Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1891-03-25
sY "cAR3IEN SYLVIA" (HER MAJESTY
QUEEN OF RoUSIANIA.)

Once on time there was round
dance at Sinain, the like of which had
never been seen before, for it was day
of high feast and holiday. The hospit-
able monks who dwelt in their pictures
nue old monastery on the brow of the
mountain had welcomed all corners to
their tables, which groaned with pro-
visions, and no person was sent empty
away, for the peasants had come from
afar- from Isvnr Pncana, Lapuiui,
Comarnic, Prodeal, and even from
beyond the other side of the mount
lie sun shone so brightly, and the
heat was so great down in the valley,
that the maidens had doffed their broid-
cred kerchiefs, and the young men had
pushed back Their broad -brimmed,
lower bedecked hats, go as to dance
more at their ease.
The married women were seated on
the grass outside the circle nursing
their little ones, their long filmy white
veils of borandJic rejecting the rays of
the midday sun.
The festive youths stamped with
their feet, and shouted with eIuberant
10Y; while the girls seemed to float
along as If their tiny feet, just visible
below their narrow skirts, did not even
touch the ground. Their chemises,
richly embroidered with every color
OF the rainbow, sparkled with gold and
silver spaUgles as glittering as their
pieces OF gold coin which were strung
round their nGcks, and which consti-
tinted the dOwry OF Ell b maid n.
The dance unluiated like the waves
of the sea, now in large, now in smaller
circles, to the music of the native mu-
sicians, which rose and fell like the
pulse throb in the veins. Somewhat
apart from the dancers, stood young
shepherd leaning on his crook, and with
his sloe-bluch eyes gazing on the dance.
Slender and erect as a young fr-tree
was he, Lis raven HAIR fell in curls from
beneath his high lambskin cap, his
white coarse linen shirt was clasped
tightly round his body with broad
leathern girdle, and on :.his feet were
the leathern sandals usually worn by
shepherds.
HIS eagle eve glanced over the gay
throng moment, before discovering
what it SO eagerly sought for, then
ahghted sparkling with the light OF love
ona young maiden, who feigned to be
wholly unconscious OF his ardent gaze.
This girl was beauti ul as mountain
tower, surprising the rhododendron,
more delicate even than the edelweiss.
From her eyes shone, as it were, two
lights, the one from the Ietty pupils, the
other from the velvety brown circles
surrounding them. Her small ever
teeth gllstened between her coral lips
while her veal h of silky hair seem &c
as black as the depths of the abyss IL
in which glImmer the waters of the cat
sract. Her supple, willowy form wa
SO slight that it seemed as easy K
break it as reed, and yet she was saic
to be very s'rong and healthy.
Indeed, this young lrens was sIoeed
ing fair to look upon, and the shepherd
lionel had no eyes but for her. A
length he approached the dance, sne
taking the hand OF 1repa, broke th'
circle Of dancers The young maiden
looked at each other and laughe
while a sudden flush came over Irensi
lovely face. When the music, with {
crsshiny chord, suddenly ceased play
ing, each youth turned his partner
round and caused her to pass beneath
his arm raised high in tie air. Thi
done, lionel released the hand of Irens
1t some time in his own.
This action was meant to be of great
signIic;Lon, but the girl merely shrug
sed her prett7 shoulders and laughed.
"1rena, said he, "dost thou see tha
the leaves of the beach-tree arc chang
ing their color? Autumn is coming
on, and must soon bring down m,
flock from the mountain, and lead /
70 - 81, ~
perhaps even TO tie more distant Dob
rudja, and then, uutil the spring-tim
comes round again, shall / see thee N
my heart at rest, so that 1 may no
tlnk that thou wilt be looking with
hvor on others when am <srsy."
What shall l say to thee?" asket
she. Thou lowest me not, and thor
wilt soon forget me-"
'Rather should I die than forge
thee. Irena."
These are but mere words that thol
art repeating, and believe them not.
What then shall do to prove thei
truth TO theeY'
lrena's eyes srsrkled with mischie
as she said, glsncing sideways at him:
What shalt thou do2 Something
that thou csnst not do"
There is nothing I cannot do,
answered lionel slowly, as If speakin
to himself.
"Yes, thou couldst not live withou
my beloved flock of sheep. ho
Souldst part from me much more read
ny than from thern."
Live witho my sheepT said lionel
Win sigh OF establishment.
ba IL al -
Inned IreUa, sis to remain up there o
the mountain without thy flock, an
That know thou canst not do. Tho
seest, thy VOWS are empty words"
.Nevertdeless, if were to do it,
said lionel, cle-shiDg his teeth an
growing very pale.
The youths and maidens had groupe
themselves round the pa r, listening t
their alteration.
DO not listen to her. Ionel." erie
some
"Yes, do a, she bids thee, lionel,
cried others.
Then up rose an old shepherd who's
locks were biacnhed with the snow c
many winters, and laying his hand o
Ionels shoulder, said in a deep voice:
Listen not 10 the maidens, my sor
They will only laugh thee to scorn, an
break thy heart. Dost thou not kno,
That the shepherd who forsakes hi
'heep, he also is abandoned to death?
Then, shaking his rugged hand 6
lrena said to her:
Thou thIukest that because thou al
beautiful thou ,nst follow the bent @
my own will, t.nd that all thy DARN
VIII go unp-lished; but know tbs
what ever evil thou bringest on ar