Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1893-06-09
Margaret's island, an island in tAs

Margaret's island, an island in the
Danube short distance away from the
palace of the pasha- They would be
taken out to the island in galley
rowed by slaves and guarded by two
eunuchs. Stephan was to slip into the
garden, and, as there would be no moon
that night. he could swim to the island
and under cover of the darkness hide
himself among the tall reeds that grew
on the banks When, that evening,
the bark had sailed away to the island,
the count stole into the garden, and,
climbing the wall surrounding it.
dropped into the river and swan to the
opposite bank. The bark had already
landed, and as he lay there hidden among
the reeds he could hear the voices and
soft laughter of the ladies proceeding
from the bath-houses near by.
Suddenly from little red-roofed
kiosk a silvery veil was waved once,
put off from the opposite bank and
rowed swiftly and silently toward the
spot where Stephan lay concealed As
it came closer, the watcher could detect,
even in the obscure half-light, the we'll
known form of Gezas. A low whistle
from the count enabled the rover to
push his boat in where he lay. He was
helped into it by his faithful friend,
and, after n few moments of anxious
waiting, light footsteps were heard
running down the bank and Zobeide
appeared, peering anxiously around for
the boat Stephan jumped quickly out
again, and, lifting up the lady in his
arms, waded out again to the boat,
where, after placing her in it, he fol-
lowed. A few rapid strokes of Gezas'
strong arms sent them flying down the
stream
In less than a half-hour they were
outside of Turkish jurisdiction and in
the dominion of Hungary. All danger
was now over.
One can well imagine the joy and
rapture with which Stephan's parents
received their long-lost son again, and
the latter's gratitude toward the fair
Zobeide and faithful er-brother.
Hardly, however. was their son at
home again than the hearts of both his
cruel and naughty Turk who had inn
pTISOHeQ anu lll-lFCdISo Hill
Heralds We're sent by Stephan's father
to the pasha of Ofen challenging him
to mortal com bat with his whilom cap
tive. Others were sent to the consort
of Princess Irma with a similar mes
sage. No notice was taken of the chal-
lenge. One night, however, not long
after, the pasha, at the instigation OF
Gezas, who had corrupted a gypsy slave
of the Turks, was seized by his OWL
: body-slaves, bound hand and foot, and
thrown on board vessel at anchor in
the Danube. 1t was the intention ot
Gezas, who commanded this vessel, to
carry his prisoner to Stephan, to be
dealt with as the latter might deem fit.
But an alarm having been given by
other inmates of the palace, galleys
were sent in pursuit of the vessel to
rescue the pasha- When the captors
of the Turk saw that their pursuers
were gaining on them, they set upon
the pasha and slew him as he lay there
bound upon the deck. Then jumping
into the river they endeavored to escape
by swimming. They were fired on by
those in pursuit, and many killed.
Gezas, however, got off safely and made
his way back to the castle Shortly
afterward, the Princess Irna's castle
was attacked by Stephan and troop
of his retainers. the lady taken prisoner
and confined in one of the towers at
Thurzo Castle Here she laaguished a
year, when she was set free, it being
the occasion of Stephan's marrimOs-s.
Zobeide. The fair infidel remalnea ~
the castle in the care and unaer 'he
guardianship of Stephan's parents
During that time she was instructed
in the tenets of the Christian religion
nv the haplain of the castle.
She was baptized and married on the
same dav.
In the great picture gallery of the
ancient castle of Thurzo, two portraits
hanging on the wall never fail to at
tract attention and admiration. One is
| the portrait of handsome, blond man
wearing the dress of a magnate OF
Hungary; at his side hangs short,
curved, jewelled sabre, while in one
hand he grasps a violin.
The other portrait represents beau
tiful, dark-eyed, dark-haired young
woman dressed in Turkish costume.
From her white shoulders droops long
caftan of silver brocade; her dark
tresses are surmounted by a turban OF
filmy silver gauze.