The Mantle and Other Stories

ked towards the old house and the pool. We hardly need to say it was Levko. His black fur coat was buttoned up; he carried his cap

ile. Universal silence prevailed, only that in the forest thickets the nightingales' songs were

eep?" he said, rising

rs. Entranced, he gazed on the motionless pool. The old, half-ruined house was clearly reflected without a quiver in the water. But instead of dark shutters, he saw light streaming from brilliantly lit windows. Presently one of them opened. Holding his breath, and without moving a muscle, he fa

indow-panes gleamed in the moonlight. "How little one can believe what people say!" he thought to himself

ales rose powerfully and distinctly on the air, and as they died away one heard the chirping

ss and stillness of the night. He stru

ovely

eepst i

e where

all n

ened attentively to the song. Her long-lashed eyelids were partly drooping over her eyes; she was

he said gently, bending her head s

all I sing yo

ive you a girdle set with pearls. I have gold. Cossack, seek my stepmother for me. She is a terrible witch; she allowed me no peace in the beautiful world. She tortured me; she made me work like a common maid-servant. Look at my face; she has banished the redness from my cheeks with her unholy magic.

radually become louder

ready to do everything to please you, dear lady," he cri

he is cunning and sly. She has assumed the shape of one who is drowned, yet I know and hear that she is present. I am so afraid of he

wers; gold necklaces and coins gleamed on their necks; but they were very pale, as though formed of transparent clouds. They d

ven-game! Let us pl

l be the

girl stepped out of th

others; but she was evidently unwilling to play the part assigned her. The da

said, quite exhausted. "I do not like to

a witch," t

ogether in order to cast l

aven!" called on

t her body was not transparent like the others; there was something black in the midst of it. Suddenly there was a cry; the "raven" had rus

at her suddenly with his finge

and the other girls dragged the

ot need gold; you love Hanna, but her harsh father will not allow yo

shone wonderfully. With strange shudders and