The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1890-04-10
A LEAP TO DEATH.
Fate Of Two christian Maidens in
Escaping the Turks.

Escaping the TURKS
III southern Dalmatia there is BIT Of
coast stretching from Cavtat, Ragusa,
Ncccha, to Sutorina, which is called
konayIe, and is noted far and wide for
the beauty Of its women and the valor
OF its men. Faces and forms OF antique
= - L. an-~mold ~are-by~ -no-means- rare
among the inhabitants of this pictur-
csquc region, and this Is the more sur
prising since their neighbors, the Herze-
Eovinians and the Bosnians, are not at
all prepossessing in mien or feature
Nbout the middle of the last century,
while. Konavje still formed part of the
republic of Ragusa, the family Radovic
Settled in the frontier village of Uvjece.-
Thc possession of the hamlet had long
--bee4ea bope=e contention between the
bosnian Vizier and the republic Of Ra-
Fusa The little republic had at last
been forced to give up the struggle and
aTandon Uvjece to the Turks. The VII
layers were naturally dissatisfied with
the result, and Minko Radovic, the head
Of the family, was active in keeping up
ffF ffisrontent. He persuaded his neigh
- h4Es 10 consider themselves citizens of
Eagusa and to resist with arms every
attempt on the part of the TurkishAgas
or Bcys to collect taxes
Mirko had two daughters. The elder,
kosara, was q lovely girl of seventeen;
tl1c other, Ljubica, child OF eleven.
was the fairest maiden in the
VII lage, and had no end of admirers
among the young men. Her most eager
sutors were two friends of her father
named Stanko and Toma. Stanko was
a refugee, who, for some reason, had
fled from Turkish vengeance and found
an asylum in Uvjece. His ugly, weather.
beaten face wore an expression of
vicious canning, and there was nothing
lin his appearance or disposition to win
19upon the young gfr TT oma, on the
other hand, was a far more agreeable
CHARACTER, but still he was nothing more
than good friend to Kosara. She was
still heart-whole, and, as her father
made no effort to influence her choice,
ncitherStanko nor Toma received any
encouragement.
Things stood this way when one
lrighta September morning a Turkish
Aga with two companions appeared in
viece and demanded the deserina
r (tenth) and the harass (poll-tax). The
three friends acted'as spokesman for the
Villagers, and boldly declared that
lyjece belonged to Ragusa and would
never pay taxes to the Turks The en-
ragged Aga drew his sword, but before he
could make use of his weapon Stanko
barred his scimitar, and with one stroke
cut off the officers head. Minko and
Toma, for their part, threw themselves
upon his companions and cut them down
in an instant. Then Stanko promptly
set to work to plumber the bodies.
found rich booty. The pock-
cts of the fallen aga were full of money,
the weapons of the soldiers we're set
With precious stones, and the horses
were richly caparisoned with silver
mounted harness and gold broidered
cloth. The loot was taken to the
'honse. of Radovic to be diYided Stanko's
face wore it's ugliest leer as he spread
the rich trappings on the floor, and
'Poma investigated the contents Of the
purse, while Minko looked on with a
satisfied smile. Ljubica, nesting close
10 her father. and Kosara, leaning care
lossIy against the wall, wa tched with at
I Tntiyc interest the result of the inycs-
legation.
Three hundred and sixty-three
ducdts!" cried Toma, at length, in de-
light. s'That1l make fine dowry for
You, Kosara,"
How SOP" replied the maiden, in as
IS, tonishment. ''Ihe spoil belongs equal
ly to all and father gets but third; be-
sides, you seem to forget, nay dear little
has a claim as we'll as !. y -
I'll not touch my part" exclaimed
Iona, with enthusiasm. II give it to
tt7t fuvrfy eKosara. = -47---- -
: But can't accept your present, re-
tlIri4eat girl, quietly.
Right you are" interposed Stanko
'Kosaras heart is not to be won with
ducats."
WHO said It wasp retorted Toma, in
an angry tone .sDo you think I'd try
= TO win Kosara with money!"
III looks a little that way" replied
Slanko, his face disfgured with q
mdeols sheer
: Iona, now thoroughly enraged, was
about to turn upon his rival, when
y Mlako interfered and restored peace.
--z+s-+lsct there be no quarreling,n he said,
IN a conciiatory tone. 1.-THE deed we
nave to-day committed was perhaps
r7t7H and i11-considered, but 1t can't be
helped now, and we shall have to stand
together, and the best thing we can do
rs to consider how we can avert the evil
consequences Of our act. For, when the
Ara is missed the Turks over yonder in
q l&binje wilkscommence an investiga-
non, and If they discover the real state
OF the case we'll have to pay dearly
for b . - -. -
The long consultation which followed
Drought the friends to no other conclu-
son than to quietly await develop
ments.
disappearance of the Aga was soon
~ in frebinje, and his friend
became uneasy Learning ina neighbor-
= ll'2 village that he had set out for Nv
geo and had never returned the Turks
aBBrected their march to that place. The
approach Of one hundred troopers natu-
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