ome girl of eighteen, whom they brought up very
well and carefully. She worked for a dress-maker, and was thus able to
help her parents a little, and she made use of her leisure moments to
improve her education, and especially her music. She was a general
favorite in the neighborhood on account of her quiet modest demeanor, and
she was looked upon as a model by the whole suburb.

When she went to work in the town, the tall girl with her magnificent
head, which resembled that of an ancient, Bohemian Amazon, with its
wealth of black hair, and her dark, sparkling yet soft eyes, attracted
the looks of passers-by, in spite of her shabby dress, much more than the
graceful, well-dressed ladies of the aristocracy. Frequently some young,
wealthy lounger would follow her home; and even try to get into
conversation with her, but she always managed to get rid of them and
their importunities, and she did not require any protector, for she was
quite capable of protecting herself from any insults.

One evening, however, she met a man on the suspension bridge, whose
strange appearance made her give him a look which evinced some interest,
but perhaps even more surprise. He was a tall, handsome man with bright
eyes and a black beard; he was very sunburnt, and in his long coat, which
was like a caftan, with a red fez on his head, he gave those who saw him
the impression of an Oriental; he had noticed her look all the more as he
himself had been so struck by her poor, and at the same time regal,
appearance, that he remained standing and looking at her in such a way,
that he seemed to be devouring her with his eyes, so that Viteska, who
was usually so fearless, looked down. She hurried on and he followed her,
and the quicker she walked, the more rapidly he followed her, and, at
last, when they were in a narrow, dark street in the suburb, he suddenly
said in an insinuating voice: "May I offer you my arm, my pretty girl?"
"You can see that I am old enough to look after myself," Viteska replied
hastily; "I am much obliged to you, and must beg you not to follow me
any more; I am known in this neighborhood, and it might damage my
reputation." "Oh! You are very much mistaken if you think you will get
rid of me so easily," he replied. "I have just come from the East and
am returning there soon, come with me, and as I fancy that you are as
sensible as you are beautiful, you will certainly make your fortune
there, and I will bet that before the end