, 1888-12-06
ENCHANTED.

heroic plan. II. q. DODGE.
ENCHANTED.
Vlasin Doroschenka had this popularity,
that he went always with his gaze bent
upon the earth though he had really no
other motive for lowering his eyes than
because 1t was his custom to do 90. He
was poor, 1t 10 true, bnt poverty 10 not an
infamous thing, as every one knows. Per-
haps 1t was because the young girls did
not love him as much as possible, for
when have you seen madcaps act otherwise
than thouehtlesslyp
Vlasin Doroschenka was handsome
boy. yes, even the handsomest boy in St
winka, his features energetic and grave,
his complexion of brown amber, his hair
thick and black. cut short upon the brow,
forming whole to which his two eyes,
profound and dreamy. gave something
that was sinRularly gentle and sympa.
thetic. The young girls, those pretty
mockers, seeing him always remain silent
and pensive instead of singing and dane
having formed their opinions of VIasin,
did not willingly follow the same road as
he.
Nevertheless. if he showed himself so
little communicative and lowered his gaze
with such persistency, it was to lend
more attentive ear, not to that which was
being eaid to him, but to that which was
passing within him, and the melody which
he heard there, veiled and mysterious, was
an enigma to which he ss yet was unable
to find the key.
He did not comprehend it any more than
he comprehended the conduct Of Dodsna,
the daughter of the rich Betzor, who
seemed to detest him II any thing more
than her companions, ard lifted her lip
with little disdainful movement when
ever she encountered the poor boy.
Was it to study and penetrate this
charming sphiox that Vlasin concealed
himself so frequently behind a tree stump
to see her pass, ana never took his eyes
from her whenever she was in seeing dis
tance?
One evening Doroschenka was travers.
ing the village; the moon WAS up and
stripping with shadows the road that she
whitened with her rays. tipping the coral.
las Of the sleeping flowers and the mar.
gins of the well. 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
a trembling voice which stammered out
| prayers and applications. Vlasin ap-
preached and recognized the old Abisch, a
man much respected and loved in the
of violinist and chiromancer. They said,
even, he was something of sorcerer, bnt
sorcerer only in the amiable acceptance
Of the word.
"What is the matter with you, Abisch ?"
the young man demanded.
whats is the matter? What is the
matter with mep" cried the unhappy ar
tist, in q despairinR voice. "Do you not
see for yourself that ferocious dog with
my cap in his teeth, and who wishes to
tear me to piecesp" And looking closely,
Vlasin did, indeed, discover tiny lit.
tie pug dog, which had stopped before
Abisch and played with his property as
gayly as any other young and inexpe-
rienced animal would have done. He
chased him away however. simply to re-
assure the old man, who decided then, but
not till then, to quit his refuge all white
with blossoms and sweet with perfumes.
IL owe you my life, Vlasin!" cried the
good man. with effusion. ~ shall never
forget it; swear it!'' and he walked
away rapidly.
Some time after this he came upon Doro-
schenka alone upon the steppe, seated
upon hillock dreaming.
"What is the matter with you, Vlasin ?"
| demanded the violinist in turn.
"What ia the matter with me?" re-
sponded Doroschenka. "God knows it,.
doubtless. but am ignorant of it. All
the same, little important as it is. l
should like to know why it is every one
despises me, and why the young girls turn
away from me as If I had the evil eyep"
rs it SOP " replied Abisch, 'eh bien I!
then am going to give you q confdant
for your troubles, friend to whom you
can open your heart and who will respond
like an angel when you ask him qustions. ="
"And it is-?"
This, Doroschenka, this aud opening
his talas the good Abisch drew forth from
its folds violin far from appearing ew.
and at the same time pressed into his
hands bow.
"Ah, thank you." said Vlasin. disap-
pointed, III am unable to make it serve
me-"
Pardon me. it is unnecessary that you
should know how to play it.
Unnecessary! then 10 the violin en-
chanted ?" said the young man, still un-
decided. The ola musician shrugged has
shoulders, smiled and, turning away. dis
appeared under cover of the herbaae of
the steppe, like bird that regains in
hssts the shelter of its leafy covert.
Doroschenka remained alone with bis
pain and his violin. 10 the plain immense
and solitasy, contemplating With the
strAnGsst and most issxplieabls sentiments