The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-06-26

fathers story, and when he had fin
ished she remained silent. Her eyes
had grown deep as night, SO dark was
the shade thrown on them by her long
lashes, and there were such hard lines
around her mouth that she looked ten
years older: still, she did not like to
open her heart to her father
In hamlet through which they had
passed, Vlad had sold some trifiing
articles which he had carved from the
rock salt and from morsels of wood,
during his leisure hours, by the feeble
light of his small lamp; with the money
which they produced he purchased
set of bag-pipes, intending to earn
living for himself and his daughter,
by playing upon them from place to
place.
Thus they wandered, and when they
reached a village Vlad played the
"Hora," and the villagers danced to
| it. Afterwards, sometimes Neagoe
would sing some of their pathetic ma
tional songs. Occasionally, she met
with work in the fields, then her poor
old father rested quietly near her. She
never complained, though often she
| knew not if they would have bread
| for the morrow. They lived from hand
to mouth, like beggars; and when Vlad
| pitied his daughter, she shrugged her
shoulders. saying: TT is better thus,
| than being at home"
1t chanced one day that they reached
| large village, which had evidently
| put on a festive attire; its flags and
| garlands showed signs of coming
wedding. Everywhere were people in
motion, and especially at the innkeep-
er's, opposite the church
Vlad sat himself down in the church.
yard on fallen stone, while
| Neagoe stood near to him, frowning at
all these preparations, the garlands and
| the streaming ribbons, and thinking of
| the last wedding "Hora" at which she
had been present. Then she asked in
| low voice.
Can one be sent to Slanic for MUIR
dering another person by accident?"
Vlad locked calmly at her. Yes, my
| daughter" he said. Then he continued:
"Neagoe, have seen thy Sandule!"
Thou hath seen him?" she shrieked,
then fell on her knees at her fathers
feet
Vlad made no attempt to console her.
At last she raised her head.
Father, didst thou see my Sandule
| in those mines?'
'I did, my child; he is a good fellow,
and he thinks but of his sweetheart.
From his own words 1 gathered that he
spoke of thee!"
And thou camest away, and left him
| there?"
Alas! my daughter, one does not go
in and out of the salt mines at ones
own Will"
Thou left him tkere!" she repeated,
for she could not Danish the thought
| from her mind.
He is but young, hardly more than
a boy! Perhaps they will have pity on
him."
Were not you young also?"
mo! for l was married, and I had
children, and l planned, and l lay in
wait for the man whom / killed, where
as Sandule committed murder in a mo-
ment of fury and excitement"
Twas for me, for me, that he killed
him." moaned Neagoe.
She crossed her hands over her shoul-
ders, and rocked herself to and fro,
tcrmented by grief
Soon they saw crowd of youths
coming towards them, dressed in their
gayest holiday clothing-shirts of daz-
zling whiteness, thickly worked with
colored thread at the bottom the chest
and the sleeves; their hats. with
streamers of many-hued ribbons, We're
decked with flowers. They were gay
and full of fun.
Listen to me, thou old man with
the bag pipe ! pray thee come hither,
for we must, at any rate, wait until
the bride. shows herself! Come, play
us something; and your pretty lass,
can you sing us song?"
Neagoe nodded her head in assent.
Vlad began at once to play, so that
the Girl might have time to recover
her self possession, but the youths
clamored for her song. In a sweet,
touching voice she sang thus;
might is fed,
With bitter tears l greet the day,
For cold Is the pillow on which l dream.
And find him not.
"My temples throb my heart it burns,
l am well nigh blind from my weeping,
1 have no one to whom l can tell my
pain,
No one who will console me-"
THAT is too sad," cried the young
fellows. Sing us something gayer,
my pretty one; see, here is money for
thee!"
They thought that the sight OF money
would cheer her. but she was unac-
customed to sing like a mendicant, and
she seemed to be ashamed
Vlad looked anxiously at her. Lis
ten to me-" he said, land follow as /
. sing Green Leaf of the Nut Tree"
; mo, no, that won't do all the songs
about nut trees are like dirges."
Vlad then played his pipes while Me-
agoe sang:
Green leaves. and dry wood