The Circassian Chief: A Romance of Russia

soft and sweet things he said tome! I never heard words like them, and when I looked at him again, Ithought him one of the handsomest of all the youths of the Atteghei--notin the least like his father, as people said he was. I was always happywhen he came, and used to play so many tricks to avoid old Kahija, whomakes me so obedient at other times, though I never ventured away so farfrom the house as you do. Then, when he told me how much he loved me,and that he would die, or win me, I was so happy! I did not think hewould have to die."

  "Yes, dear Zara, Alp is indeed a noble youth, well worthy a lady'slove," answered Ina.

  "Ah!" said Zara, clasping her friend's arm tighter, "see, Ina, see, hecomes! I see his glittering armour. I see his white plume. Ah, hehastens onward--he looks this way, to catch a glimpse of me. Now helooks at the shadow of the tall tree, to see if he have kept hispromised time. See the shadow scarcely yet touches the water! He fliesfaster than the sun. He will be here in a few minutes. Oh, Ina, how myheart beats! I must run away--I must hide. He will think I have beenlooking for him. I ought not to stay here. What will Kahija say?"

  Whatever Zara ought to have done, she showed not the slightestinclination to move, but continued waiting the approach of Alp, whocertainly proved himself to be no dilatory lover, by the rate hegalloped on. So fast indeed did he approach, that she had not time toretire if she would, before, leaping from his horse, he clasped her inhis arms, spite of her blushes, and the presence of Ina, whom he seemedto have quite overlooked. He, however, now made his courtesies to herin proper form.

  "See, Zara," he said, "I sent word I would come ere the shadow of yontall tree had reached the stream, and it but now touches the wet grasson its borders. I come, sweet one;" and he whispered a few magic wordsin her ear which made the roses glow more brightly in her cheeks.

  "My father gives me but a few days ere he will call me back to the camp,so that we have but a short time. He will arrange all things with yourgrandfather, and to-morrow my home will await your coming."

  We will not dwell any longer on the interview of the lovers; nor need wedescribe their words of tender endearment; for love, we believe, to bemuch the same in all parts of the globe, influencing in the same way thethoughts and feelings of all those, whose young hearts have not beenblighted and seared by the world, which too soon works a woeful changein all that is tender, pure, and lovely. These mountain lovers mightnot perhaps have used the courtly phrases of the cities of Frangistan;but they spoke a language which both perfectly understood, and, lookinginto each other's eyes, they found words unnecessary.

  They did not even perceive that Ina had long left them; and weresomewhat startled in finding old Kahija standing in her place, after aninterval whose duration they had not calculated. Her appearance drovemany things, they were about to communicate to each other, out of theirheads; and so pertinaciously did the nurse keep her ground, that Alp,who had never fled before the Russian fire, was now obliged to beat amost unwilling retreat.

  From far and near came guests to grace the bridal festival of the fairyoung Zara and the gallant Alp. From the mountain villages, andneighbouring dells, all assembled whom war had not called from theirhomes, and all ranks and classes were equally welcomed by the venerableand hospitable old chief. Parties of youths and maidens came in theirgayest attire, streaming over the hills and down the valleys; theirembroidered cloaks fluttering in the breeze, and glittering with silverfringe, singing, as they wended their way, songs in praise of the youngcouple. Here some noble gallant might be seen on his gaily caparisonedcharger, scouring along the valley to join the throng; others came inattendance on their fair partners for the coming dance; their gallantrymore sincere, and scarcely less refined than in the civilised countriesof Europe.

  The vests of the maidens were ornamented in front with silver studs, andclosed by clasps of the same metal; while a jewelled broach confined thebands which bound their slender waists. White veils or scarfs, nearlyreaching the ground, fell from amid their braided tresses, confined atthe ends by a silver cord. They wore muslin trousers, fastened roundtheir ankles; their petticoats reaching to the knee, and embroideredslippers encased their small feet. The lower ranks were dressed in lesselegant attire, though of much the same fashion; but all had done theirutmost to deck their persons to the best advantage, to add to thebrilliancy of the scene.

