The Cairo bulletin., 1904-11-02
CHAPTER XIII.
IN THE PRESENCE OF THE KHAN.

laTp Dpeu CHOSEN. Dut the hhuH nav
preferred this simple abode. perhaps
because of its military associations.
Upon the way there Darrell learned
something of the taking of the place
through the conversation of an officer,
friend of Korna's, who had got news
of his arrival In the city and had come
to greet him. 1t appeared that. though
there is railroad to vladikaukas, the
garrison had not been re-enforced at
the outbreak of the struggle to the ex-
tent necessary to hold 1t. and. even so,
the force within the walls had retreat
ed upon very small provocation, In the
officers opinion. He said fatty that
the city ought to have been held with
out much difficulty and that the Rus
slantretreat from 1t ought to result In
court martial or two.
However" he added, I'VE cant hold
IL. ana the sooner we make junction
with Prince kilziar the better"
He was surprised to hear from Dar-
rell that so numerous force lay south
of them. According to the best of his
information, no adequate report OF the
conditions had reached the khan.
Outside the house of the khan there
was evidence of good but somewhat
spectacular military discipline. An un-
necessary number of sentries stood up
on guard, and they challenged all COM
ers In a manner that suggested to Oar
rel the military dramas that he had
seen in his own country. His heart
sweIled with pity for the woman he
loved thus playing soldier in this pre-
posterons campaign.
! Upon the veranda of the structure he
beheld woman with the figure and
warlfke beoring OF Brnnhlde. but too
old for the role, aud he learned that she
was princess who had been a sort OF
military heroine in the lighting days of
the sixties. This formidable person re-
treated within the house as the party
advanced. but Darrell was glad to have
seen her.
Pausing for moment in the hall, he
was conscious Of a boyish excitement
agreeable to the heart as any touch of
youth Is TO the man who has seen much
of life door opened He heard the
sound Of yeras voice. and the blood.
rushed to his face.
The princess sat by long table upon
which were many documents and maps.
BY her side stood a gray haired man In
q generals uniform. He was typical
Circassian, slender limbcd dispropor-
tionately broad In the shoulder, his face
stamped with that sort of pride which
requires nothing but the mans exist
erce TO account for It, Yet this express
sion was modified by anxiety and by a
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 its years
Yet she seemed to have borne her hard
ships without loss Of health. Her color
was good and her eyes were wonderfully
bright Her shoulders were covered by
a gold embroidered cape that did not
lack feminine suggestion. But Dar-
rell saw under the table two riding
boots that might nave been man eN-
cept that they were not big enough |
and at the tops of them baggy trousers |
like Turks.
m. DARRELL said Vera in French |
and very coldly as he thougl%, Il re- !
gret to hear of your misfortunes,
though do not yet understand how
they could have happened. BE assnr- |
ed, however, that you are safe within !
our lines and that SHAH soon fnd |
way by which you can return TO |
Franee, ses.L =
with Eenr PermissiDii. txcellency," |
replied Darrell, thai, ~ the lkast OF |
my dpzieties.r -
IL do not comprcherd,r said sllc. 4
Il fwiif go wAore ya,ls send me, he
answered. "whotherSt6 France orseises
where, If it,be upon your service, but |
wish YOU might find use for me nearer