The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1890-05-27
A LEAP TO DEATH.
Fate of Two Christian Maidens in
Escaping the Turks.

In Southern Dalmatia there is a bit of
cdast stretching from Cavtat, Ragusa,
Eeccha, 10 Sutorina. which is called
III Conavje, and IS noted far and wide for
I he beauty of its women and the valor
fOf its men. Faces and forms of antique
! t5recian 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 preposscssing in mien or feature.
About the middle OF the last century,
while Konavje still formed part of the
republic OF Ragusa, the family Radoyic
settled in the from tier village of Uviece.
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
1agers were naturally dissatisfied with
the result. and Minko Raaovic, the head
of the family. was active in keeping up
the discomfort. He persuaded his neigh
borS to consider themselves citizens of
Ragusa. and to resist with arms every
2 ttempt on the part of the Turkish Agas
or Beys TO collect taxes.
Mirko had two daughters. The elder,
kosara, was a lovely girl of seventeen;
Ythe other. Ljubica. a 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
q 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
kFicious cunning. and there was nothing
in his appearance or disposition to win
upon the young girl. Toma, on the
other hand, was 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 a Turkish
Aga with two companions appeared in
Uviece and demanded the deserina
<tenth) and the harass (poll-tax). The
three friends acted as spokesman for the
villagers, and boldly declared that
Uvjece 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
Feared his scimitar, and with one stroke
$cut off the officers head. Minko and
lEToma, 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.
They found 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 gold-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
satisfied smile. Ljubica, nesting close
to her father, and Kosara, leaning care
|@essly against the wall, watched with at
| ventive interest the result of the inves-
legation.
ssThree hundred and sixty-three
ducatsr' cried Toma, at length, in de-
light. ''That'n make a fine dowry for
you, Kosara."
'tHow SOP" replied the maiden, in as
tonishment. THE spoil belongs equal
| ~ to all, and father gets but third; be-
sides, you seem to forget, my dear little
sister has claim as we'll as l."
sTn not touch my part" exclaimed
Toma, with enthusiasm. 81 give it to
the lovely Kosara."
s'But can't accept your present., re-
Sturned the girl, quietly.
s'Right you are" interposed Stanko.
ssKosara's heart is not to be won with
ducats."
y "Who said it WASP" retorted Toma, in
N angry tone. ''Do you think I'd try
to win Kosara with money!"
sit looks a little that way" replied
Stanko, his face dis6gured with