The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-07-14
IN THE CRETAN WAR.

surrounded by all the luXurianCc and vari |
ant beauty Of tropical vcrdure, where dwolt |
a retired merchant of Rctino with his |
family. Cnsscr Issos was n gentleman Of /
Grecian descent, but his homo had always /
been in Crete In earlier years he had re. |
sided at Rctimo, but as his health failed /
with the advancement of age he found it |
pleasanter, even at 90, TO live the quiet life |
afforded him in his villa at 1daa, while |
younger men performed the more active |
part of his business His wife, n native |
Cretnn, was u lady of refinement and of q !
gentle, loving disposition. They had two !
childrcn-Alsacc youth of 20, and
dutiful, worthy son MS well, and daugh |
ter, Hcrmionc, 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, CassCr 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
colonel in the Cretan army. Alsace also
soon Joined their ranks.
One beautiful Sunday morning after the
landing of the Grccian army Hermione
and her mother were attending the services
ut the little chapel near Idaa. Only few
women and children were present-all the
men were absent Eat their country S call"
The white robed priest was chanting in
low, musical voice, and his congregation
were all kneeling in positions of devotion.
Soft breezes floated in through the open
windows, bringing sweet odors from the
tropical plants without. The hour was
strangely solemn.
IA, IL. e
hoofs, and almost instantly Cretan SOL
der sprnng into the room exclaiming:
"Fleel Flee for your lives The Turks are
upon us!' He had hardly spoken these
words before 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 fled
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 q complete
/ Cretan uniform, and Selling his sword
rushed to the rescue. The soldier who had
given the alarm was lying wounded near
the door. A Turk. spurning him with his
foot, sprang over his body and down the
aisle to where Hermione still knelt beside
I. Etc.
cry and chung close TO her side.
They were upon their feet now and stood
facing the ruffian. 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, "Ruffan, dare you deflle the very
altar of the God of heaven and earth!'
But tho man did not understand her
language, though he uttered some fierce
exclamation in his own, as he roughly
seized tho maiden and tore her from her
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 side
entrance just in time to see HermionC
snatched from her mother. He instantly
sprang toward the rutllan, shouting tC
him to release the maiden. He could moi
,l, Go, 9 hp, Il ',,,ly
casting one fierce glance behind, caught
her up in his arms and fled with his priz'
toward the door. Tho Grecian was in clos,
pursuit, and ut the door he was so clos'
that he sprang upon the Turk and forced
him to release the girl, who fell prostrat'
upon the marble floor.
Her prescrver Immediately turned tt
raise her, unheeding, though the Turl
dealt him sharp blow with his sword
slashing his shoulder, before he fled to join
his fleeing companions. He knelt by Her
mione's side and sought to restore her t,
consciousness. He was deeply touched b.
the surprising loveliness of those exqui
site features, now so white and still, and n
he bore his precious burden to a cushioned
seat, laid her gently down and then stool
gazing in rapt wonder, he was quite un
conscious that the mother was standing a
|. his side.
In u few moments the soft eyelids. un
, closed and the eyes turned until they rest
ed upon his face, at first with an expires
sion of fear and then with n sweet smile
, all the color suddenly returning to he
pale cheeks as she held out her hand t
him, saying: "Ah, l know you are IN,
, preserver, brave one! How can 1 eve
thank your And there is a wound upol
your shoulder, too, bleeding, all for mep'
. The mother knelt beside her daughter
weeping for very j and Colonel Issos
J, who had just been told what had hap
pened, stood by, pouring out his heartfelt
y gratitude to the young man who had rem
dered him so great service. At last h
E asked the Grecian's name, for until al
hour previous they had never met,
' 81 am Lieutenant Philip Zelotes, " re
piled the young officer.
Philip Zelotes dined that day at Idea
Y Three months later wedding took plac
at the little chapel, when Hermione be
coma philiD's wife and the nrieSt WIN