The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-04-27
IN THE CRETAN WAR.

from the foot of Mount Csilorites the
name given to Mount Ida by the natives,
there was situated a pretty little villa,
surrounded by all the 1uxuriance and vari-
ant beauty Of tropical verdure, where dvelt
a retired merchant of Reti1no with his
family. Casser Issos was q gentleman Of
| Grecian descent, but his home had always
/ been in Crete. In earlier years he had re-
/ sided at RetinO, but as his health failed
with the advancement of age he found it
! pleasanter, even at so, TO live the quiet life
| afforded him in his villa at Idaea, while
| younger men performed the more active
| part of his business. His wife, native
Cretan, was a lady of refinement and of a
gentle, loving disposition. They had two
children-Alsace, a youth of 20, and
dutiful, worthy son as well, and a 1augh-
| ter, Hermione, whose physical beauty and
corresponding loneliness Of character were
quite extraordinary in one of the tender
age of IS.
When the Cretan inhabitants at last de-
cided that they could no longer bear the
cruel yoke Of Turkey, Casser Issos took
no small share of interest in the welfare Of
his country, and at once placed his wealth
at its disposal, while he himself became a
colonel in the Cretan army. Alsaoe also
soon joined their ranks.
One beautiful Sunday morning after the
landing Of the GFecian army Her1nione
and her mother we're attending the services
at the little chapel near 1daea. Only few
women and children were present-au the
men were absent at their country's call. -
The white robed priest was chanting in q
low, musical voice, and his congregation
were all kneeling in positions OF devotion.
Soft breezes fioated in through the open
windows bringing sweet odors from the
tropical plants without. The hour was
strangely solemn.
Suddenly therecame the sound Of horses
| hoofs, and almost instantly Cretan sol
der sprang into the room exclaiming;
'Fleel Flee for your livesl The Turks are
upon usr' He had hardly spoken these
words before a dozen or more evil looking
Turks dashed up to the door, shouting
loudly and calling upon Allah to aid them
in their wicked work. The terrified sup
plicants had sprung to their feet and fed
at the first word of alarm, some to the in
ner recesses of the chapel, others out of the
open door toward the woods. Several of
them were caught before they were 100
yards from the chapel, and three or four
were brutally massacred for struggling to
escape from the hands of their cruel cap
tors.
But while all the others sought safety
in flight two female figures remained mo-
tionless before the altar, trusting in the
saints and in the sacredness of the place
for protection. They were Hermione and
her mother. The priest threw aside his
robes, which he had worn over a complete
| Cretan uniform, and seizing his sword
| rushed to the rescue The soldier who had
! given the alarm was lying wounded near
the door. A Turk, spurniIg him with his
| foot, sprang over his body and down the
! aisle to where Hernione still knelt beside
her mother. The maiden uttered q faint
cry and chung close to her side.
They were upon their feet now and stood
| facing the rufflan The mother drew one
arm around her daughter as if for protec-
! ton and with the other extended high
| above her head exclaimed in tones such as
! only mother can use on such an occasion
as this, 'Ruffian, dare you de1le the very
altar of the God of heaven and earth %
But the man did not understand her
language, though he uttered some fierce
! exclamation in his own, as he roughly
seized the maiden and tore her from her
I mothers side, who, frantic with horror,
sank upon her knees, beseeching him to
give back her child.
| Meanwhile a party of six Cretans and
Grecians with Colonel Issos arrived upon
| the scene A skirmish took place outside
| the door, in which three Turks were killed
and two others were wounded. On the
! other side nearly all received slight
! wounds, but those of the Cretan who had
! given the alarm proved fatal
| One of the Grecians, a youthful officer
| of noble birth, entered the chapel by a side
! entrance just in time to see Hermione
snatched from her mother. He instantly
| sprang toward the ruffian, shouting to
| shoot for fear Of hitting her, and the Turk,
casting one fierce glance behind caught
! her up in his arms and fed with his prize
| toward the door. The Grecian was in close
| pursuit, and at the door he was so close
that he sprang upon the Turk and forced
| him to release the girl, who fell prOstrats
| upon the marble floor.
Her preserver Immediately turned to
raise her, unheeding, though the Turk
! dealt him sharp blow with his sword,
slashing his shoulder, before he fed to join
| his fleeing companions. He knelt by Her
| mione's side and sought to restore her to
| consciousness. He was deeply touched by
! the surprising loneliness of those exqui-
| site features, now so white and still, and as
| he bore his precious burden to cushioned
seat laid her gently down and then stood
| gazing in rapt wonder he was quite IN
/ conscious that the mother was standing at
his side.
In a few moments the soft eyelids IN
closed and the eyes turned until they rest
! ed upon his face, at first with an express
! sion of fear and then with a sweet smile,
| all the color suddenly returning to her
pale cheeks as she held out her hand to
! him, saying: "Ah, 1 know you are my
| preserver, brave onel How can I ever
| thank you? And there is wound upon
your shoulder, too, bleeding, all for meP'
The mother knelt beside her daughter,
weeping for very joy, and Colonel Issos,
who had just been told what had hap
pened, stood by, pouring out his heartfelt
gratitude to the young man who had rem
! dered him so great service. At last he
| asked. the Grecian's name, for until an
hour previous they had never met.
81 am Lieutenant Philip ZelOtes, re-
| piled the young officer.
Philip Zelotes dined that day at Idaea.
/ Three months later a wedding took place
at the little chapel, when HermiOne be
came Philips wife, and the priest who
presided at the ceremony was the same