, were in flames.
The brightness grew more and more in
tense, and a red fire seemed to shoot up
ward from amid u mass OF stars. The
neighbors ran to their windows and 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 low voice, "Go
away from here, go and hide your head,
or / shall die Of shame" Then hastily
she closed the door and extinguished her
lamp. In an agony of fear her eyes fol-
lowed Tanuas creeping along under the
shade of the cottages Little heed gave
she when the reighbors called to her to
come out aud 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 he so fond of jokes and smart
- t,,,f CO nd ro.
plies. All day she worked silent and
pensive, passing only occasionally to seat
herself at the edge of the fountain and
battle her burning forehead. Sometimes
she gazed on her own reflection in the
water or cast 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 have recognized
him by the light of the burning mountain.
and had even heard his voice in converse
ton with Paouna When they questioned
her as to the truth of this large drops of
uerspiratiCn stood on her forehead, her
lips grew white and she trembled when
she answered. tfWas not all dark and
silent with. Us when the BuceN was In
fiamess'' The mother of Paouna shook
her head, hit her lips and pretended that
in the age Of wickedness most extraor-
binary things would come to pass.
At length there arrived news from the
Danube's banks, news Of q fierce strife,
of bloody battle having been fought.
This time Paouna was among the last to
learn what had occurred, but when it Gid
rearch her ears she ran quickly home,
made up n little bundle OF linen with o
piece Of mamaligs Gndian corn paste),
and some slices Of baked pumpkin and q
wooden flask of water. and saying to her
mother, "Have no fear for me, you will
see me home again very soon, set Oh to
walk her long and weary journey.
p
Night came over the battle field, the
dead and the dying lay here and there in
discriminatory mixed, while horses strug-
oled in their fierce agony and tried to get