TWENTY-SECOND EVENING
THE RUNAWAYS
TWENTY-SECOND EVENING
"Some say," remarks Grandfather, "that the hero of the story I am about to tell you is the same as the kind-hearted young man of whom you heard not long ago—Mashtinna, the Rabbit. You will remember that he was uncommonly handsome as well as generous. This time he falls in love, and there is a wicked old woman in the way; but you will learn some day that true love is able to defy and to outwit all its enemies!"
THE RUNAWAYS
There was once a young man who had journeyed a long way from home in search of adventure. One day he came to a strange village on the border of a great wood, but while yet some distance from the lodges, he happened to glance upward. In the boughs of a tree just above his head he saw a light scaffold, and on the scaffold a maiden sitting at her needle-work.
Instead of boldly entering the village, as he had intended, the youth walked on a little way, then turned and again passed under the tree. He did this several times, and each time he looked up, for the girl was the prettiest that he had ever seen.