Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-01


plumber, nor that the diplomatists hs
cold they had not bethought them of
how the art of the ventriloquists would
be at work They knew only that young
Alexis reigned in Slavna by reason of their
Kings murder and against the will of
him who was dead; only that they had
chosen Sophia for their Queen because
she had been the dead Kings wife and
his chosen successor.
All the men who could be spared from
labor came into the city; they collected
what few horses they could they filled
their little fortress with provisions. They
could not go to Slavna; but they awaited
with confidence the day when Slavna
should dare to move against them into
the hills Slavna had never been able
to beat them in their own hills vet
the holder spirits even implored Luke
witch to lead them down in a raid on
the plains
Lukovitch would sanction no more
than a scouting party, to see whether
any movement was IN progress from the
other side. Peter Vassip rode down
with his men to within a few miles of
Slavna. For result of the expedition he
brought back the news of the guns The
great guns, rumor said, had reached
Kravonia and were to be in Slavna in
week. The rank and file hardly I'M
derstood what that meant. Anger that
their destined and darling guns should
fall into hostile hands was the feeling
uppermost But the tidings struck their
leaders home to the heart. Lukovitch
knew what it meant. Zerkovitch, who
had served in the army at home, knew
well. Covered by such a force as Stat
nitz could bring up, the guns could
pound Volseni to pieces; and Volseni COZ
back not a single blow.
And it's all through her that the guns
at ALL" said Zerkovitch, with a sigh for
of it. Its no USE" he went on We
her so, and we must make the men un
She can't let them have their homes ba
pieces-the town with the women and Ct
it-and all for nothingl
We can't desert her. Lukovitch sto
tested
No, we must get her safely away, and
nit"
Lukovitch waved his hands sadly. :"
guns against us it would be a mere mas.
it must be, let it be as you say"
was very heavy. After generations of
Volseni must bow to Slavna, and his dc
will go for nothing. All this was the dol
great guns.
ZerkOvitch's argument was sound,
argued from his heart as well as his head
convinced that the best service he could
Sophy was to get her safely out of the
his heart urged that her safety was the
only thing to consider.
Sophy's own mind in these DAYS can be
only from what others saw. She made
of it, and never spoke of her feelings. Fa
hour from heights of love and hope and e
she lay stunned in the abyss. In intel
and collected, she seems to have been as on
in feeling, too manned for pain suffering
from modification of the heart TT
men and women of Volseni looked on her
and chartered fearfully of the Red Star
its wearer had been predestined to high e
but foredoomed to mighty reverses of
Amid all their pity for her, they spoke of
Eye; some whispered that she had come
ruin on. Volseni Had not the man who
lost both crown and life?
And it was she through whom the
come! The rumor of the guns had spread
hearth. What had once been hailed as
second only to her exploit in the Sire,
Fountain served now to point more f
sharpening fears of superstition. The
L / IL l