Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1902-04-30

REQUIRES nothing but the mans exist
encc to account for it. Yet this express
sion was modified by anxiety and by n
Difference for the princess which was
not without fineness of quality.
Darrell marked the man because the
opening door revealed him before the
princess. Then he saw nothing but
Vera. She had grown much older in
these months, and her face revealed
lines that belonged not to It's years.
Yet she seemed to have borne her hard
ships without loss Of health. Her color
was good and her eyes We're wonderfully
bright. Her shoulders We're covered by
4 gold embroidered cape that did not
lack feminine suggestion. But Oar
rell saw under the table two riding
boots that might have been mans ex-
cept that they We're not big enough,
and ut the tops of them baggy trousers
like Turks.
M. Darrell" said Vera in French
anu very co!lly, as he thought, 81 re-
greet to hear of your misfortunes,
though do not yet understand how
they could have happened. Be assur-
ed, however, that you are safe within
our lines and that l shall soon find n
way by which you Gun return to
France"
with your permission, excellency,"
replied Darrell, that is the least of
my anxieties."
Il do not comprehend" said she.
Il will so where you send me-" he
answered, whether to France or else
where, If it be upon your service, but
wish you might find use for me nearer
at hand"
ut may be So" said she, inclining
her head In such a way that, in obedi-
ence to the nod, he stepped aside, per-
hitting korna to advance.
"EXcellency," said Korna, 81 have to
report that when your order regarding
Mr.. Darrell was brought to Gredskov
1t was delivered to me us an officer of
Prince Kilziar's staff. The prince was
then outside the city for the purpose
of overtaking caravan which, hay
ing come through the pass, was en-
deavoring to escape without paying
toll to our cause. Believing the mat
ter urgent, rode out and attempted to
deliver the order. The prince refused
to receive it, and when l insisted he
attacked me with his sword. We were
alone together-or supposed ourselves
to be so-in room Of farmhouse by
the highway, but through strange
coincidence Mr.. Darrell was concealed
In room overhead. He came to nv
assistance, and we both escaped, leav-
Ing the order In the princes hands. I
have come here to seek your excel
lency's protection"
The situation involved more points
of military etiquette than Vera felt
able to decide offhand, and she looked
out of the corner of her eye at the gen.
eral, who stood by the end of the table.
She felt womans sudden resentment
that her order should have been treated
with dfsrespect, but also she was moved
by that feminine instinct of utilities
which let her perceive that, after all,
the object of the order had been Mt
tanned. Moreover, she doubtless knew
what was the matter with Prince Kill
ziar, and so long as he had not actually
slain Darrell from jealousy the crime
OF attempting to do SO appeared less
black than 1t should. What she wanted
was an easy way out of the difficulty,
and the general so understood.
Does Colonel Korna desire to make
formal chnrges| he asked.
II will do nothing to breed discord in
this critical hour" replied Korna firm
ly. MY own petty wrongs are not
worth considering. mention them
merely that my report and the fact of
my presence here may be understood.
What desire Is a chance to serve our
cause, and. IL might make q request,
it would be that should be assigned to
duty here
General" said Vera. my desire is
to grant this request. Will you assign
Colonel Korna to duty?"
Il would welcome him upon my
staff" said the general, whereupon
Korna made proper Acknowledgements,
and the incident seemed happily closed.
As to the Russian force now lying
between us and Gredskov," said Kor-
na, II have certain information, but
Mr.. Darrell has much more, 80 that
hesitate to speak before he has been
heard"
This judiciOus remark brought OAR
rell back to the center of the stage, and
his report was eagerly received. 1t ap-
ppnrad in,mo5iotoly thof Iii, ypeo,,,,,
ton was far more accurate than any
that had previously been brought in.
His estimate of the Russian force, with
sketches of its position, made the stu
alton seem far more serious than it
had hitherto been considered. 1t was
obvious that the Russians must expect
to cooperate with force moving down
from the north and that the plan was
to annihilate the little Circass1an army
In Vladikaukas.
'The position which they have tax
en-" said Darrell. sis merely that Of
the greatest advantage in case your
orce should attempt a voluntary move
ment toward Gredsiov. At the proper
time they will advance to invest this
city closely upon the south. but they
do not wish to do 1t prematurely be-
cause they are not stron. enough to
take the place by assault. and an in
decisive action might result in bring
ing up Prince Kilziar's army in their
rear. Clearly there has been some
hitch in their plan, for the thing was
to have been done quickly; otherwise
this flying column Of Russians might
be caught by Kilzlar's advance and be
in a bad place. Something has delay
ed their larger force that was to move
down from the north, or you would
already be engaged with 1t. They GER
tainly must have expected to take Via.
dikaukas this morning."
"Kilziar's scouts should have report
ed the presence of this force" said
Vera, land he should already be ad-
vancing." Aai,8
I'VE have no knowledge that such is
the case" said the general. 1--WE can
not assume that the prince Is in pos
session of Information eounl RI orrs