Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-06
SOPHY of KRAVONIA

Continued T
the Commandant. even with the sound of the
rifles which had shot Mistitch fresh in their ears
At last their host reused himself and Patted
Zerkovtch's shoulder indulgently Well.
it, good not to fear, - he said We didn't fear
the other night, Mademoiselle de Gruche and
/ and all ended we'll
Ended?" Marie murmured half under her
breath
The Prince laughed. You sha'n't make me
afraid he told her, any more than Zerko-
witch shall make me trust Colonel StafnItz. |
can't say more than that He turned to
Sophy. Il think you'd better stay here till
we see what's going to happen tonight and
our friends here will do the same If all IS
quiet, you go home to sleep If not, we can
give you quarters-rough ones, I'm afraid ."
He rose from the table and went to a window
The crowd is thinner; they We gone off to eat
and drink We shall have one quiet hour at all
events"
An orderly entered and gave him a letter
He read it and said. Tell General Stenovics
l will receive him here at two O'Clock" When
the messenger had gone, he turned toward the
table. d" A last appeal, | suppose-with all
the old arguments But the General has
nothing to give in exchange for Mistitch. My
price would be very high"
O. No price, price," cried fiery Zerkovitch
" He raised his sword against youl He must
diel"
Yes, he must die" He turned to the win
dow again. Sophy rose from the table and
joined him there looking over the city. Direct
ly beneath was the great gate, ianked on either
side by broad massive walls which seemed to
grow out of the waters of the river. He was
aware of her movement, though he had not
looked round at her. I've brought you too,
into this trouble-you, stranger" he said.
You don't think I'm sorry for that?"
No. But it makes my impotence worse"
He waved his arms toward the city. There
it is-here am II And yet l am powerless!"
SophY followed his gesture and understood
what was passing in his mInd-the pang of the
soldier without his armament, the workman
without his tools. Their midnight talk flashed
back into recollection. She remembered his
bitter complaint Under her breath and with
a sigh she whispered. IF you had the big
guns nowi"
Low as the whisper was, he heard it-and it
seemed to shoot through his brain. He turned
sharply round on her and gazed full into her
eyes. So he stood moment, then quickly
returned to the table and sat down. Sophy
followed, her gaze fixed on his face. Zerkovitch
ceased writing-he had been drawing up an
other plan. Both he and Marie now watched
the Prince. Moments went by in silence
At last the Prince spoke in low voice,
almost dreamy. My guns for NIistitchI
Mistitch against my guns That would be
price-a fair price,!
The three sat silent
The Zerkovitches, too. had heard him talk
OF the guns how on them hung the tranquility
of the city, and how on them might hang the
country's honor and existence Stenovics
could give them, if he would, in return for
Misttch. But to give up Misttch was great
surrender. SOphyS whisper almost involun-
tary, the vocing OF a regret hardly even of
distant aspiration, had raised a problem of
conduct a question of high policy. The
Princes brain was busy with it, and his mind
perplexed. Sophy sat watching him, not
thinking now, but waiting. conscious only that