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

TT is name-day of the King of the ancient King.
dom of kravona, and tne capital city of Savna
is given over to festivities in His Majestys honor
Sophy de Gruche is new to Slavna and it's peo-
pie. except to Marie Zerkovitch and the latter s
husband, proprietor of the leading newspaper in
kravonia: She has come to Slavna to find her
fortune; but on this festal day has only a few
shings and the fee from couple of French pupils
between her and dire want.
Sophy is watching the military parade, and
listening to the court gossip of Captain Markart.
The latter hints of some grave scandals in imperial
plotting for the elevation of the Kings son
by morganatic wife in place of the legitimate
Prince.
The Prince is considered a martinez by the
Slavna military, of whom he is garrison Comman-
dant. and there is no. small Directing when an
order is issued that all soldiers must remain at
barracks during this merry evening Captain
Mistitch (nicknamed Captain Hercules J. the
leader in mutinous talk, induces Lieutenants
order, and the three start out to find the Prince
loudly Boosting of what will happen when they
They do meet him soon Rastatz fees in terror.
and Sterkoff conceals himself behind pillar Ieav,
ing Mistitch to make good his threats The latter
defies the Commandment. In the ensuing duel the
Prince sewers the tendons of Mistitch's wrist and
is about to march him off to the guard-house when
Sterkoff springs out of the darkness to stab the
At that instant, Sophy, who has been watching
the encounter from window overhead. lets fall a
heavy bronze statue which brushes the would be
assassin to the ground
Sophy receives her reward, the King appointing
her Keeper of the Tapestries, at four hundred
pounds year; but there is no end of trouble over
Mstitch's proposed execution. The Prince is firm
in his intention, despite the protests of General
Stenovics and Hercules's admirers; but finally
consents to reprieve his assaant when the General
approves order for lot of cannon which will
give the Princes tower command of the city.
The King confers patent of nobility on Sophy
making her Baroness of Dobrava as further recog-
milton of her services.
Sophy goes to Praslok, the Princes country
estate, and is there appointed lieutenant of the
Volseni artillery at the request of the rank and file
The King, in fear of an early death, orders the
Prince to go abroad to find fitting wife. The
Prince, in love with Sophy, temporizes. The two
plight their troth with the arrival of the news
of the big guns" for Savna.
the Prince all knowledge of his fathers pre- arious
condition. but the valet Lepage and the journalist
Zerkovitch inform the Prince that the King
life hangs by a hair; and your crown by thread "
sign order requiring the immediate return from
Praslok of Sophy, convincing him that she has
designs on the Prince.
Stenovics, knowing that Lepage is giving in
formation to the Prince, so informs the King.
conspiracy to place the Countess son on the
throne, and His Majesty, suffering from his weak
heart falls back dead. Stafnitz, realizing the need
of time when informed by the physician of the
Kings DEATH excaims: mo! His Majesty dies
tomorrow
The twenty-four hours this would give the con-
spirators would be enough to effectuallv head eff
the Princes attempt to assume his inheritance and
to place the Countess son on the throne. Also
they decide to send CAPTAIN Mistitch with one hun
dred soldiers to PraslOk to execute the King
order in reference to Sophy, with the tentative
hope that the Prince would object, and be shot.
However, Lepage manages to escape from the
Palace and inform Zerkovitch of the Kings death,
and Zerkovtch departs to inform the Prince, an
before MlStltch leaves