Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-10-14

bounds on its course
to its end in the Prahova river 1t is said
that in ancient days the Jipi were twin
brothers, who loved each other so much
that one could not rest without the other,
and that neither Of them would accept q
morsel Of bread without sharing 1t; that
even If question were addressed to the
one. the other would reply for him, and
that when one Of them was suffering, the
other wept and would not be comforted.
These brothers were both very handsome
slender and straight as lances. feet as
their own arrows, and strong and powerful
as young bears.
The mother who had brought them both
into the world in the same hour regarded
them with JOY and pride, and. while caress-
Ing their crisp. short curls. would say:
"Andreia and Mirca. my beautiful sons.
even the stones shall speak of you here
after"
These youths were Of noble origin, and
possessed fine old castle on the high pla-
teau or rocks, where they lorded II as IL the
whole earth belonged to them
Often jokingly they would say that they
could marry but one wife between them,
for that 1t would be utterly impossible to
una two wives precisely similar, and that
therefore, 1t would be wise to give up ali
IDEAS OF marriage. But the mother was
dear to these suggestions, for she wished to
hold In her arms the sons Of her sons, and
to hush them to sleep with her mountain
songs.
Oft at eventide. while plying her spindle,
she would sing to them ballads Of the olden
time, and the two youths would hang ten
derly about her, Andreia kneeling on a
cushion at her feet Mirca leaning over her
chair and inhaling the perfume Of her shin
ing plaits. through the gauze-liks tissue Of
the white veil with which her head was
bound.
She is still quite young. is our mother"
W..
| white hair
dreia. ~
We shall never find a wife like you."
said Mirca. as he kissed the veil which
covered his mothers head
You eclipse them ALL" laughingly said
Anorela. as he caught and kissed the I'm
gers which were spinning the finest fax.
Mirca.
And We are happy children" cried the
The mother smiled at this boy-like talk,
ana recounted to them stories Of their
grandmother's time. and of the wild and
savage doings Of those days. She told them
OF her father, who was severe and austere
ana OF her husband. who was even more
severe
The repasts which the three of them shar-
ed together were as gay as IL the house
had been full Of guests; but when at times
Few friends were invited. the youths be-
came more SILENT as BETTING the honor Of
their house.
Their hospitality was exemplary, and
often they even slept on the ground in
order TO leave their couches for their guests.
Not one friend who did not find himself
happy and content In this abode Of love-
1t CHANGED one day while the brothers
were out hunting that they decided on
traversing the rocks in quest of a bear.
which was said to have lately made great
devastation In the surrounding parts After
much toll and fatigue. they succeeded in
finding the mark Of the beasts footsteps
and soon the characteristic growl, added to
the rolling of stones on his path, announc-
ed the animafs approach in the distance
Just at the moment when Mirca was about
to draw his Javelin to his great astonish-
ment some other arrow sped from a neigh
boring bush, and struck the animal full in
the flank; then at the same moment came
the ringing sound Of merry laughter!
The bear pulling himself together, ad-
vanced on his hind feet toward the clump
of trees, growing angrily.
Andreia saw the danger to which the bold
sportsman had exposed himself, and spranR
forward to his assistance.
Mirca on the contrary remained unmoved,
and said,
Let him finish the chase. seeing that he
began it." But Andreia cried, did you
Of child"
And SO saying he marched resolutely to-
ward the bear. which had already advanced
IN his direction. and thrust his hunting
Z.
bear beat the air an instant with its paws
and then fell lifeless.
''Oh, what a pity" cried q silvery voice,
and forth from the brushwood issued beau
tiful young girl clad in a short wooden skirt
and wearing opinci (sandals) on her tiny
feet, while a caciula (cap) Of white lambs
wool covered her head, from which escaped
an unruly mass Of thick brown curls Her
eyes were Of that shade Of green which
lends itself to the coloring Of minute golden
spots on the iris. while the eyebrows were
arched and strongly defined. From her
shoulders fell a mantle Of goats hair silky
and white as snow; In her hand she held
a large knife similar to that of Andreia's
with which she had stood with firm foot
pity!' she exclaimed again, shat it was
not who killed him. and tears Of vex-
alton rushed to her eyes.
Andreia grew quite ashamed Of his Prov
ess, and looked at the bear as II he longed
to bring 1t back to life. for the sake Of this
young girl. She touched the bear with the
point of her sandal, hardly knowing what
she did. but solely to hide her disappoint-
ment The bear was still breathing, and
turned heavily over on its side, at the same
moment that some one pulled her hastily
backward.
Foolish childw cried Mirca, setting her
up again on her feet. Astonished she raised
her eyes. for the voice was Identical with
that Of the young man who was in front Of
her. Equally alike were also the two faces:
so great a resemblance was there that one
might be mistaken for the other.
Like little child. with wide open mouth.
her bright eyes glanced from the one BROTH
er to his twin. until all three burst out into
a hearty laugh.
"You are double, then" said the young
GIRL like filbert with two kernels"
I'VE are in reality two nuts, the issue
from the same SHE'LL said Andreia, but
who art you, little forest fairy? 1 hope you
are not a sorceress in disguise, who wishes
for our destruction
who knows?" said she; perhaps I am
a sorceress; my grandfather has often said
so, for though have only been eight days
with him, during all those eight days he
has not once suffered from the stomach
pains which usually so much torment him."
1--WE ought to consider you to be sor-
ceress" said Mirca, land take you prisoner
and carry thee off to our castle. for you
have been hunting on our property without
permission"
1--WE have also a wicked mother in our
CASTLE" said ANDREA.
rs that true?' cried the young girl, Il
must see her then; behold your prisoner"
Calling to a groom who stood near her she
gave him a message for her grandfather,
babe him come for her with her horses, and
then taking the toughest path she set of
gauy toward the castle accompanied BY the
two brothers.
Dame Roxana, the mother Of the two
youths, looking from her window. was pug
zled to guess who could be the young shep-
herdess that her sons were bringing home
with them.
Behind them came a procession of peas
ants carrying the bear on hurdle. AS
they approached the castle Dame Roxana
IL