Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1914-10-07

The Hetman Hotn0g.
by Ion Adam.)

.neirhing of the tired horses were the only
sounds that broke the silence Of the night
The Holman Hotnog, chief of the troop
was still on horseback, and from the rocky
river bank he looked across the swift eur
rent, in which the reflection of the stars
.elittcrcd Ike fireworks. From the dark
forest quite close to him emerged q woman
MI dressed IN white. with long golden hair
cnvclcping her slender form like a mantle.
llotroc saw her open hc rarms wide
"tlistar.' she cried in a voice Of despair
and sircw herself into the dark waters.
The sound Of her fan awoke the whole
troop. Without q momenI's hesitation.
Hotnog put SPURS TO his horse and in a
moment the noble steed was swimming to-
ward the floating form.
When his men arrived Hornog was al
ready getting ashore. q white form resting
across the horse in front Of him.
"-Aistar,' they heard her whisper.
The young women was resting on o bed
of carved ebony. loolHng a. frail a. d
flower. at her head she saw iIetman Hot
.uog.
"Arc YOU Feeling better. lrcne?"
"Ycs thank YOU"
Tell me what was the sorrw that drove
You To seek death"
She closed her eyes n if she were look
ing into IN abyss.
Tell me beg you.''
Listen. then. | am the daughter Of the
'SpaiercaSa tGencrIll lonita. Ny father
had gone "a war. was alone with nv
mother. The Turks invaded our home and
we fled. 1T the end Of a week my mother
died and then. what did | have to Ike for!"
lIotnog felt greatly relieved. He thought
he understood. but suddenly sadness once
more darkened his soul.
"Alistar.' he said. .Tell me. Irene. who
ls Ah~tar, whose name was on your lips
~always!"
The young girl was startled. Her eyes
opened wide and she asked:
"Dld ! ~ay anthing about him!r
"No, nothing but his name
The Domnitza controlling herself with
an effort. said:
"Alistar j. my brother, whom | have
lost, and who Is now wandering about
homeless
%Ilotnog, overwhelmed with happiness
touched Ircne's naked arm with hi. fore
head and whispered
IF You only knew how ! love Your
M the foot 81 \ mountain covered with
wood stood iletman lIotnog'- castle. IL
arrived there at shutdown aud soldiers
within opened the gale 10 the master and
hi- bride.
After the meal of welcome they were
sitting together IN the park.
Wherever | CO." he said. II carry Won
with me ~ my soul and when ] am fighting
m battle i will make me invincible.r
And ! shall ~ here unhappy and
alone
The Dominica leaned her fair head
against lii shoulders and whipcrcd, "You
have saved my life
"And you have made life worth living 10
me. We arc even"
The tocsin rang.
81 must go" he cried and tore himself
out OF her rms.
As they hurried toward the gate the
Domritza pointed % the ruin of \ distant
castle and asked: "What i that ruin9-
hotnos face darkencd a. be answered /:
"Do not ask me. | beg yon.r
~oh. 10 ten me-"
Irene. nothing has happened there. ~
rather Il II q legend. n very old legend
} on know tina: for centuries nv ancestors
have served the car in war. During the
reiFn OF stephen the Great, my ancestors
were made HotEogs and il j. 10 their valor
mat owe my name. NV ancestors used
- hive ~ that old castle. One OF them 20
ing % war;. n | am going TODAY. left his
Domnitzn home alone, a. | do now Re-
turning hnInc one night wounded and ov-
hau-ied M saw 4 hight IN her window ana
surprised the Domnitza IN the arms ~ an
other ic did not speak q single word. but
ordered ms men to wall up an door. and
windows at the castle, 10 entomb the lovers
.lve and now people passing the ruin at
night hear deep sighs."
How dreadful.
u You know. Irene. there i n cur,e
on our family. Not one of my ancestor.
laS been happy IN love. and I had ouitc
determined never 10 marry when Won came
and stole my viii power"
me bell Kept On ringing and %IIotnoc NJ
INC head IT hi men rode into. The darkness.
y war seemed never to end and n
IdIe OF all their bravery the Moldavian.
lost ground. One night they came 10 fine
l""t OF The Patau mountains and Hetma,