Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1892-02-19

80 Va eOesA ~ sAAOAA WV 1ha DoACehaeN" I
entreated him TO leave of this strain }
OF melancholy.
but he was not to DO dissuaded, aud
etiit bontinued to play wearing an ex-
prsssien OF deep sorrow on his counte-
nance.
Soon evening approached. and the
dancers began TO disperse-some In
grouss aome alone.
Conan reinained. and Jalomitza.
also, as il chained 10 his side; but the
shepherd had disappearea.
Cease those sounds Conan"
cried she; you rend my heart to
pieces Youknow that though do
not love you. have sworn never to
belong to any other sBe reasonable
l beseech you and put aside that
flute" .4X
music; sometimes g}glg. rs if he were
disposed to be merry then in such
dolorous fashion that the very
nightingales in the wooded vale be-
low replied TO him.
Near and still nearer came the
nightingale. and by the light OF the
moon the maiden saw the bird perch
itself on Coman's head aud accom-
pany him in its song. MI
Then the bird gradually withdrew
itself; but Jalomitza attracted BY its
warbling. followed it all the night
long, without knowing in whas direc-
ton she was going. Conan alsS fol-
lowed the bird through the valley TO
the edge of a stream. Nf
~ When morning approached the Ne@
wildered maiden pressed her hand to
her forehead and cried out where
am /? i must be far from my homsi;
and this country seems quite strange
to me- Conan. where are weP i am
afraid-that bird-that bird was Blu.
core"
Conan endeavored 20 reassure her,
but in vain.
Soon after this beautiful saddle
horse came in sight. Prancing along
a valley and bounding towards Jalo-
mltza it rubbed its nose against her
shoulder d
'Oh" cried she. 'if l were but g.
bird. | could escape from the caresses
of this monster
Scarcely had she said this than her
form took that of dove which winged
its fight far away into the mist; but
the horse now changed to a falcon.
from great height bounced down
upon her. and carried her of in its
talons to the mountain.
"Ah! were / but a field flower
screamed she in terror; and in mo-
ment she grew into blue forget O.
not by the rivers side.
The falcon. now changed 10 butter
fly. lowered around her, alighted on
her and caressed her with its wings.
Then thought she If / could take
the form OF a nun in a convent at least
l should be hidden"
Then above her head there slowly
rose the cupola OF church in which
the lights were burning and solemn
chant was being sung by some hun
dreds OF nuns. Wearing the vest
ments OF nun. Jalomitza knelt be ore
the image OF a saint her heart beating
with fear though she still had hope
that the sanctuary would be her pro-
lection.
With gratitude she raised her eyes
20 the face of the image and met the
face OF Bucore peering down upon her
His eyes fascinated her so that she
was unable to move away. even though
the church was now empty.
When night approached, the eyes OF
the image grew luminous and burned
her like fire, while her tears flowed
without ceasing on the cold stones on
which she knelt.
'Ahr" cried she. Even in a con-
secrated, holy place. cannot be at
peace!"
AS u young gazelle she now sprang
up leaping from rock to rock; but she
unhappily missed her footing and she
fell straight into the cave OF the En-
chanter, who took the form of q
sportsman and followed on her track.
crying out Eat length / hold thee il
my power!"
In terror she few further and fur.
Their into the grotto until she reached
its extremity There she found herself
surrounded by tall. upright stones
which were the forms of beautiful
young women, from whose eyes fell
unquenchable tears.
'Ohl hyl" cried hundred voices al
the same time Fly from hence. un-
fortunate maiden. II thou receivesi
kiss from him who pursues thee
thou wilt be turned into stone like
ourselves"
AT this moment an arrow was shot
and came traversing the whole length
of the cave and grazed the shoulder Of
the fugitive gazelle. In tho agony OF
death she exclaimed. IF had been a
stream / could have escaped from
him." and suddenly she was precipi-
tated from the grotto in the shape Of
an impetuous. turbulent river.
The Enchanter hurled terrible
malediction. and becoming himself a
rock, seized and tried to hold fast in
his embrace the stream which always
escaped him.
Conan shortly afterwards reached
the grotto and concentrating all his
strength flung the flute against the
rock on whose grimacing face he rec
ognized that of Bucorc and the en-
chantment was at end.