  The feast was held in the grove close to the habitation of the Prince,where arbours had been erected for the fairer portion of the guests. Inthe principal one Zara, with Ina and old Kahija, were stationed toreceive them. Numerous bands of slaves were in attendance, bearingtables to the green glade, from which, through an opening in the trees,was seen the lower part of the valley; and here the old chief stood withAlp and his friends, to receive the male guests as they quicklyassembled. The tables were spread in long rows on the grassy lawn; thechiefs, and those of higher rank, being seated round their venerablehost, while those not of noble birth and the freemen, were placed at theother end.

  In the neighbouring thicket were numerous fires, at each of which wassuspended a nobly charged spit, or a kettle tended by female slavesbusily employed in preparing viands for the large party assembled. At adistance stood in eager and hungry expectation, the serfs and those notof rank sufficiently high to enjoy the privilege of sitting at table;but to whom the remainder of the banquet was to be served when thenobles had finished. There were minstrels also to chaunt forth thepraise of the bridegroom and his fair Zara, one taking up the strainfrom the other, and each endeavouring to outdo the first in praise anddelicacy of compliment.

  In the meantime, Zara and her fair companions were entertained in thearbours, whence their light ringing laughter reached the spot where thenobles were seated. Though many of the party where Mahometans, the cupof sparkling wine often passed round to the sound of music; but theyremained not long seated, for eager were the youths to join the dance,when they saw the troops of lovely maidens tripping gaily along theverdant glade, entwining round their graceful forms wreaths of brightflowers. The youths spiling quickly from the tables in pursuit of theirfair partners; and vain were their laughing efforts to escape from thequick footed, active mountaineers, who soon overtook them, leading themback no unwilling prisoners to the smoothest and most level spot fordancing.

  Then did the musicians strike up their gayest airs; the dancers movingfirst to slow and measured time, in circles alternately of youths andmaids, now lifting their arms in graceful undulations aloft and nowjoining their hands in the centre. Then, as the music quickened,pursuing each other round and round; the maids wreathing their flowersand circling the heads of the youth as they knelt at their feet. Thenspringing up, they pursued their giddy course.

  Alp led forth his bride elect, the last time he could thus appear withher in public; Thaddeus, following his example with Ina; and many aclosely veiled and hooded matron of high rank conducted to the dancetheir daughters to receive the hands of partners. Gracefully they movedthrough the forest glades. The minstrels exerted their talents to theutmost, and were joined, at times, by the sweet voices of the fairdancers; while, occasionally, laughter resounded on all sides. Theelders and matrons, seated on divans and carpets in the arbours orbeneath the shade of the trees, looked on with approbation, applaudingthe graceful movements and activity of their children.

  The time was now approaching when Zara must leave the gay scene to beattired in her thick veil in preparation for her journey, old Ivahijabeing in waiting to carry her off to the house.

  All present seemed full of happiness, except the young page, Conrin.The joyousness of the scene grated on his feelings; and forsaking thethrong, he sought to calm his troubled thoughts at a distance insolitude and quiet. He earnestly longed to see his master again; he wasdisappointed at Selem's not arriving as he expected, and feared that thedanger he fancied was approaching, might already have overtaken him.Javis, on perceiving his departure from the feast, followed at adistance, in hopes of offering consolation; but Conrin seemed to avoidhim.
At length, Javis came up with him.

  "Have I done aught to offend you?" he said, "know you not, that I woulddie an hundred deaths for your sake? Then, why do you thus shun me?"

  "Oh, speak not thus," answered Conrin. "Yes, you are good, you arekind, you are brave; and grateful, deeply grateful, am I, for all thatyou have done for me; but I can give you no reward."

  "I seek for no reward, but would comfort you," said Javis.

  "You cannot comfort me. I have brought my misery upon myself; and onyou, my kind friend, I have brought danger and hardship; nor know I howyou may escape from them. For myself, I care not; my grief has nocure."

  "Quit this vain hope. You still may have happiness with one, who lovesyou truly," answered Javis.

  "While my life endures, never will I quit the country that holds theyoung chief Selem. Think you, I would leave him when