Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1890-02-27
A LEAP TO DEATH.
Fate Of Two Christian Maidens in
Escaping the Turks.

Escaping the Turks.
In Southern Dalmat tia there is bit OF
coast stretching from Cavtat, Ragusa,
Veccha, to Sutorina, which is called
KOnavje, and is noted far and wide for
the beauty of it's women and the valor
of it's men. Faces and forms of ANTIQUE
Grecian mold are by no means rare
among the inhabitants of this pictur-
esque region, and this is the more sur
prising since their neighbors, the Herze-
govinians and the Bosnians, are not at
all prepossessing in mien or feature.
About 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.
The possession of the hamlet had long
been a bone Of contention between the
Bosnian Vizier and the republic of Ra-
gusa. The little republic had at last
been forced to give up the struggle and
abandon Uvjece to the Turks. The viii
layers were naturally dissatisfied with
the result. and Minko Radovic, the head
OF the family, was active in keeping up
the discomfort. He persuaded his neigh
bors to consider themselves citizens of
AAdS uoh, dHo 10 IcSlSC WIFI arms every
attempt on the part of the Turkish Agas
or Beys to collect taxes.
Mirko had two daughters. The elder,
Kosara, was lovely girl of seventeen;
the other, Ljubica, child of eleven.
Kosara was the fairest maiden in the
village, and had no end of admirers
among the young men. Her most eager
suitors were two friends of her father
named Stanko and Toma. Stanko was
a refugee, who, for some reason, had
fed from Turkish vengeance and found
an asylum in Uvjece. His ugly, weather
beaten face wore an expression of
vicious cunning, and there was nothing
in his appearance or disposition to win
upon the young girl Toma, on the
other hand, was a far more agreeable
character, but still he was nothing more
than a good friend to KoSara. She was
still heart-whole, and, as her father
made no effort to influence her choice,
neither Stanko nor Toma received any
encouragement.
Things stood this way when one
bright September morning Turkish
Aga with two companions appeared in
Uvjece and demanded the deserina
(tenth) and the harass (poll-tax). The
three friends acted as spokesman for the
villagers, and boldly declared that
Uvjecc 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 tho officers head. Minko and
Toma, for their part, threw themselves
upon his companions and cut Thorn down
lin an instant. Then StankO promptly
set to work to plumber the bodies.
They found a rich booty. The pock
cts of the fallen aga were full of money,
the weapons of the soldiers were set
with precious stones, and the horses
were richly caparisoned with silver
mounted harness and -broidered
cloth. The loot was taken to the
house of Radovic to be divided. Stanko's
face wore its ugliest leer as he spread
the rich trappings on the floor, and
Toma investigated the contents Of the
purse, while Minko looked on with a
satisfied smile. .Ljubica, nesting close
to her father, and Kosara, leaning care
lessly against the wall, wa tched with at
tentive interest the result of the inves-
tigation.
ducats!" cried Toma, at length, in de-
light. ''That1l make fine dowry for
you, Kosara."
''How SOP" replied the maiden, in as
constituent. 1.-THE spoil belongs equal
ly to all, and father gets but third; be-
sides, you seem to forget, my dear little
sister has claim as we'll as l."
'I'n not touch my part" exclaimed
Toma, with enthusiasm. II give it to
the lovely Kosara."
But can't accept your present" re-
turned the girl, quietly.
Right you are" interposed Stanko.
sKosara's heart is not to be won with
ducats."
'Who said it WASP" retorted Toma, in
an angry tone. do you think I'd try
to win Kosara with money!"
1T looks little that way" replied
Stanko, his face disfgured with a
hideous sheer.
Toma, now thoroughly enraged. was
about to turn upon his rival, when
Minko interfered and restored peace.
'sLet there be no quarreling," he said,
In a conciliatory tone. THE deed we
have to-day committed was perhaps
rash and ill-considercd. but it can't be
helped now, and we shall have to stand
together, and the best thing we can do
is to consider how we can avert the evil
consequences of our act. For when the
Aga is missed the Turks over yonder in
Trebinje will commence an investiga-
ton, and if they discover the real state
OF the case Wen have to pay dearly
for it."
The long consultation which followed
brought the friends to no other conclu-
sion than to quietly await develop
ments.
The disappearance of the Aga was soon
remarked in Trebinje, and his friend
became uneasy. Learning in a neighbor-
ing village that he had set out for wv
iece and had never returned the Turks
directed their march to that place. The
approach Of one hundred troopers natu-