The National tribune., 1897-05-06

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This interesting story was begun in TIL
NATIONAL TRIBUNE of April Is. Subscriptions
may begin with that date
Copyright, 1897, by The NATIONAL TRIBUNE
SUMMARY OF PRECEDING CHAPTERS,
]. Marcus Kallimakis, the realthiest farmer
honse, which is kept by his beautiful daughte,
Ida, who sets before him his midday meal. As
they begin to eat, Papa" Demetrios, the
priest. and an intimate friend, arrives with the
terrible news that the Pasha has decided to
present Ida to the Sultan, for tho purpose oil
advancing his own interest.
II. Basil Ksnaris. young Sphskiot Chief.
and the owner of a mill in the mountains is the
betrothed Of Ida. 1t is decided to hurry mes
messenger sent out has his horse shot down
before ho passes ont of their sight. They hurry
off other messengers on foot
III. The Aga Yusef arrives to take Ida away.
He paints q glowing picture of the grandeur
and happiness of life in the Sultan's palace.
Ida declares that she will die as other Greek
women have done before she will 60 Reused
to fury she tries to stab tho Aga, but only in
ficis flesh wound. She is caught and held,
and her father and Papa Demetrios are stricken
down by the scineters of the kavasses.
Basil Kanaris and his band, fearful of harm
to tho kaliimakis household, start in hot haste
for the homestead. They do not reach there
until after dark, and find evidences to confirm
their worst fears.
Ibrahim's iron grasp upon Ida's arms was
irresistible.
Take off thy hands. See. have ceased
to struggle" she said, very slowly and
quietly.
The striking down of her father and Papa
Demetrios had shocked her into an abnormal
calmness, as the earthquake momentarily
stills the raging sea. The keystone of her
life seemed to vanish into utter nothing
ness, her world dissolve around her, leaving
nothing to grasp or upon which to stand.
She was ready to die, when she alone was
involved. Could she consent to die now,
and let her fathers murderers live? The
thought was more unbearable than that of
any tate which could befall herself
Take off thy hands," she repeated. Il
am in thy power. Thy touch is pollution.
will not give thee pretext for it by strug
Cling"
Release her, Ibrahim," said Aga Yusef.
"She is subdued. She has seen enough to
make her quail"
81 trust her not" said Ibrahim, in an
undertone to his chief "She is different
from the others. She screams not. nor faints.
She is too quiet. Beware of her"
Bah," returned the Aga. "She is merely
frozen with terror. We shall have no more
trouble with her. I have seen many of
them.n
"Ay, SO have l." grumbled the retainer.
"But none like her."
A statue carved by masters hand from
the famed Pentelic quarries could not have
been fairer than she-scarcely more rigid
and calm.
The blood had fled from her delicately-
chiseled face, without robbing che flesh of its
petal-like translucence. Her white gown,
of soft, clinging stuff, which outlined rather
than concealed her forms perfect symmetry,
and the great eyes, wide open and fixed,
enhanced her likeness to q statue of Pallas
Athena in the temple.
She had given one glance at her fathers
set, staring eyes and upturned face, stained
with blood, and then looked no more. He
was gone, and with him her world. There
remained nothing but fierce inward fam
ishing for vengeance, too deep for words, too
intense. even, for the face to show. She
would give her life as cbaff before the wind
to accomplish the destruction of those who
had taken him off. But she would live
until she had wreaked this. How TO bring
it about she could not for the moment plan,
but there famed up the savage hope that
she would find some way.
She needed not the noise and clamor of
the kavasses gathering up the rich spoil of
horses, sheep and cattle to drive away. Not
a shadow of emotion changed the marble of
her face when the brutal robbers bickered
loudly over the division of her most cher
ished household goods. The screams of her
women were unnoticed. All these were as
dust in the wilderness of her desolation and
wrath.
Mount thy pony" said Ibrahim curtly,
and she obeyed as one who walks in a
dream.
Some Of the kavasses had been started
ahead with the farm hands, the maid serv-
ants the live stock, and the carts contain
ing the plunder Of the house. Commanding
these were Serg't Iskander, furtive-eyed
Albanian, and Corpl Ali, shifty Arab.
Aga Yusef had gotten ready to start, when
fright at his hurt returned with spasm.
He sank on the steps and made his attend
ants take off the bandages, examine it care
fully, and dress it anew.
Relieved and reassured, he mounted his
horse and bade Ibrahim follow with Ida and
the remainder Of the force.
During all this Ida's face did not relax
nor her eyes change their set, far-away gaze
until, at a turn of the road, the beauty and
majesty of sky-piercing Mount Ida burst
into glorious view.
AS the naiden's eyes rested on the shapely
peak that rose directly over Basil Kanariss
home, and whittier her gaze had always
turned when thinking of him, the blood
rushed back to her face her eyes softened
and turned to dwell on it as long as it was
in sight.
90, Basil, best beloved, all that is left to
me now, where art thou?" she communed
with herself 81 know that thou art com.
ing to me-that thou wilt come to me il
alive, though a thousand deaths stand in thy
way. know that thy strong arm and fiery