Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-11-04


watched the irail little craft which was
now diving and plunging Ike a duck
through the breakers. 1t seemed as
though she must the next moment De
dashed to pieces on the shore, when
suddenly the skillful rover turned into a
little bay, and there, in comparatively
calm water, effected landing.
The man was OF middle height, ana
wore on his head a cap OF black sheep
skin. He made sign with his hand.
when the two mysterious persons who
had been talking together joined him.
Then the three united their forces TO
drag from the boat burden which
seemed to be so heavy that l cannot
even now understand how so light a
craft would have supported such a
weight. They at last hoisted the cargo
on their shoulders, then walked away
and soon disappeared.
The best thing for me to do now was
to return to my resting place. But the
strange scene 1 had witnessed had so
struck me that waited impatiently Tor
daybresk.
NV CoSsack was much surprised
when, on waking up, he found me fully
dressed. / said nothing 10 him ABOUT
nv nocturnal excursion. L remained
for some little time looking through the
window with admiration at the blue
sky, studded with little clouds, ana the
distant shore, the Crimea, stretched
along the horizon like streak OF
violet, ending in rock, above which
could be seen the tower Of lighthouse.
Then | went out and walked to the fort
of Chanagora 10 ask the commandant
when | could go to Ghelend chik.
Unfortunately the commandant could
give me no positive answer; the only
vessels in port were stationary ones
and trading ships which had not yet
taken In their cargo. Perhaps, he
said, Sin three or four days a mail
packet will come in, and then something
can be arranged"
went back in very bad humor to
my lodging. AT the door stood the
Cossack, who, coming toward me with
rather scared look, said inQuiringly:
bad newS?"
eyes" l answered. Heaven knows
when we shall get away from here"
At these words the anxiety OF the
soldier seemed to increase. He came
close to me and murmered in low
voice:
This is not the place to stop at. l
met Just now Black sea Cossack OF my
acquaintance-we were serving in the
same detachment last year. When |
told him where we had put up: bad
place he said, bad people, And what
do YOU think of that blind boy? Did
any one ever before see blind person
running about from one place to another;
going to the bazaar, bringing In bread
and water? Here they seem to think
nothing OF it,
HAS the mistress of the place come
in?"
"This morning, while you were out,
an old woman came with her daughter. "
what daughter? Her daughter is
away"
~ don't know who it is, then. But
look, there is the old woman sitting
down In the cabin"
| went in. A good fire was shining
in the stove, and breakfast was being
prepared, which, for such poor people,
seemed to me rather a luxurious one.
When spoke to the old woman she told
me that she was stone deaf.
1t was impossible then, to talk to her.
/ turned to her blind boy, and taking
him by the ear said:
Il say, you little wizard, where were
you going last night with that parcel
under your arm?"
He at once began to moan and cry,
and then sObbed out.
"Where was l going last night? l
went nowhere. And with parcel!
What parcel?"
The old woman now proved that her
ears, when she so desired, were by no
means closed.
at is not true" she cried. "Why do
you tease an unfortunate boy? What do
you take him for? What harm has he
done you?"
| could stand the noise no longer. So
1 went out, determined somehow or
other TO find the solution OF the riddle.
About an hour passed, perhaps more.
suddenly the cadences of singing voice
struck my ear. / listened and heard a
strange melody, now slow and sad, now
rapio and lively. The sounds seemed
TO fall from the sky. l looked up, and
on the roof of the cabin saw a young
girl in a straight dress, with disheveled
hair, like naiad.
/ looked again toward the singer, but
she had disappeared. a moment after
she passed rapidly before me, singing
another song and swapping her fingers.
She went 20 the old woman and said
something to her. The old woman
seemed annoyed. The young girl burst
into laugh. Then, with bound, she
came close to me, suddenly stopped and
looked at me txedly, as though sur
priSed to see me. Then, turning away
with an air OF Indifference, she walked
quietly toward the shore.
All the rest OF the day saw her at
short intervals, always singing and
dancing.
1 had never seen such a woman before.
She could scarcely be called beautiful,
but have my own ideaSon the subject
OF beauty. There was q thoroughbred
look about her, and with women, as
with horses, there is nothing like breed.
What charmed me in her was the ex-
traordinary suppleness of her figure, the
singular movements of her head and
her long, fair hair hanging down in
waves of gold on her neck, and her nose,
which was perfectly formed, and in her
sidelong glance there was something
dark and wild.
Toward the evening stopped my
Undine at the door of the hut and said
10 her:
"Tell me, my pretty one, what were
you doing to-day on the roof?"
II was seeing in what direction the
wind blew"
"How did that concern you?"
gtyVbanca hlOUS the wind thanra