Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-22
|SOPHY of KRAVONIA
kpn
Continued from page 4

in his squirting eye, Rastatz with forced
uneasy giggle and shaking knees.
Mstitch clapped them on the back An
other bottle apiece and we'll all be heroesl"
he cried "Markart, you go home to your
manual"
Though given in no friendly way. this advice
was wise beneath its metaphor But Markart
did not at once obey it. He had no more
authority than power to interfere; Mistitch
was his senior officer, and he had no special
orders to act. But he followed the three in
a fascinated interest. and with hope that a
brief proof of his freedom would content the
Captain.
Out from the barracks the three marched.
The sentry at the gate presented arms, but
tried to bar their progress. With a guffaw
and mighty push Mistitch sent him sprawlng.
The Commandant wants us, you fooll' he
cried-and the three were in the square.
What the deuce will come of this bust
ness?" thought Markart, as he followed them
the little bridge which spanned the canal
and thence to the door of the Golden Lion.
Behind them still, he passed the seats on the
pavement and entered the great saloon. AS
Mistitch and his companions came in, three
fourths of the company sprang to their feet
and returned the salute of the newcomers; SO
strongly military in composition was the COM
pany-oficers on one side of a six-feet-high
glass screen which cut the room in two, ser
geants and their interiors on the other
moments silence succeeded the salute.
Then young officer cried. The King has in
terferedl' 1t did not occur to anybody that
the Prince might have changed his mind and
reversed his decree for, good or evil, they
knew him too well to think of that
The King interfered?" Mistitch echoed in
his sonorouS, rolling. thick voice. No,
we've interfered ourselves and walked out.
Does anyone object?" He glared a challenge
round
There were officers present of superior rank
they drank their beer or wine discreetly
The Juniors broke into ringing cheer. 1t was
taken up and echoed back from behind the
glass screen, to which hundred faces were in
an instant glued, over which, here and there.
the head of some soldier more than commonly
tall suddenly projected.
"A table herel" cried Mistitch And cham
payne! Quick! Sit down, my boys.
strange silence followed the impulsive
cheers. Men were thinking. Cheers first,
thoughts afterward. was the order in Slavna
as in many other cities. Now they recognized
the nature of this thing, the fateful change from
sullen obedience to open defiance. Was 1t
only drunken frolic, or besides that was it a
summons to each man to choose his side!
Choosing his side might well mean stalking his
life.
A girl in a low-necked dress and short petit
coats began a song from raised platform at
the end of the room: She was popular. and
the song a favorite Nobody seemed to listen
when she ended nobody applauded. Mistitch
had been whispering with Sterkoff, Rastatz
sitting silent. Juggling his slender, fair mus
tache: but none of the three had omitted to
pay his duty to the bottle; even Rastatz S
chalky face bore patch OF red on either cheek.
Mistitch rose from his chair. glass in hand.
Long life to the King' he shouted. That S
loyal, isn't it, Aye, immortal lifel'
The cheers broke out again. mingled with
laughter. A voice cried: " Hard on his heir
Captain Hercules"
"Aye!" Mstitch roared back. Hard as he
is us, my friend. ?"
Another burst of cheering-and again that
conscience-srnitten silence.
Markart had found seat near the door.
good way from the redoubtable Mistitch and
his companions. He looked at his watch-it
was nearly ten. in half an hour General
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