The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-12-30
A BUDOF THE STEPPE

aOu0lf choe toNh~oy IL eA~S 4ooAAS -ASeAS ~
thedral in the town just beyond the shin
ing river that flows grandly and with SOL
emn majesty through the land Of the
Cossacks and the occasional hozss Of the
Tartars.
In the assembled throng kneeling in the
cathedral, listening with rapt attention to
the monotonous information of the priest,
was a young girl. Here, safe from the
wars alarms, her heart yearning for isola-
tion from the strifes which were agitating
the land in that early stormy period, she
offered up her petition, asking that tran
suil condition of mind which should ac-
company soul longing for freedom from
turbulent Surroundings.
Her beauty was that of flower Of the
steppe which, though perhaps never seen
by human eye, waves itself proudly in the
sunlight. Her figure was stately. ner hair
dark as night; her eyes had a diamond lus-
ter (stars looking at stars at twilight time),
and the gentleness of her nature was ap-
parent in the lines of ner face and in the
graceful posture.
'See her," whispered one Of the wom-
lover"
.'He who was killed in the expedition
against the Mussulmanss'
eyes; Pan Ostap. She is going into
convent
The voice of the priest was heard in ex-
hortation Blood had flowed on every side.
Widows and fatherless children were there,
who sobbed for the absent ones, and now
Sr,t ha Of tho Girl for
she remembered how manly was her lover,
how pleading the tones Of his voice, and
how his glance, SO terrible in battle, grew
soft and tender when he gazed at her and
in his impetuous way told her of the booty
be had collected from the Turks, the
home he had prepared and the broad es-
tates which would be ruled over jointly by
them. And now he was gone, and only
the wandering MINISTRIES were left to sing
the tale of their unrequited affection, a
narration which perhaps would 60 down
to posterity through the ages of ages"
She remembered their parting when they
strolled together over the steppe and he
had placed cross upon her neck and kiss
ed her brow. 1t was sad, when life held
SO much that was sweet that the law of
determination had quenched young and
leIy SplTll, anu Si1c WCLuo VI LILO pIlCSO
brought to her that sense of profound iso-
lation which follows the loss of loved
one.
Suddenly as storm sweeps the steppe
the vinga, most terrible OF hurricanes
shout was heard outside, hundreds of
figures Of the Tartars poured in, sabers
flashed, shrieks and lamentations arose,
and all the merciless horror of warfare in
a barbarous land was apparent. On all
sides men and women were put TO the
sword, and the priests were killed at the
altar. Instead Of the tones of the organ,
bringing solace and Joy, shrieks of anguish
arose, and where before were kneeling
figures now was a confused, struggling
mass-the spectacle, not an uncommon
one, Of an entire congregation without
warning being ruthlessly butchered.
The figures approached the girl. The
cries became more frightful, and then she
lost consciousness. So the hands of the
barbarians desecrated the peace and calm
of that Easter Sunday, and the steppe wit
messed once more one of those horrible
scenes which were SO frequent.
Many hours later, when the girl recov-
cred consciousness, the band of Tartars
were resting their horses near the banks
of the great river. Silently she remained
seated amid the marauders, and had her
hand been free she would have seized q
dagger and ended her life.
The Tartars were engaged In their prep
arations for the evening meal, and one Of
them even approached her and offered her
refreshment, but she only closed her eyes
to shut out the sight of him and shudder-
ed, praying for that death which had come
TO the others and passed her by. About to
enter the convent to worship and cherish
fond memories of her lover, fate had been
unkind tn her and wrested her from the
very gates of the holy edifice.
The miss that arose from the river
wreathed itself in fantastic shapes, like the
spirits of the departed, which were said to
hover over its broad bosom, and she clasped
her hands and thought of escape where se-
lease seemed impossible.
But harkl From the distance comes
faint sound. Louder it grew, and the Tar
tars started 20 their feet. The sound be-
came a rumble, and then the patter of
horses feet was apparent. The Tartars
grasped their weapons and looked appre-
hensively over the steppe, where a band
of horsemen was seen approaching.
The Cossacksi" they cried.
An answering shout was heard.
"VengeanceH'
Across the river!" comm anded the Tar
tar chief.
Too late. Like a whirlwiud the horse
men approached, with noise like thun-
der.
Ito the sword!'
AS leaves before the blast, so the band
of marauders were exterminated. Some
sprang into the river and were drowned.
The rest fell before the fury of the horse
men. The leader of the band gazed upon
the girl, and the latter, with a glad cry,
sprang into his arms.
''Ostapr'
MY flower OF the steppel''
You are here! Alivel''
"Alive, trembling dovei'
How tranquil the flow of the moving |
water as in the twilight time they wan |,
dered by the shore. Afar the wild swans |
were seen cleaying the air. The red east |
ern sun sank in a blaze of glory. The star |
thistles in the grass dropped as If TO sleep, |
but the two walked on and talked in sub |
dued tones
They carried me off when I was about |
so enter the convent"
&" But now you are safe, my star"
They told me you were killed. -
Captured only. i escaped and was re-
BURNING TO you"
Some destiny guided you to me-
THE destiny of love that waits fulfill
nent"
"You are changed
. A soldiers lot transforms a man."
You are handsomer and taller"
If / am all in all in your eyes, am
fortunate.
Ny herol'' /
Flower Of the steppei''