Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-04

|REAT the talk of the village. All
/ the people were talking Some had
seen and some had not, but at least
everyone had been told. And in such a village
small, dull, almost forgotten, crouching in the
breast OF the SHOWS as cygnet IN the wing OF
a swan, curiosity makes chatter.
In Peter Browsks house at evening the
versation was sometimes slow. Peter himself was
old and tacturn. Mitritch had something of the
air of the forest at twilight drowsy, silent When
Barkoff came in it to speak of the horses and
to tell mammoth lies of the loads of timber he had
sold time. Sometimes Ivan who was nick
named the TALL for the obvious reason that he
not four feet high stumbled through the
drifts to make a visit But this was more for the
pleasure of seeing Katya than the business
he invariably announced. =
Why can't he talk business with your" the old
man would slyly ask Katya when Ivan had de-
parted. But Katya would only laugh and shrug
her strong broad shoulders. Katya was the village
belle She was of that plump peasant type, radi-
ating health merrilv ignorant. Her smiles were
bright with the joys of youth, just as the years
would know her frowning with the cares of age
Old Peter Browski had become man of means.
Thrift and other Russian virtues, aided nagnifi-
Gently by the timely death of brother in the city,
had accomplished this He extended home to
his nephews Mitritch and Stepan. Their father,
a third brother, had always been poor with heavy,
unliftable Russian poverty
Mitritch iron man. and proud of his great
strength. Those who loved him called the other
Little" Stepan, for he pale and handsome,
with the grace of slender proportion. There
harsh contrast in the two brothers: the heavy,
rugged tree, the other clean-cut, 1.-THE, like
reed.
They all gossiped. Even the drowsy Mitritch
grew interested and forgot to go to bed Ivan
the Tall, when he came in, brought fresh piece
of news. Barkof who accompanied him, shook
the snow from his shoulders and did not once
ton horses. Stepan listened attentively, he and
katya-for katya was woman, and where is there
a woman careless Of the chatter caused by another?
Yes, it all about a woman, the school
teacher She had out from the great city,
thirty long miles by sled from the train. Barkoff
and Ivan met her. She a brave little woman,
they said
Katya smiled. /" A little woman!''
Barkoff spoke of their ride He used the language
of the forest, clear, primitive. She bundle,
he said, grinning, small bundle She from
the train all wrapped up, if the cold wolf
and would bite her. We" motioning toward Ivan,
who also grinned-" we took off caps and bowed
low down, but she said kindly: Put your caps;
it is cold She talked with us though drove
fast You know how | make the horses earn
their supper, Ell, Peter? Ivan bounced about on
the bar as if it his mother dandling him again.
Dell Oeil Yes But the little woman was all
bundled up in the covers ike-like poodle-dog."
Barkof laughed uproariously. My but that
a ride And she-she talked to Ivan tried
hard to be brave man. He all smirks,
Echkmai"
But what is she lke?" asked Mitritch suddenly.
us she like Katya here? Is her hair black?
,>f fo,r .rYoxt