The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-07-24
A C0SSACK FLOWER.

tlcdral in the town Just lcvuud the shin.
ing river that flows crandly and with sol
clun majesty through the land of the Cos
sacks and the occasional home Of the Tar
tnrs
II the GC,cIllJd thronp knccling In the
cathedral listening with rart attention to
the monotUnous information of the priest,
vas a young girl. Here, safe from the
wars alarms, her heart ycarninp for iso-
htion from the srrifcs which were Hrtat /
ing the land in that carly stormy Icrod, /
She UfCrCd up her petition, asking that
tranquil condition of mind which should
accompany soul longing for free dom
from turbulent surroundings.
Her beauty was that Of flower Of the
steppc, which, though perhaps never seen
by human eye, waves itself proudly in the
sunlight. Hen figure was stately her hair ,
dark as night; her eyes had "a diamond
lister (stars looking at stars at twilight
timc), and the EcntlCness of her nature ,
was APP aren't IL the lines Of her face and
in the graceful posture.
"SCc her. Whispered one of the wom-
en-. Her thoughts are for her absent
lover"
nc who was killed in the expedition
against the Mussulmunsy"
Yes; Pan Os,ap. She is going into a
convent"
The voice of the priest was heard in OK
hortation. Blood had flowed on every side.
Widows and fithcrlcss children were there,
who sohbod for the absent ones, and now
there were tears in the eyes of the girl for
sic rcmcmh crcd how manly was her lover,
how pleading the tones of his voice, and
bow his glance, so terrible in battle, grew
soft ard tender when he gazcd at her and
in his imIetuous way told her Of the booty
he mad collected from tho Turks, the home
he had Il tIurCd and the broad estates
which would be ruled over Jointly by
them. And now he was gone. and only
the wandering minstrcls were left to sing
the tale Of their unrCquitcd affection, "a
narration which perhaps would go down
to posterity through the ages of ages"
She remembered their parting when they
strollcd together ovtr the steppe and he
bad placed II cross VI on her neck and kiss
Cd her brow. 1t was sad, when life held so
much that was sweet, that the law Of cx-
termination had qucnched young and
fiery spirit, and the words of the priest
brought to her that sense of profound iso-
lation which follows the loss of Il loved one.
Suddenly as n storm sweeps the stcppe-
the yirga, most terrible of hurricanes-a
shout was heard outside, hundreds of fig
urtS Vi lnC lUTJtlIS IOuTCO III, sdDCTS IuSn-
cd, shriCks and lamentations arose, and
all the ECrciless horror Of warfare in "a
barbGrous land was apparent. On all sides
men and wCmcn were put to the sword
and the Priests were killed at the altar.
Instead OF the tones of the organ, bringing
solace and joy, shreks of anguish arose.
and where lcforc were knCeling figures
now was confused, struggling mass
the spectacle not an uncommon one, OF
an entire congregation without warning
Icing ruthlCssly butcherod.
The figures approached the girl. The
cries became more irightful ard then she
| lost consciousness. So the hands of the
barbarians dcsCcrated the peace and calm
of that Easter Sunday and the steppc wit
messed once mere one CT those horrible
scenes which were 70 frequent.
Many hours lat,r, when the girl rCcov-
cred consciousness the band of 1urtars
were resting their horses near the banks Of
/ the great river. Silently she remained
| seated amid the na1auders, and had her
hand been free she would have seized u
dagger and ended her life.
III lie Tartars We're engaged in their prep
! arations for the evening meal, ard one Of
/ them even approached her and offered her
refrcshmenJ, but she only closed her eyes
TO shut out the sight of him and shuddor-
| cd, praying for that death which had come
to the Others and lassGd her by. About 10
! enter the convent to worship and cherish
| ford memories Of her lover, fate had been
unkind to her and wrcsted her from tie
very gates of the holy cdifice,
The mist that arose from the river
wreathed itself in fantastic shapes, like tho
spirits of the departed, which were said to
hover over its broad bosom, and she clasp
ed her hands and thought of escape where
release seemed impossible.
LIT Lark! From the distance comes a
faint sound. Louder it grew, and the Tar
tars started To thCir feet. The sound be-
came II rumble, and then the pattcr Of
hCr"os feet was apparent. The Tartars
erasQcd their weapons and looked appre-
lensiVtly ever the stepre, where band Of
, LursCmCn was s.Sn approaching.
"Ihe Cossacks!" they cried.
An answering shout was heard.
"NCCECGLccp
Across the riyerv' commanded The
Tartar chief.
Too late. Like whirlwird the horse
men approached, with Il noise like thunder
ITO the sworu!'
AS leaves before the blast, so the band
of marauders were exterminated. Some
sprang into the river and were drowned.
The rest fcn 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.
"Ostap"
MY fowur Of the stepEe!"
you are herc AliVc!'
"AliYe, trembling dove!"
How tranquil the flow of the moving
water as in the twilight time they wan
dcICd by the shore. A1ar the wild swans
were seen cleaving the air The red east
ern sun sank in IA blaze Of glory. The star
thistles in the grass dropped as if to sleep,
but the twn walked on and talked in sub
dued tones.
"Ihey carried me off when / was about
70 enter the convent"
But now you are safe ny star. "
"They told me you were killed"
%Capturod only. | escaped and was re-
turning to you"
"Some destiny guided you TO me"