Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1902-09-26

| They soon broke up into groups and
scattered on the various roads. Zeid,
the red-headed chief, led the armed
relatives of Shange, and shouting
wildly, kept firing into the air from
his rusty revolver.
Now you may take rest, my little
lamb" said Viula cheerfully. "You
are so tired"
And he lifted Shange from the
horse carefully, and spreading his
cloak on the grass, seated her upon
1t. She was trembling like a wound
ed bird-pale, frightened, fatigued.
MY soul! My soul" he repeated,
finding no adequate words to express
his emotion-his love and happiness.
She smiled proudly as she gazed
at him. Weather-beaten, with black
moustache, in a jacket embroidered
with gold, he seemed to her so stately.
so handsome-her beloved bride
groom, her future husband. But her
heart beat with alarm, and she list
ened for the fantest noise in the
mountains. Now she heard the
stamping of hoofs. now gun-shot
resounded in the distance and shud-
dering she chung to Viula's arm.
Fear not, my ioyl" the Tartar
soothed her. That's the wind his
sing in the cliffs; that's a stone tear
ing down into the ravine-I love you.
my little flower my bride, and I
Will not give you away to anybody in
this or the other world. Well come
before Allah, and Wen tell him that
we love each other. How silent 1t
is now-not a grass is stirring.
And my father? He must be
| pursuing me now"
'The vulture cannot overtake the
eagle!" smiled Viula, kissing Shange's
pale lips. She flushed for a while
but Immediately turned pale again.
The alarming neighing of the faithful
horse announced that danger was
near, Viula and Shange jumped to
their feet. About a half mile away
a group of men on horseback were as
cending the mountain. Already wild
shouts and the stamping of hoofs
reached the ears of the fugitives
That's my father" muttered
Shange, trembling with fright
Viula mounted his horse. clasped
Shange in his arms, and darted off
like an arrow. Heaps of rocks block
ed the road; here and there a ravine
intersecting the path made it neces-
sary for them to turn aside. But
Eldash, all covered with foam did not
slacken his pace. Suddenly smoke
appeared from behind a rock and
shot was fred. Eldash staggered
and turned back. group of horse
men was coming towards them from
behind that rock. Viula understood
that he was being surrounded by his
pursuers.
Like a wild beast, clasping his prey
with all his might, he tossed about
hither and thither, and finally darted
off at random. He heard his pur-
suers were coming ever nearer and
nearer. but he felt certain that no
horse in the world could run faster
than his beloved Eldash. But his
horse stumbled again Viula bent
down. and with sinking heart beheld
q stream of blood gushing from FL
dash's leg, leaving a crimson trail on
the grass.
Hes wounded: now we are lost"
muttered Viula despondently. but the
horse. though struck by bullet. kept
galloping on and on.
stop Stop" Viula heard shouts
from behind him.
He pressed Shange closer to his
breast and gazed at her half-closed
eyes.
mo, I'll not give you away, my
bride, my life." whispered his pale
lips
For the first time in his life, Viula
used the whip on his faithful horse.
, Eldash began to snort. but ran faster
But he soon stumbled again, fell on
his knees, and, tossing his head back
jumped up and started at an uneven
pace
Its all over now." flashed through
Viula's mind
The shouts of his pursuers came
nearer and nearer. Suddenly Viulas
face assumed look of stern resolu
, ton: he turned back towards the
2 village. He was well aware of the
danger before him, of the precipice on
the way; but he galloped now straight
towards it. He knew the dark abyss
was close at hand. Now they reach
ed the edge of the precipice. Viula
, waved his hand.
, Get up, Get up" he cried wildly
and dashed Eldash with the whip
The horse pranced at the very edge
and then leaped into the abyss. Ell
, dash and Viula, with Shange in his
: arms. disappeared in the blush depth
The armed horsemen returned tc
! their village in gloomy silence. II
! was like a funeral procession, but
! without the dead
The old Tartars say that on moonlit
nights a mysterious rider on a furiou:
steed is seen galloping along the
|, SUBMITS of Yaila. and clasping to hi:
= breast a pale, beautiful maiden he
keeps kissing her ever and anon
: And the three shadows-Shange
:. Viula, and Eldash-move on the wing:
: of the wind, which brings forth {
-, melancholy melody as it blows among
y the cliffs. But at dawn, the horse
u and the riders leap into the abyss
with a wild cry-and a heartrendinl
! moan resounds over the mountains.
The ParfU NJ pronrace