Page:The grandmother; a story of country life in Bohemia.pdf/98

92 congratulate her, and whenever she appeared on the common, she was greeted with the words, "God grant you happiness, bride!" But when the young people said: "What a pity that you are going away! Why do you leave us, Victorka?" then her eyes filled with tears.

For several days Victorka was happier, and when she had occasion to go out of the village was not oppressed with the fear that she had felt before. She wore the amulet from the blacksmith's wife, as she had done before she was a bride. She felt free from anxiety, and thanked God and the old dame for her delivery from danger. Her joy, however, was of short duration. One evening she was sitting with Anton in the orchard. They were discussing plans for their future housekeeping, and were talking about the wedding. Suddenly Victorka stopped, her eyes were fixed upon the bush before her, and her hand trembled.

"What is the matter?" asked Anton much surprised.

"Look! between those branches before us,—don't you see anything?" she whispered.

Anton looked, but declared he saw nothing.

"It seemed to me that the dark soldier was watching us," she whispered so low as to be scarcely heard.

"Just wait, we'll make an end of that," cried Anton. He sprang up and searched all around, but in vain; he saw no one. "He will not escape so easily another time; if he persists in looking at