Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-17


| Long live King Sergius!'
The Prince rode his fastest; but faster still
rode Zerkovitch. He outpaced the Prince and
rode right in among Mistitch's men, crying
King is dead! The King is deadl The King
is deadl'
Then came the Prince. He rode full at
Mistitch. His men followed him and dashed
with shock against the troopers OF Mistltchs
escort. AS they rode, they cried Long live
KING Sergiusl" They had endorsed a dozen
men and wounded four five before they
realized that they met with no resistance
Mistitch's men were paralyzed. The King
was dead-they were to fight against the
Kingi The magic of the name worked. They
dropped the points of their swords. The Vol
senians hesitating to strike men who did not
defend themselves puzzled and IN doubt,
turned to their Prince-their King-for his
orders.
AS the Prince came up Mistitch hurled
Sophy from him. she fell from her horse, but
fell on the soft grassy roadside, and sprang up
unhurt save for a cruel pam IN her crushed
wrist She turned her eyes whittier all eyes
were turned now. The general battle was
stayed but not the single combat. For mo-
ment none moved save the two combatants
who were now to engage. The fight of the
Street of the Fountain fell to be fought again.
For when Peter Vassip darling forward,
knife in hand, with spring like mountain
goats his masters voice called.
Mine, Peter, minei 1t was the old cry
when they shot wild boar in the woods about
Dobrava, and it brought Peter Vassip to a
stand. Max Hollbrandt, too lowered his
pointed revolver. Who should stand between
his quarry and the King, between Sophy's
lover and the man who had SO outraged her!
Big Mistitch was the Kings game, and the
Kings only, that day.
Two shots rang out sharply-that was all
The King reeled in his saddle, but maintained
his seat. Big Mistitch threw his hands above
his head with a loud cry and fell with mighty
crash the road, shot through the head.
Peter Vassip ran to the King and helped
him to dismount, while Max Won Hollbrandt
held his horse. Sophy hurried to where they
laid him by the roadside.
"Disarm those fellows!" cried Zerkovitch.
But Mistitch's escort were in no mood to
wait for this operation; nor to stay and suffer
| the anger of the King With their leaders fall
the last of heart was out of them. Wrenchlng
themselves free from such of the Volsenlans as
| sought to arrest their flight, they turned their
horses heads and fled, one and all, for Slavna.
The Kings men attempted no pursuit; they
clustered round the spot where he lay:
Il am hit" he said to Sophy; but not
badly, | think
From the castle door down the causeway
came Marie Zerkovitch weeping passionately,
wringing her hands. The soldiers parted their
close ranks to let her through. She came to
the roadside where Sophy supported mon
seigneur's head upon her knees. Sophy looked
up and saw her. Marie did not speak. She
stood there sobblng and wrlnglng her hands
over Sophy and the wounded King.
That afternoon-an hour after the first of
the struggling rout of Mistitchs escort came
mixing Alexis died suddenly. So the
official notice, Endorsed by DR. Natcheff's high
authority.
The coterie were in up to their necks; they
could not go back now; they must go through
with it. Countess Ellenburg took to her knees;
Stenovics and Stafnitz held long converse
| tons Every point of tactical Importance in
| the city was occupied by troops. Slavna was
silent, expectant, curious.
| Markart awoke at five O'Clock, heavy of
| head, dry in the mouth, sick and i'll. He
found himself no longer in the Kings suite,
but in one of the apartments which Stafnitz
had occupied. He was all alone; the door
stood open. He understood that he was no
more prisoner; he knew that the King was
dead. But who else was dead-and who alive
and who King of Slavna?
| He forced himself to rise, and hurried
through the corridors of the Palace. They were
deserted; there was nobody to hinder him, no.
body of whom to ask question. He saw a
decanter of brandy standing near the door of
one room, and drank freely of it then he made
his way into the garden. He saw men stream
ing over the bridge toward Slavna, and has
tened after them as quickly as he could. His