Page:The Strand Magazine (Volume 4).djvu/609

 by George, advanced to the door where the impatient verger was shaking his bunch of keys. Outside, the sun was glittering through the green foliage.

"Come," said Tertsehka, "let us go and sit down."

They proceeded towards a forest of young pine trees which fringed the meadows. A little hill, carpeted with soft moss, provided them with a seat, from which they looked down upon the village inn at their feet. They gazed with interest. The little inn was en fête. A merry wedding party were celebrating their happiness before the entrance, under a great beech tree, which spread its branches above their heads. Strains of music, softened by the distance, presently stole upon their ears. They saw the bridal pair advance and begin dancing upon the greensward to the music.

"How gaily they dance," cried Tertschka. "Do look at them."

"Yes, they are happy," he replied, dreamily. "If only we could celebrate our marriage too!"

"Oh! what are you o saying?" she murmured, almost inaudibly; and, stooping down, she plucked a red flower in the grass at her feet.

"Resi!" he whispered—he called her by this name for the first time—and at the same moment he passed his arm timidly about the young girl's waist. "Resi, if you knew how much I love you!"

She made no answer, but she raised her eyes and fixed them upon his. In the love light of their depths he read his happiness. He drew her gently to his heart, and their lips met for the first time in one long kiss of love.

I have undertaken the task of narrating this simple story as faithfully as possible, must I describe to you the dream of happiness in which our lovers lived from that day? I think it will be wise for me to pass it by in silence. What words can render the exquisite joys of a passion so pure as theirs?

It is true that they were compelled to conceal their happiness from all eyes, trembling with fear lest it should he discovered, as if they had been guilty of a crime. But in their secret hearts their passion throve and flourished.

The fear that the overseer should learn of them visit to Schottwernn dimimished little by little; so much so that one day George, having gone to that part of the quarry where Tertschka was working, took the opportunity to snateh a few minutes by her side. For a little while the lovers forgot their woes in a passionate embrace; but almost at the same moment they heard the sound of rapid steps behind them. They started instantly apart and perceived the overseer, who, with an evil smile upon his lips and his face purple with rage, stood gazing at them.

"Ha! so I have caught you this time, you wretched creatures!" he hissed forth. "This is the way you obey my orders! And you think I do not see your little game! I know well that you were together last Sunday, but I wanted to surprise you in the act. You shall pay for this." As he spoke, he seized George by the throat, and, with a savage shake, threw him with such force upon the ground that the dust and stones flew up around him.