Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-04-17

| and finally the attacking party rushed
out from its ambush, and with drawn
scimitars fell upon the thirty Turk;
who were yet able to fight. In the hand
to-hand conflict which followed oul
three friends fought side by side. To
ma, after cutting down three of the
Turks, was shot while closing with the
fourth. With secret JOY Stanko saw
him fall, for he was now rid of riya.
whom he had begun to fear. While in
this moment he thought of Kosara he
saw directly in front of him Turk
spring forward to strike Minko from
| the rear. One quick blow from Stan
kos flashing steel and the Turk would
have fallen before he could accomplish
his deadly purpose, but Stanko never
dealt that blow. He waited until the
Moslem had given Kosara's father &
| mortal wound, and then avenged his
comrades death on the body of his de.
stroyer.
He glanced furtively around to see
if there had been any witness to his
treachery, and breathed more fire ely
when he perceived that the few re-
naming Turks had taken to flight and
the villagers were all occupied in pur-
suit
After a moments reflection Stanko
turned and fastened back to the vii
lage and to Kosara.
Where is my father?' cried the girl
in an anxious voice.
Stanko forced his evil countenance
into a grimacc, which he intended
should express deep sorrow, and sighed,
in reply, ''Poor Kosarar'
Fathers dead!' shrieked the I'M
fortunate girl.
''He fell like hero after he had wit
messed the destruction of the enemy"
Kosara broke into heart-rending Ia
mentations, and Ljubica, sobbing bit
terly threw her arms around her elder
sister.
After pause Stanko continued: "He
died in my arms. We fought side by
side. Three times parried the deadly
blows suspended over his head, but at
last wretch coming from behind gave
him deadly wound, from which |
was unable to defend him. After !
had struck down the murderer I bent
over your father, who thanked me
with his dying eyes and kissed me, say
ing: Give this kiss to my dear Kosara,
and tell her that it is my last wish that
she take you for a husband; and do
you be to her husband, father. and
protector. )"
AS he uttered these words Stanko
threw his arms about the weeping girl
and gave her the parental kiss with
such fire that Kosara tore herself in
terror from his embrace.
The scales fell from her eyes in q
moment. She remembered that her
father had often promised her that he
would never force her into a marriage
with any one, least of all with the
man Stanko, whom he knew she thor
oughly detested.
You lie, miserable mani' she cried,
in storm of indignation. you have
killed my father yourself, and now you
are trying to deceive me because you
think am forsaken, defenseless girl,
and dependent upon your protection.
| will find others who will protect me
from you"
eff you are placing your hopes on
Toma [ shall have to destroy them.
Il OliU lCll a 1CW LlluuUCS DClOIO Jul
father breathed his lastn'
You probably killed him too. Get
out of my sight and never dare to cross
this Threshold again.
what! You will not then be my
wife?" cried Stanko in a fury, his face
dark with passion as he stepped closer
and grasped her hands.
mo, never!'
''Well, then, III force you to it!'' he
Kissed.
Kosara defended herself as we'll as
she could, but her strength was fast
ebbing away, when Ljubica, who had
slipped out unobserved a moment be,
fore. rushed in screaming.
The Turks are coming!
Stanko at once released the girl and
dashed out of the house. No Turks
were to be seen in any direction. En-.
ragged at this deception he haslened
back. but when he entered the hut both
girls had disappeared. AS the house
had but one exit Stanko supposed that
they had hidden themselves.
There were, however, few places in
which to hide. and he soon came tt
the conclusion that they had escaped
| through the window. He looked out
and sure enough he saw their fiutterine
white garments far down the path
which led to Knipindol. They had al
ready good start, but Stanko, conf
dent that he would soon overtake them
dashed on like a race-horse in pursuit
When the girls saw that they were
being pursued they left the path ant
climbed up the rocks to the right, il
the hope that they might throw theil
pursuer off the trail. Stanko, how
ever, observed their maneuvers ant
clambered quickly after them. Sud
denly the painting maidens found them
selves upon jutting cliff which
reached out over a yawning abyss. L,
the right and left were walls of per
pendicular rock; behind them was thei
enemy.
eff he comes a step nearer we will
spring into the gulf" cried Kosara, il
despair, to the approaching foe.
Horror-stricken, Stanko stood still
kosaras resolute manner left him III
no doubt as to the earnestness, of the
threat. He had recourse to negotia
ton and endeavored to persuade the
iris to return by fair words and mos
solemn oaths.
Kosara was almost ready to give
faith to his assurances when in an in
slant the whole situation was changed
In the rear of Stanko group of Turk:
appeared upon the scene and charged
upon him.
When the child had announced tn,
approach of the Turks she had Spoken
the truth. She had left the house tt