Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-10

ercise, had never been able to learn to swim.
In spite, too, Of Macha's sapient and oft re-
peated direction: Cares the water, don't beat
it." Sophie could not succeed in acquiring the
art. 1t was a source Of extreme modification
to her, but served in no wise to keep her out of
the water. In fact, the river exerted a peculiar
fascination upon her, and often when COM
pletely dressed she would throw herself into it
with a joyous outcry and wade across to the
opposite bank-a feat not to be accomplished
without considerable risk. for she might easily
stray into some hole, lose her foothold and be
carried away by the current.
One evening toward the end of July Rous-
kline sat smoking his after-dinner pipe upon the
veranda- For several days he had been I'M
usually silent and pensive, but fortunately for
Tatana her household duties had been so press
ing that she had not had time to take special
note Of it.
just then . clear, ringing, bell-like voice
reached Kirill KiriIluitchs ears. 1t was Sophies
"You know how to swim and yet you are
afraid 70 follow me-" it cried.
was called out in shrill, childish tones "Oh,
don't go, it's dangerous"
A burst Of laughter made answer.
The word dangerous" sent shiver through
Rouskine's body He rose to his feet, he laid
TO pierce the foliage of the willows which
skirted the river bank.
Dangerous" he whispered. Suppose she
should be drowned? Is it not my duty to save
ner! save nerS WOulQ i not save her II she
were anybody else? Am lying to myself?''
"Ohr' came that instant in q shrill scream
from Sophie.
.'Come back. little soul (term Of endearment):
come back, Sophie SavichnsI" pleaded Macha.
With a few mad strides Rouskine had reached
the river and pushed the willow branches aside.
The water was already up to the young won,an's
shoulders, which protruded like carved ivory
above the blue surface of the river. She had
made her clothes into bundle, which she was
balancing upon her head with her left hand,
while her right grasped a long thin pole, and
she was using it to feel her way safely along on
the bottom of the river. Rouskine could hear
his own breath come and 60 as he stood there
with his gaze riveted upon that exquisitely
nodded figure as it disappeared slowly from his
sight like Cytherea returning to the waves
whence she had sprung.
Now the water was ripping about her neck,
and now it had reached the very lobes Of her
ears, and now she had to throw back her beau
tiful head to keep it from caressing her lips.
Rouskine was in agony. The sweat ran in
cold drops off his brow. It seemed to him as
if he must die every instant and yet something
or some one forbade him to stir hand or foot
He was cursed to stand there and see the girl
walk to her death. Oh, it was awful, ard the
light of day now went out Of his eyes and all
was inky darkness.
Suddenly loud, joyous ha! ha Fl! reached his
ears. He looked. Sophie had reached the
other bank Of the river and was disappearing
in the forest. The moment the figure had
fitted out Of sight the spell was lifted. Rous-
kline felt the warmth come back to his limbs
again and he started for the waters edge, max
ing for his boat, which bad been pulled I'D on
the sand. Tatiana's voice calling for one of the
children now reached him and again q mystic
rious fear and trembling came upon him. He
ratified the oars so as to drown his wife's voice.
In an instant he was out in the stream and a
few vigorous strokes landed him on the other
side.
He felt like thief caught in the very act.
His cheeks burned with shame, but glance up
and down the river treasured him. 1t was late.
Everybody had gone home. He threw himself
in the bottom of the boat and listened. Some
one was calling him. Hark! 1t was Tatiana.
Again he ratified the oars. but those soft. sweet
him. 1t was dreadful. They burned him, they
froze him, they Pinched him. But there came
q thought which sent zigzaging through his
body thrill SO delicious as to rob him of his
very consciousness. She was there. Sophie was
there. there hidden in the forest somewhere
and in a brief moment she would come his way,
pass close to him, stop, speak to him, be alone
with him.
A strange and mysterious silence now sank
upon the forest and river. Rouskin could hear
his heart beat with such distinctness tina. he
even caught the sound of its double stroke-a
sound only audible when the ear is pressed
against another s breast. The swapping of q
twig made his flesh creep. He knew it was
Sophie aud vet he didn't dare look up. The
footsteps came nearer and nearer. An odor of
wild flowers now reached his nostrils and then
came delicious fragrance of some herb or
berry borne along on her breath.
What are you doing there?" asked the
maiden almost grufiy.
Now. for the first time, Rouskine raised his
eyes. 1t was q rapid glance. but he saw q great
deal. The wild flowers that he had smelied
were pinned to her corsage. In her hand she
held sprig Of the fragrant herb she was eat
ing. Her dress was not buttoned evenly and a
bit Of white undergarment showed through the
opening, and her skin had that ruddy trans
parent glow seen in q healthy child after its
bath.
Il have come after you," stammered Rous-
kline awed by the girls magnificent pose and
flashing eye.
Who told You that was here2" she burst
out impetuously.
II saw you,,' said Rouskine, fixing his wolfish
eye upon Sophies face.
But why did you Gomez
."Because-because-it's dangerous and
didn't want you to do it again"
'Oh, 1 won't, 1 won't" answered Sophie
ironically; YOU'RE my master"
Rouskine made no reply.
But suppose i want tor she suddenly cried
out. folding her bare arms across her bosom,
upon which they rocked tumultuously.
You surely will not desire to do so foolish a
thing" said Rouskine kindly Come Sophie
Savichna, get into my boat; I'll take you
across; then you may take tea with us. hear
them call me. Come"
But the mans changed manner had no effect
upon the schoolmistress.
No" was her answer. "ru not get into
your boat, go on, SO that you'll be out of my
way"
Il shall not bulge" almost Kissed Rouskine;
You shall come with me-"
The girl looked him full in the face for an in
slant, as pet animal does when he strives to
measure the depth of his masters wrath. then
she strobe into the water without even waiting
to pick mp the pole she had brought with her.
kiril kirilluitch was thunderstruck. His
lips moved, but his voice sank away as he tried
to call after her. With great effort he set the
SOULS in the oarlocks and pushed of. Sophie
was already half way across. The water was
up to her neck. Suddenly she seemed to make
false step and disappear. Rouskine, with
suppressed cry Of terror, dropped the SOULS
and threw off his coat, but the girl came to the
surface again and after an instant's struggle
she regained her foothold. She was again in
shoal water.
''You wouldn't get ont of my way," she called
out spitefuly, NOW must go home with my
wet clothes on"
She was bending down with an easy grace and
wringing out her skirts as Rouskine came I'D
with her. In spite Of her efforts to shake the
wet clothes free from her body they chung to
her in one place fast a. she freed them in
another.
Rouskine halted like one entranced. Never
had his eyes rested upon anything SO beautiful,
SO strangely and mysteriously beautiful as this
Cling with her garments.
Ia ha