Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1902-09-26
THE ELoPEM EMIT.
A Crimean legend.

Adapted from the Russian for the
Evening Post by Herman Bernstein
The beautiful Shange buried her
face in the small, colored cushion on
her bed and wept bitterly. Her
friends had irritated her a while ago
by hooking the man she loved.
All was silent in her chamber.
Suddenly there came gentle rapping
on the window-pane which caused her
to shudder and rise to her feet She
knew the sound, but she could not
understand how it was possible for
Viula to reach her window. which
was so high from the ground.
Shange's heart palpitated wildly. WHIP
ing her tears away, trembling in ev-
cry limb. she opened the shutters.
1t was her lover Viula. With a
broad smile on his face, he chung to
the window-sill, and Shange noticed
in the dark of the night that he stood
upon his horse, which leaned against
the wall of the hut, just above the
precipice.
"Vilua!" exclaimed Shange softly,
clasping her hands.
Hush, my soul, Not so loud, my
white carnation" whispered the
young Tartar, No one can see us
here"
But you'll fall, viula The horse
may slip"
Fear not, Shange! My Eldash
knows where he stands"
ooh, Allah" sighed the girl.
Tell me, is it true that Zed is
counting you?"
at is true"
will you marry him."
my father bids me do it,"
I But | want to know whether you
are going to marry him of your own
free will or not"
The girl turned away and burst in
/ to tears. Viula clasped her in his
/ arms firmly. and her shoulders quiv-
cred from her stifed sobs, even as
little bushes tossed by the wind.
Listen" began Viula. quickly, "If
you love me, come tomorrow morning
to the stream for water shall hide in
the thicket and wait there till you
come. I'll take you away to the
mountains-and then let all the vii
lage pursue us! | have no fear.
My Eldash will not betray us. Will
you Gomez"
81 am afraid Viula,"
"In that case you had better marry
Zeid He is rich. He'll pay your
father five hundred gold pieces for
you"
Shange bent forward and imprinted
a passionate kiss upon Viula's lips.
BE it so, I'll come. I'll comet"
she whispered.
"Shange!" some one called her from
the street. Viulas head Immediately
disappeared behind the window A
pebble rolled down somewhere. a
branch rustled-and all was silent
again
Shange went out of the hut and was
met by her companions who were
now preparing to sing and dance,
The stars twinkled. the girls smiled
as they sang merrily in unison, but
Shange's poor heart was oppressed
with painful alarm.
THE violet blossoms and withers.
sang the chorus, and it seemed tc
Shange that she was the poor little
violet. snatched from its stalk.
silver tear-drop quivered in her eye
lids.
Early next morning Shange donnet
her best clothes, her silver belt, ant
her pearls and carrying the copper
pitcher in her hand, she went dowr
to the stream for water.
On the path winding through the
rocks she came face to face with Zeid
He smiled broadly and was about t.
address her, but, according to the
custom of the land she turned he
face to the wall while he walked pas
her. The young Tartar girl wa!
glad of the custom, for her soul wa
filed with hatred and contempt TO
Zeid.
7 Shange descended the hill briskly
On reaching the stream she dipped
the pitcher in the water, and as sh'
looked around, a scream like that o
an eagle pierced the air. Shange rec
ognized the signal
No sooner did she advance a few
steps toward the thicket than Viula'
powerful arms held her in a firm EN-
brace. He seated her cleverly OF
the horse: she adjusted her foot int
the footstall, clasped the neck of he
bridegroom, and pressed to him timid
ly.
Get up" shouted Viula. A clou
, of dust went up from under the hoof
of the steed. Eldash, with hi
double burden, leaped over rocks an
bushes, as though he had been seize
with the same feeling of daring an
JOY as his master.
In the distance, on a rock stood tn
redheaded Zeid, stupefied with aston
, ishment. He saw how Viula seate
t his beloved upon the horse, and hoy
they both dashed away to the mour
( tains, but the suddenness of the Who'll
r affair petrified him, and. he could nc
come to himself for long time.
l Finally he recovered his senses, an
I furiously flourishing his hand an
staggering, he ran to the village.
His loud shouts startled the quie
. population. The women rushed OF
r of their huts and sighed; the me
cursed and ran to Shange's hous'
n Shange's father, her two brothers
r and her nearest relatives saddle
h their horses, and within few minute
e a long line of men on horsebacl