El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-02-23
The HeraId's Daily
Short Story
The Black Eyes

heavy hand on her shoulder and jumped
TO her feet wild with fear
Then she saw that she was alone
She listened The house was abso-
lutely quiet She ran to the door and
turned the key twice IN the Jock arter
carefully running her eyes all over the
room to make sure the man was not
hidden somewhere First then she relt
a little more calm
Where were her parents? And where
were the serVants2
She had called and rung the bell for
several minutes and stil nobody had
come. Could the burglar possibly have
murdered them2
He did have the eyes Of q real muir
derer, she thought The fear nearly
made her faint.
Suddenly she heard footsteps outside
and somebody tried TO open the door
Savka felt her returning
who is it," she asked in voice
that trembled.
something TO tell you" said her mother
impatiently-
Savka opened the door and her moth
er began with a smiling face: DO you
know that kinka-' but she stopped
short when she noticed the paleness
of her daughters face.
She was going to tell that kinka,
their neighbor's wife, had given birth
TO a baby, but instead she asked:
What is the matter with you? You
no, q thief I am sure ne has car
ried off everything"
'Oh, NONSENSE There has been no
body here. You must have been
dreaming" said her mother and rang
for the butler
The man, costa, came Immediately.
He was short, with narrow should
ers, a big face and enormous hands
said Savka giving a description Of the
costa took a lamp, armed himself
with a Ratchet and examined the whole
house. He even went down into the
cellar. but nowhere did he find sign OF
any disturbance.
perhaps 1t was a man who wanted
10 see your father that you have taken
for a burglar"
But Savka could not be convinced
81 saw him" she said. He had long
hair and Whiskers and big black eyes,
the most terrible eyes I ever saw"
Then they sent for policeman, who
examined the whole house and was
given a description OF the thief.
Did ne stoop a little when walk
ing he asked at last
I did not notice Savka replied
You may be quite sure that know
him. / have seen him pass this house
several times q day the last four or
five DAYS He always stopped in front
of the door and looked up have
already reported him to the captain
He can't escape US. 1 will take care
of that he said as he left
A little later Savka's father and
brother returned. but both assured that
i must be a false alarm
The next moring Savl1a received a
very large envelope which had been
brought by a messenger 1t bore the
address, "MademOisele Savka Cos
t0va" in a bold firm hand.
She tore it open and read;
"Mademoiselle SaYka COstoYa:-
Il hope you VIII forgive me for hav-
ing chosen such an unfortunate time
10 call on you yesterday. did not
get a chance to explain my visit IN
person. so I viii DO so now.
II have often passed your house and
have repeatedly heard YOU playing my
: modest little composition The BACK
Eyes. Undoubtedly IL must have
pleased YOU, but pardon me Tor tell
ing you that you always make a mis-
take at a certain passage, Just where ]
believe I have been most successful In
finding an expression for my thought
B ] cannot think but that there must
long thought Of calling on you to cor
rect it. but have never found coura ge-
Last night I again heard you playing
and decided to enter your house, not
knowing that you were alone, and as
leave for Sofia today and should like
to know that you are playing my
music correctly, L enclose q correct
copy,
Now you know the object Of my
visit Hoping you will forgive me for
disturbing you, 1 remain
Yours sincerely,
Vladimir Darenoff't