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 chafing to be out and Blackie will hang herself. It’s time to let them out. And your cows are already in the herd; I hear their bells. In a minute father will drive them past. Go past the garden, Elška, so that the peasant women wouldn’t see you and gossip about you!”

“Oh, let them talk. I’m doing nothing wrong. But I’ll mind you. I’m going, but just as soon as possible we must tell each other more,” said Elška as she disappeared between the hedges.

Two rumors were being carried about the village. On every estate, in every cottage nothing else was talked of than the ghost in the parish forest and the approaching marriage of Maid Elška and the steward.

“So she forgot her first love thus early?” the reader will think. Do not wrong Elška. She had not proved disloyal in even a thought and had determined to undergo anything before she would become the steward’s wife. Even if she were not already betrothed, the steward was by no means the sort of man with whom she could have fallen in love.

He was of a short figure, as if he had been baked and set up on two short legs. His cheeks were as red as peonies, as was his nose also. On his head was a round bald spot which, however, he sought to cover with the red hair which still remained around his ears and neck. His eyes were surrounded by