Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1890-02-27

rally awakened the greatest alarm IN
the hamlet. There was NO doubt that
the Turks were coming to avenge the
murdered Aga. The terrified villagers
Roumanian border, but Minko urged
them rather to draw the Turks into am.
bush and receive them with bullets.
His counsel prevailed, and all the able
bodied men in the place, about twenty
enemy.
About a quarter of a mile from the vii
1age the peasants secreted themselves
behind the rocks which lined both sides
of the road, and, as the Turks ap.
preached, opened upon them with a
deadly volley. Before the Moslems had
recovered from their establishment the
Christians had reloaded and fired a
second time, then followed two volleys
from their pistols, and finally the attack
ing party rushed out from its ambush,
and with drawn scimitars fell upon the
thirty Turks who were yet able to fight.
In the hand-to-hand conflict which fol-
lowed our three friends fought side by
side. Toma, 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 a
rival whom he had begun to fear. While
in this moment he thought of Kosara he
saw directly in front of him Turk
springing forward to strike Minko from
the rear. One quick blow from Stanko's
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 destroyer.
He glanced furtively around to see if
there had been any witness to his treach-
cry, aud breathed more freely when he
perceived that the few remaining Turks
had taken to fight and that the villagers
were all occupied in pursuit.
After moments reflection Stanko
turned and fastened back to the village
and to Kosara.
''Where is my father?' cried the girl
in an anxious voice.
Stanko forced his evil countenance
into grimace, which he intended should
express deep sorrow, and sighed, in re-
ply, "Poor Kosara"
Fathers dead!" shrieked the unfor-
tunate 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 a pause Stanko continued: "He
died in my arms. We fought side by
side. Three times I parted the deadly
blows suspended over his head. but at
last wretch coming upon him from be-
hind gave him a deadly wound, from
which 1 was unable to defend him. After
1 had struck down the murderer bent
over your father, who thanked me with
his dying eyes and kissed me, saying:
Give this kiss to my dear Kosara, and
tell her it is my last wish that she take
you for husband; and do you be to her
husband, father and protector
AS he uttered these words Stanko
and gave her the parental kiss with such
from his embrace.
The scales fell from her eyes in
She remembered that her
father promised her that he would never
force her into marriage with any one.
least of all with the man Stanko, whom
he knew she thoroughly 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,
dependent upon your protection. 1 will
find others who will protect me from
you"
eff you are placing your hopes on
Toma | shall have to destroy them.
Toma fell a few minutes before your
father breathed his last
''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 fury, his face
dark with passion as he stepped closer
and grasped her hands.
mo, never!'
''Well. then, I'll force you to it," he
Missed.
Kosara defended herself as we'll as she
cou Id, but her strength was fast ebbing
away, when Ljubica, who had slipped
out unobserved moment before, 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 fastened
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 to the
that they had escaped through
the window. He looked out. and sure
enough he saw their Tutoring white
garments far down the path which led
to Knipindol. They had already good
start, but Stanko, confident that he
would soon overtake them, dashed on
like race-horse in pursuit.
When the girls saw they were being
pursued they left the path and climbed
up the rocks to the right, in the hope
that they might throw their pursuer off
the trail. Stanko. however, observed
their maneuvers and clambered quickly
after them. Suddenly the painting
maidens found themselves upon iut-
ting cliff which reached out over a
yawninp abySS To the right and left