The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-10-13
OF HDE ROOM.

I Il may And you a VEIL" said the Lady
and you are going to be good enough
quite good. Now go back to your work, and
take care that there are no more acct.
dents"
Marinka kissed the Lady's hand again
this time almost p~assionately. and then
turning fmpetuously. retired behind the
stack. whence she presently emerged, carry
ing one Of the artistically shaped green
jars used in that district for drinking YES
sells.
You hall have my pitcher she cried
eagerly to Annola. Il am sorry / broke
yours"
In another moment she had scaled the
rick again and repossessed herself of her
pitchfork.
The demon would seem to have been ex-
orcised from Marinka that evening. She
received the scarcely yelled sarcasms of her
fellow-workers with downcast looks and ST.
lence. Going home in the dusk. and per-
ceiving a figure staggering in front of her.
bent double beneath the weight Of a brim-
ming pail, she charitably FASTENED to over
take it.
May / not carry your bucket, Mother
She started back, however. half repent
ing Of her charitable intent, when she dis
covered that the old woman was no other
than Martha Knotek.
He" said Martha. YES, my little one;
you may carry my bucket, and welcome
the old woman will bless you for sparing her
rheumatic old back. There will be a change
in the weather. Marinka, I tell you: my
lumbago warns me without fail. It Is bet
ter even than the queer glass In the castle
yonder."
She continued to chatter to the girl as she
walked beside her, and even when they ar
rived at her quarters in the Major she
would not consent to let her go.
You must come in" cried the widow jo-
vially: there is somebody here whom you
will be pleased to see. and-and I think 1t
is time for you to know the secret"
She had dragged the girl across the kitch-
en- as she spoke. and. opening the door of
the adjoining room. pushed her in before
she could demonstrate. The blind was
drawn and the little lamp already cast a
Pickering light on the embroidered coverlet
of Martha's bed. on the smoke-begrimed
pictures of the saints. some Of them CEN
turtles old. which crowded the walls; on the
little wooden table in the center Of the
room. beside which sat-Pista h~imself-Pista
a white apron covering his canvas
a needle between his finger and
his head attentively bent over a mass
Of shimmering blue and white.
"Pista!" cried Marinka. so It was you
you yourself!'
Pista looked up. startled at first: but at
sight OF Marinka's pale face and almost
eyes. he burst out laughing.
Dt I not say he cried, that I would
ask no other maiden but you to work for
me?"
"Ah, how wicked I have been," sasped
and she burst into tears.
In spite Of the representations Of the
weather prophets, the morning of the sth
IF September dawned exquisitely clear and
when all were assembled the village folk
In procession. the altar boys, in
scarlet cassocks and white SUPPLIES. Lead |
followed by the men. young and old; |
hen came the children. the maidens and
all In holiday attire. every one who |
,ould afford 1t wearing a white veil over !
embroidered cap or folded ribbon. They |
advanced in regular order, Justify singing |
heir curious monotonous hymns, and 50
"alked for miles in the scorching heat Of !
he sun along roads ankle deep In dust.
streams occasionally and wading
through plowed fields
The Chatelaine Of Petheofaiva, descending
rom her carriage, stood beneath the trees
o see her people pass. After the crowd OF
title boys. all devoutly piping with ear
ahY1lIvour ro-a fhn -o,,xL h--lI
d by their cross-bearer. Pista. A very
triking figure was Pista to-day. with his
head r%everently bent, and his strong
steadily carrying the cross. Over
hese hands fell the lace edges Of a pair Of
'orked sleeves, sleeves which the Chate-
aine suddenly perceived were embroidered
4 crimson and yellow-were they not In
eed the very pair that Marinka had
'orked for him some months before?
But as the priest reached he threshold
( the chapel silence suddenly fell, and the
est Of the procession passed on, unaccom-
anied by any sound saw that Of their own
leasured footballs and rustling skirts. Here
anne the girls, headed by = tall maiden car
wing q silken banner, which she carefully
,wered as she passed beneath the out.
pread branches Of the trees. Her dark
yes looked forth from beneath a snowy
ell. and The brown arms. which trembled 4
tile under the strain and weight Of the
recious burden. were draped by 4 pair Of
blue embroidered sleeves.
The Chatelaine smiled to herself. ana.
itheut waiting to see the end of the pro-
,ssion. made her way back to her car
age. She knelt In her carriage; the coach.
knelt ipon his box: the little thor.
horses. which had stamped and
,geted q short.tims before. rood stu whsa