Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-08

herself, and STOPPING low ran to the hedge
She stole by 1t for some distance until it
was cut In two by gray streak of road
that dimly threaded the darkness.
Il cannot follow the hedge all night"
she reasoned. IF / get out into the coun-
try, 1t must be by the road -
Again commencing herself to the Virgin
she started down the highway, walking as
quietly as possible and stopping every few
ere she became aware of gruff voices and
she stole n little way into the field and
rrouched among the vines.
Per haps they are Christians she mused
and the mere possibility thrilled ner with
pleasure. So greatly did she wish it to be
SO that she actually fancied that she heard
Greek words. Resting upon one knee, with
her hands pressed tight to her fiuttering
heart, she leaned forward in the darkness,
a smile Pickering upon her lips. She
almost ready in her confidence to cry out,
Eth, fellow countrymen!' when the voices
undeceived her.
oh mother of Godr she moaned ARE
there then no more Christians in thy
word?'
along the faint, slate-colored ribbon of
read that unfoIded before her. a few feet
at time in the dimness of the great stars;
and at last she beheld before her a light
that flckered and went out several times
and then burned feebIy. but steadily.
As she stole along, undecided whether to
make wide detour or to trust to the dark
ness and pass by near the light. two men
AAN-
feet. Panayota saw them first and man
aged to slip by them but her foot hit a
stone and sent ii rolling down the bank.
One of the men called after her in Turkish.
She did not dare to run, but, lifting her
skirts, tiptoed away with long steps. The
men made a sudden rush for her, and she
flew down the road on the wings of fear,
screaming once. Help. Help! Panageia!'
As her pursuers heard the feminine voice
ard the Greek, they shouted, "Ho, Ho. A
Greek pulet.' and came stumbling after.
But Panayota was a Sphakiote maiden and
not so easily caught On. on, she ran, with
the sound of those heavy footsteps and that
Satyr laughter ever in her ears, and, it
seemed to her. nearer. nearer. She came
10 a place where the roads forked. and. by
some instinct followed the right branch
toward that tiny. pickering beacon that
seemed to beckon her in the darkness. And
all at once her pursIers stopped burst into
hoarse guffaw and went back. Panayota
could not for the moment believe it. She
feared that they We're simply torturing her;
that they would turn back in moment and
resume the chase. She staggered on. too
faint, almost, 20 stand yet not daring to
stop. She was passing of tiny
houses. They were square patches of blush
gray, and the doors were long holes where
the dark came through. Here was absolute
silence as though she were in the city Of
the dead, and the walls of the dwellings
were giant tombstones. But here at last
was the house of light. Panayota stood on
the opposite side of the road and looked into
the open door.
"A Christian at last!' she cried. Now
God be praisedr'
bare little room she behild, with
floor of beaten earth, and containing only
a couple of chairs and a pair of barangas.
or platforms of plank on either side of
Inc fireplace. But what mattered the poor
ness or the place? Upon the wall hung an
eikon of the dear. blessed Virgin and upon
a shelf beneath sat q tumbler of olive oil
upon whose surface f1oated burning wick
A woman stood before the eikon crossing
n m yLray -incy until ct
lent motion of the lips
But while Panayota stood in the door,
before she could open her mouth to speak
her 1eeting joy gave place to the old ter
ror. This was but woman after all with
whom she was about to take refuge. and
the Turks We're just behind her and all
around about.
Panayota seized the door jamb to keep
herself from falling, and her head drooped
against her arm.
Woman" she gasped, "are you not
crazy? Why do you not run? The Turks,
the TurksI'
The woman looked around. She was
young and comely, with an oval face from
which the black hair was neatly brushed
back. low down over the ears. Her ewes
were large-unnaturally large and dark
and there was in them an expression which
awed Panayota. Their utter fearlessness
was uncanny at such a time and back of
1t was depth of accepted despair that
has tasted all grief and hence knows no
further fear.
You are in no danger from the Turks
here" said the woman. Her voice was
infinitely calm. 1t came into Panayota's
world OF fire, massacre, outrage, like a
voice from another world or from the
grave.
Then all at once light seemed to break
In upon Panayota's mind as she stood
there bewildered.
She is dazed with fear or some great
misfortune she thought. ''She is losing
her mind, and, springing forward, she
seized the woman by the arm, crying In
her ear:
Come away, sster-the Turks. the
Turks"
But the woman shook her off and shrunk
from her and motioned her back with out
stretched arms and uplifted palms saving.
DO not touch met
But the Turks are upon you'll"
we VINO live in this village are not
afraid of the Turks. Who comes here
knife
Yes. know Violence" whispered Pa
nayota turning her face toward the door
and listening.
who would offer violence TO q Ienero"
If there is any horror in a Cretan girls !
mind equal to that of dishonor 1t is the |
horror of leprosy-that hideous sore on the
body of the loveliest siren isle that 1oats |
IN any sea Panayota, in her vigorous and |
life-giving mountain home had heard lep- |
rosy spoken OF as curse Of God She |
mad always classed 1t with the punishments |
or hell or something to be shuddered at |
even when mentioned. but the possibility |
OF coming into contact with it had never |
entered her mind.
she turned to flee again into the dark
ness, when she heard in the street almost
neIore the door, the sound of footsteps |
and husky, garglng voices talking Turkish
Panayota sank to the floor senseless. Two
Mahometan lepers, who lived further down
the street, passed by on their way home
They did not look in because Aglaia, step
ping quietly over the PROSTATE form, had
closed the door.
CHAPTER xXXVII
Aglaia stood irresolute. looking at the
woman who lay as quietly as though she
were sleeping upon the floor Of hard-beaten
earth. Her first impulse was to pick her up
and drag her to one OF the platforms at the
fireplace. for her heart forgot its own bit
terness for the moment, and was filed with
pity for the Christian maiden who had
taken refuge in her horrid home.
mo. no. l will not touch her." she muir
INJURED at last. for so 1t IL most frequently
given and caught"
30 she drew up a chair and sat watching
Panayota. She did not have long to wait,
Tor the young, vigorous constitution soon
asserted itself. Panayota opened her eyes