San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-07-21
THE EXILES.
RUSSIAN STORY.

MIN Violent Wlnu SUOruS, causing his Dag
gage to fall into the water and even going
so far as to make him lose his reason. At
eighty years Of age, the eyes of the sorceress
were still as bright as the morning star, and
her voice had that clear sound which ice
sends forth when struck.
Another fit seized upon the young girl
when she heard the name Of the sorceress
of Diigsnsk uttered.
At that moment these words were pro-
nounced in very loud tone outside Of the
hut:
"Have you a kettle Of teal"
"What answer is to be returnedF" asked
Anastaci of the invalid's mother.
"Ask how many there are" said she.
"How many are youl" demanded the Rus
sian.
Howls Of dogs prevented the response
from being heard.
"How many!" repeated the Russian.
Seven"
"Openl" commanded the old Yakoute wo-
man.
Anastaci opened the door.
Yegor and Yermac appeared. Upon their
skin garments was more than an inch OF
ice. Nadege followed them into the hut,
supported by M. Lafeur. Tekel carried
little Ladislas, who was so benumbed by the
cold that he lay as if paralyzed. Chort stood
upon the threshold and received from each
the over garment removed on entering%
Yegor advanced few steps; then, per-
ceiving the young Yakoute girl towards
whom all the inhabitants of the hut had hur-
ried, he pointed her out to the Partisan with
his finger.
Tho lattar approachad the patiant
"Keep away from me! !" cried she, drawing
back "You come from the coldl"
What is the matter with her!" asked M.
Lafleur, looking interrogatively at the moth
er.
ooh! Ogropono-Djiganskoy!" said the
old woman.
This was not the first time the dancing
master had heard of the accursed sorcer-
| ess. He had an inspiration. To begin, he
produced his violin and placed it on the ia
| BILE beside the good things prepared as if for
| a repast.
He made sign to his exhausted compan-
ions to seat themselves upon the benches
extending around the apartment.
"What mean these preparations for re-
ioicingp asked he, pointing to the little
pates. the custards, and the frozen fish.
ave expected the father of the family"
said the old Yakoute woman. "He has not
returned from the summer chase-apd my
| daughter is under the influence of the sor-
ceress! Two such misfortunes are a great
| deal for one day."
How old is shea" demanded M, Lafleur
ut has showed eighteen times since she
| came into the world"
II am going to cure her."
"Are you CLAIMANT" (COnjurer and doc
| tor.)
Eyes, and 1 come from affair.""
M. Latieur wished to say, perhaps, that
no man is either prophet or chaman in
his own country.
Then, in a tone of authority, the Partisan
| directed his companions to take some of the
delicacies spread out upon the table.
1--WE are famished, " said he, 'and,shall eat
everything there, for your husband will re-
turn neither to-day nor tomorrow"
Twill he ever returnl" asked the old wo-
| man, anxiously.
"My art reveals to me that he will" au-
daciously answered M. Laf1eur, assuming
with lie his role of sorcerer He added:
"You shall Judge of my power"
At this, he seized his violin and despite
the numbness of his fingers, drew from it
harmonious sounds. He played a reverie, a
cradle-song or prayer.
At the first notes, the attention Of the
young girl was awakened Soon she changed
her position and sat up; then, quivering, her
eyes lost in kind of ecstacy, she advanced
towards the musician, bowling before him
with clasped hands, bending her body still
mora yyhan he drew SOlemn sounds from, b;c
instrument and raising herself at the high
notes, radiant, light, with outstretched
arms. Her nervous disease took a new
character.
AT the last note, she sank heavily upon
the floor. NJ Laf1eur raised her. carried
her to the bench she had occupied mo-
ment before, and said to the old Yakoute
woman:
SNOW some tea, babouchka (mother),
some tea, great deal of tea, and your daugh-
ter is out of danger-cured for long while
perhaps, forever"
Everybody was amazed. The mother of
the invalid wept for Joy.
The other Yakoute woman, homely crea-
ture who bore upon her face rough tattoo
marks, embraced M. Lafleur after the fash
ion OF the country. She was the invalid's
aunt-and an old maid!
Nadege said to Yegor:
How good NJ. Lafeur is 1t was for us
he did all that!-it was to secure us hos
pitable reception"
Yegor thought he could do no less than
add his note to the concert of cOngratula-
lions in progress around the pretended cha
man.