The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-06-25

streams OF red, blue and yellow ribbon |
the national color OF Romania. These |
"Surugui" cracked their long whips |
over their horses heads and with loud |
shouts set Off at a full gallop, and the |
princely party disappeared In a cloud |
of dust.
Far away from the salt mines, amidst
the mountains, stands a neat little VIII
lage, now bathed in the rays of the set
ting sun.
on the hillside an old man is leaning
on his staff. peering into the cottages
around, examining every threshold, as
If to meet with familiar face.
But none had returned as yet from
their labor in the fields. Yet a little
later, and the COW bells are heard in
the distance, and the youths and maid
ems come along in groups laughing and
chattering, then the married women-
spinning as they walk-wlth babies in
their arms, ON their heads or on their
backs. The men move more slowly,
smoking their cigarettes, their heavy
tools on their shoulders. Very soon
thin clouds of blue smoke rise from the
cottage chimpeys. The women are pre-.
pairing the evening meal, while their
husbands stay outside talking together
Then the young girls come out, with
huge colored pitchers, to bring water
| from the we'll The lads approach
them, and beg to be given to drink,
while many a joke is cracked.
The old man, unobserved by anyone,
still stands motionless, gazing toward
the village.
"Come here,'' cried one of the girls
to her companions II see something
in the water" and she looked laugh
ingly down the well. II see him quite
distinctly. Now. 1 know, who my hus-
band will ber' Naturally they all
wished to look, and pushed each other
good naturedly aside, for it is said that
if one looks intently into the water,
one will see the person whom one will
marry next year. While they thus
laughed there came from out a cottage
higher on the hill a girl of rare beauty,
whose large eyes were full of inde-
scribable sadness. Her braided hair
was glossy and seemed quite black in
contrast with some red carnations she
had fixed there. On seeing the other
| lasses at the well, she made a move
ment, as IL she would turn back, but a
| harsh voice ordered her to bring water
| quickly, She stood undecided, her
empty pitcher in her hand; as she
went along, both the old man and the
girls observed her. the lattec whisper
ed, and looked impertinently toward
her. In momen mt she was surround
ed by them.
Hey, Neagoe why art thou so silent?
Why so pale? Where is thy beloved?
Where is thy sweetheart, the murderer?
Say?"
Thou hadst best fling away those
flowers" said another, and she tore the
carnations from her hair,
Neagoe let fall her pitcher and looked
up to the heavens.
"All alone! Yes, am left quite
alone" cried she. rs there no one to
help me?"
Eyes, 1 am here" said a deep voice
near to her. The maiden drew back,
intimidated, and ashamed.
Vlad now came uD and stood before
Neagoe; he had been observing her at
tentively for some time in silence,
"Who art thou that speakest to me?''
she asked, with fear in her eyes, and
with trembling lips, as if she presaged
a new misfortune.
He waited a moment and then said:
"I am thy father. -Neagoe." i..-.
A sigh escaped from her breast; she
shook her head sadly, and letting her
hands fall despairingly by her sides,
said; ALAS! have no father!" The
Y girls looked at each other and came
nearer to listen. --.. ..
Has no one ever spoken to thee of
thy father?"
She bowed her head sadly.
Spoken? Oh! Yes, they said that
he was imprisoned for all his life at
Slanic." ....
Daughter, come from the salt
mines."
These words sounded so terrible that
a shudder seemed to pass through the
group of girls. Neagoe raised her eyes,
and looked at him.
"Dost thou know thy fathers name?"
asked he.
"Yes, my father was called Vlad."
Child, Vlad is my name Is not thy
mother called Florica and hast thou
not a brother Radu?"
She nodded her head in assent.
"'Tell ne, where are they?"
/ my brother has gone away know
not whittier, into the wide world, per-
haps, for he was very unhappy here,
My mother is dead, and 1 have to live
, with her second husband to take care
of his children"
, Thou livest in the house of thy
! mothers husband?"
Yes"
{ How long has she been married ??
For more than six years"
''Is this man kind to thee?"
, Kind! No, far from that"