The Mantle and Other Stories

y, were in the habit of assembling for the dance. In the mild evening light, cheerful songs blended with mild melodies. A mysterious

d cap set awry on his head, and his hand playing over the strings, he stepped a measure to the music. Then he stopped at the door of

s nigh, the

me, my lov

ur delicate face to the cold! Fear nothing! The evening is warm, and there is no one near. And if anyone comes I will wrap you in my caftan, fold you in my arms, and no one will see us. And if the wind blows cold, I will press you close to my heart, warm yo

a grating noise, and a girl who counted hardly seventeen springs looked out timidly through the darkness, and still keeping hold of the handle, stepped over the thre

angry so quickly! Why did you choose such a time? There a

s guitar, which hung on a long strap round his neck, and sitting down with her o

of each other in the future. The people here are not well disposed to you, the girls look so envious, and the young fellows.... I notice also that m

, and are already tired of it!" said

k eyes, and my heart laughs in my breast when you look at me. I feel so happy when you come down t

Cossack, kissing the girl a

e whether you have s

y. "About my marrying you? Yes, I did."

What

to anything, and blames me for loafing with fellows, as he says, about the streets.

s to the sky, the immeasurable heaven of the Ukraine; "there far away are twinkling little stars-one, two, three, four, five. Is it not true that those are angels opening the windows of their bright little homes and looking down on us. Is it not so, Levko? They are

angels set it up, and as soon as God puts His foot on the first rung, all evil spirits take to

oly branches drooped in the water. On a hill near the wood slumbered an old house with closed shutters. The roof was covered with moss and weeds; leafy ap

house, "a long, long time ago, when I was little and lived with mother, s

tupid people talk a lot of nonsense. It wou

you have certainly another sweetheart! I will not be frightened, and will sleep quite quietly. If you ref

Well then, listen. Long ago there lived in that house an elderly man who had a beautiful daughter whi

father, if you take a secon

shall love you more than ever, and gi

but she cast such an evil glance at her stepdaughter that she cried a

laws struck on the ground like iron. In her terror the girl sprang on a chair; the cat followed her. Then she sprang into bed; the cat sprang after her, and seizing her by the throat began to choke her. She tore the creature away, and flung

t leave her bedroom; the third day

her stepmother was a witch, an

f where he and his wife sat. She obeyed him, though with a heavy heart. On the fifth day he drove her barefooted out

ied; 'and the witch has ruined your soul. May God fo

to the house, "do you see that high bank; from that bank she th

errupted, timidly fastenin

witch's stepdaughter. One night she saw her stepmother by the pool, caught hold of her, and dragged her screaming into the water. But this time also the wi

der to find out which of them is the witch; but has not done so yet. Such are the old wives' tales. It is said to be the intention of the present owner to erect a distillery on the s

d Hanna, still gazing

earth with splendour. The pool shone like silver, an

again as she spoke, and felt

, looking round, but started o

ood-bye, Hanna!" and

ught a second?" sh

ye, dea

is a

d-bye, Hanna!" and kisse

ho had gathered round. "Are they never tired of the eternal kissing? I shall soon no