The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1891-10-17
THE BURNING MOUNTAIN.

Yes, Paouna was proud, very proud. 1t
was not in vain that she possessed such
large eyes, finely arched black eyebrows
and small, aquiline nose. Her mouth,
too, though somewhat large, was rosy and
well shaped, and when she spoke or
laughed her teeth showed like two white
rows of shining pearls. Her jet black
tresses were bound around her head like
a coronet, which made the country folks
mockingly call her "Prim de Imparat'
1.-THE young empressl. Her tall figure and
well poised head gave her so majestic
bearing that she well merlted the sobri-
quet in question. She was not, however,
too proud to turn round when Tannas
passed by, nor to listen To his compliments
when they danced the "Hora" together
on Sunday evenings on the village green;
but when any allusion was made to this
love affair, Paouna grew very red and
gave sharp answers to what she consid-
cred impertnent remarks
Many other young peasants in the neigh
boring villages, as well rs in their own,
became envious of Tannas, more especially
when they learned that he and Paouna
were really betrothed. But, alasl soon a
cruel war broke out and Tannas had to
march with the army to the banks of the
Danube Poor Paouna pent up her tears
in the presence of strangers, and no one
dared to ask her even if she shed them in
secret. 1t seemed very long before news
of the army reached her; but when She
heard the villagers talking OF battle
which had taken place, she had to lean
for support against the stone cross ut the
entrance of the village, so sick and giddy
did she become. From that time forth
night brought her no repose, and she was
compelled to burn her little lamp, so as
not to see the phantom which constantly
pursued her-Tannas, covered with
wounds, dying or dead
One gloomy night she was seated on
the edge of her bed, her hands crossed on
her lap, her eyes wide open looking out
into the void, and needing not footsteps
which came stealthily along outside the
hOuse, when some one tapped lightly at
her window. She sprang to her feet and,
sitting a scream, turned round and tried
to penetrate the obscurity. 1t seemed to
her that Tannas was there, and at the
same moment she heard her name softly
called "Paouna, Paouna, dear, come out
TO me, Fear nothing; it is /, Tannas,
only Tannas.n Paouna had already her
hand on the lock of the door, and in an
instant she was outside. immediately
two strong arms clasped her round the
waist, but she quickly disengaged herself,
saying; rs it really you, Tannas, or is
some one playing me trick?'' "It is no
trick, Paouna darling" said he. ''See,
touch your own ring, and here round my
throat is the little SILVER image you gave
me. ] could contain myself no longer, so
came to see if you were still faithful to
me" 'Who, then, has sent you away
from the armyY" she asked 'Why, no
one of course mo one? and yet
you are herel The war, then, is ended?''
''Oh, no, they are still fighting, but stole
secretly away for love of you, Paouna."
''For love of me- - she cried, bursting into
mocking laugh; did you think, then,
that l should be proud to have deserter
for my lover? Go away instantly, inn
plose you. is this your love, Paouna?
You send me away to my death; you
crush my dearest hopes" go where
you viii, but leave me, and mark well
what / say: Never will / become your
wife, never will l take for my husband
man whom | deSpise.n you love an
other, thcns" said he ''No, Tannas,
still love you, and only you; for you only
have watched through all these long and
weary nights, but never did the idea sug-
gest itself to me that | loved a coward I"
Then Paouna hid her face in her hands
and began To weep bitterly. "And / who
thought you would receive me so ioyfully,
and put me in such safe hiding" said he
in disappointed tone. ooh, shame
shame to me, y She cried, "that / should
be your betrothedl But hear now what /
say, the Bucegi itself shall burn before l
consent to be your wife. y Here the young
couple exchanged such angry glanccs that
their eyes CLEANED in the obscurity of the
night.
Suddenly the sky became illumined by
q roseate reflection, and when they looked
mp it seemed as if the summit of the great
mountain, the Bucegi, were in flames.
The brightness grew more and more in
tense, and a red fire seemed to shoot up
ward from amid a mass of stars. The
neighbors ran to their windows and doors,
crying out that the forest was on fire, that
the mountain was burning Dogs barked
cocks crowed. Paouna seized the young
man by the shoulder, and giving him q
vigorous push, cried in a low voice, "GC
away from here, go and hide your head
or / shall die of shame" Then hastily
she closed the door and eXtinguished bel
lamp. In an agony of fear her eyes fol
lowed Tannas creeping along under the
shade of the cottages. Little heed gave
she when the neighbors called to her tC
come out and see the miracle of the burn
ing mountain.
From that night Paouna grew pale and
thin, and was no longer seen to smile; she
who used TO be so fond of jokes and smart
speeches gave now but hasty and curt re
plies. All day she worked silent and
pensive, pausing only occasionally to seat
herself at the edge of the fountain anC
battle her burning forehead. Sometimes
she gazed on her own reflection in the