Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-05-29
THE ABDUCTION.

/, Pavlos Mpekos. will tell You how
took her, us the eagle takes the kid.
1t was when | was handsome pal
liknr, when had broad chest and a
small waist, that there came to our viii
lage stranger with his wife and daugh-
ter. He had cousins among our people
and it was they who snid to me, "He
has money, this Aristides, and he is CO.
ing to live in our village, Pania." They
told mo this with pride and pleasure,
but IL was not afraid of their great
man. had just returned from the bar
racks AZ Veto, where 1 had served my
time and eeen many great men. And
as to his money, it was only when I
saw his daughter Alexandra that felt
that could spend it for him. But
said not word. 1 only looked at her as
she came toward tho village well with
water pitcher on her head. "She is
very beautiful" thought 10 myself.
"She treads upon air. Tho white skin
of her arms would bring light to dark
room. Her bosom, it grows to my sight.
She is round and delicious with fat. I"
And as she drew closer to me. "She has
much hair" thought to myself. sit
is black as a ravens wing; it comes
close to the earth. Would that / were
the earthp'
But when | saw her eyes--it was
then that my heart went forth to her,
and that, as l gazed into them, her
koumi veil dropped from before her
mouth. l had lived in barracks; knew
what that meant 1t was not chance; /
was handsome. And l did as man
should dol spoke to her with my eyes,
while said to myself, "You shall be
mine, you and your dowry."
In the evening of the day that had
thus seen Alexandra met her father
ut the inn. To offer him raki was as
easy as for him to drink it. We became
friends. And as friends drink when they
meet, 30 did we drink together for many
evenings at tho inn. But II had no
money, and that was the reason OF the
impatience that urged me quickly to
his daughter. And whom l had met her
in the cottage of Aristides, came there
again and again. Though 1 came with
the soul of u friend, my friendship with
Aristides did not ripen. My heart came
no closer to his daughters. She was
coy, thought. And howell. his words
passed me by for Demetri, This Dome.
tri, did not like him. He was u sheep,
not ram, though he was of our village.
But he was u sheep with golden fleece
and this tho cunning one, Aristides, had
i learned, as men will learn where money
is.
When the bAyonet is drawn from the
scabbard, the world may see its steel.
1t was thus with the betrothal of De
metri and Alexandra, and l, Pavlos Mpe
kos, could see it or not, as l pleased
and this Aristides told me. For of me
as son-in-lnw he would not hear. "Yor
have no money" said he. "tipote'
(nothing).
He spoke to me as IL was o dog, die
Aristides. but did not show my teeth
at least, not then. went to hi.
daughter very quietly. to where she wa.
alone, and said, Come we will go t.
the mountains together, you and L.
There were others close by, though they
did not SEQ us. when she whispered bacl
to mo; "No, will not go. l will marry
the pallikar that my father is going tt
give mo.
1t was joke, and to call Demetri {
pallikar! 1t was joke. and loved hel
for it; / told her sc She moved as if tt
go away. ! took her hand. Come"
said, I'VE will laugh together on tht
mountains, and later ON we will return
hither and laugh at Demetri." 1t wa
then that our words crossed like knives
md she stabbed me to the heart. Sh,
told me that she did not love me, tina
she had never loved me; that l, Pavlo
Mpekos, was ugly, and that he, Deme
tri, was handsome. Gould she have beer
more cruel2 Could sho have been NOR,
foolish2 /, handsome pallikar, ugly
1t was absurd; it nstonished me so tina
/ let loose her hand, and she fled away
But she was beautiful. and she hat
called Demetri handsome Her word
1 caDle back to mo again, and they burpe,