Photos from open sources of
This story was told by a resident of Pskov Anna Selezneva, she happened when Ana was seventeen years old.
The girl and her fiance came to the village to visit Anina’s grandmother. Anton was an amateur fisherman and had high hopes for the local small river, dreamed of a big catch.
… The very first morning they got up at dawn and went to the river. Everything was wonderful on this day: clean air, pristine silence, unique, stunning city dweller beauty of nature. Seemed they got into a fairy tale …
Finally, Anton chose a fishing spot and abandoned the gear. Anya walked along the shore, admired the wonderful landscape, and when the sun began to bake, went swimming. She hadn’t been so well for a long time, and it seemed that this river, and the sky above it, trees and grasses – all around is radiating unthinkable, transcendental happiness …
– Annie, where are you? Go here! – the cry of Anton was so unexpected that she flinched.
– Look what I caught! – the guy said cheerfully. – By the hook, you got hooked. This is a gift from the river to you …
Anton had a brooch in his palm, which he pulled out with his donkoy. The ornament darkened by water, apparently, was silver. Anya examined the find with interest.
“You need to clean it,” Anton said busily. – We will clean it, and will be like new.
“I like it more,” Anya said thoughtfully. – How as if it’s old. I just clean the clasp …
Anton again became interested in fishing, and the girl crouched in the shadows not far from him and, looking at the brooch, tried to imagine a village the beauty to whom the ornament could belong … Gradually in her the head has a whole romantic story in which silver the brooch played far from the last role … And then Anya quietly dozed off.
In the evening, he and Anton went for a walk. Anya dressed a beautiful dress, pinned to him the brooch found.
– Well, how? She asked the groom.
– Exclusive! – approved Anton.
Somehow it turned out that they were at the river. IN she was completely different in the darkness – mysterious and wary, as if frozen in the gloomy shores …
And then a fog came from somewhere. Thick veil as if at once fell from the sky and fenced off Anya from Anton, in general from everything … It was so unexpectedly that the girl got scared.
– Anton! She shouted in a voice, not in her own, alien voice. – You Where?
There was no sound in the viscous silence. Anya did not dare anymore shout. She was afraid to go because she did not see the road, and she was afraid stay in place – in this cold and sticky, it’s not clear where the mist that has taken over. She stood clutching herself and quietly she sobbed with fear.
Suddenly, the muddy veil parted slightly – just enough so that Anya sees a girl in front of her and gets scared even more. The girl was all wet, as if she had just come out of the river, and such pale that her face seemed a mask. And just like a mask, it was motionless and expressed suffering. The child handed slender to Ana hands and said plaintively:
– Give, please, give! .. You look so beautiful, smart … And I, and mine … Please, give it back! ..
Anya screamed shrilly and rushed to run, not knowing herself where to. She fully came to her senses only in her grandmother’s house. Soon Anton appeared, hoarse because long and loudly called Anya.
Return of the brooch to the rightful owner
Frightened and still trembling, the girl spoke about her a strange meeting. Grandmother darkened her face and crossed herself.
“Do you know something?” – Anya quickly asked her. – Bah, what are you do you know Who was that?
“We lived here once,” answered the grandmother with a sigh, “the family one lived. This girl and her parents. Parents were alcoholics … latest. They drank everything in the house, nothing to eat, no clothes to wear … This girl is clogged, in cast-offs, hungry forever … Neighbors slowly fed. And then the boys started to tease her … That’s where, tell me, is there so much anger in children ?! In general, someone gave her this a brooch. It is clear that not parents, but someone else. Well, you never know … And she, you poor fool, take it and attach it to your rags! .. And on left the street. Looks like she wanted to show that she could be something worthwhile! ..
Grandma could not stand it and cried. Ani’s eyes too tears welled up.
– Well, then what? Asked Anton grimly.
– And then they saw these animals a brooch on a girl and let’s to mock … They surrounded her and everyone some muck in the face is talking. She really wanted to run away – they would not let me go. And one took and tore a brooch. And rushed to the river. Everything is behind him, and she, poor, is of all Silenok runs and shouts: “Give, give, please! ..” Well, he swung yes and thrown away into the water. And she – after … Swim I didn’t know how …
… All this night Anna did not sleep. Sometimes she started to cry, and then Anton woke up and tried to calm her down.
Early in the morning they again came to the river. Anya did not detach a brooch, she decided to return it to the girl with the dress. River took the gift and quietly carried it to the depths.
At night, Anna dreamed of a girl. Someone else’s dress was great for her, but the girl clearly liked it. She seemed pleased and even happy and grateful smiled at Ana. “May you be well … there, “the girl whispered, barely audibly, without waking up.
Water
