Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-24
CHAPTER Xxx.
They Have Colds in Slavna

TT is permissible to turn with some relief-al-
i though of kind more COngen1al to the Cynic
than to admirer of humanity-from the tragedy
of love in Volsen to the comedy OF politics which
began develop itself in Slavna from the hour of
the proclamation of young Alexis The first
suit of this suspicious event following so closely on
the issue of Captain Mstitch's expedition, was to
give all the diplOmatsts bad colds Some took to
their beds others went for a change of air; but
one and all had such colds as would certainly pre-
vent them from accepting royal invitations or
being present at State functions Young Alexis
had cold too, and consequently unable to
issue royal invitations or take his part in State
functions. Countess Ellenburg even more
affected-she had lumbago-and General
Stenovics advised to keep quiet for few days.
Only Colonel Stafnitzs health seemed proof
against the prevailing epidemic. He was constantly
to be seen about, busy at the barracks busy at
Suleimans Tower, gay and cheerful on the terrace
of the Hotel de Paris But then he of course had
been in way responsible for recent events. He
a soldier and had only obeyed orders; naturally
his health less affected He was, in fact, in
good spirits, and in very good temper except when
he touched on poor Captain Hercules blunderlng,
violent ways. -" Not the man for delicate mission
he said deCisivey to Captain Markart. The Captain
forebore to remind him that it Mistitch who had
been sent on one. The way in which the Colonel
expressed his opinion made it clear that such
reminder would not be welcome
The coterie which had engineered the revolu-
ton set at SKIES and SeVCnS by its success
The destruction of their common enemy was also
the removal of their common interest. Sophy at
Nolsenl did not seem a peril real enough or near
wanted to be Regent; StenOvics was for a Council
with himself in the chair. Stafnitz thought him
self the obvious man to be Commandment of SIavna
Stenovics would have agreed-only it was necessary
to keep eye Nolscn Now if he was to be
Commandment while the Colonel took the field with
a small but picked force! The Colonel screwed up
his mouth at that. Make Praslok your head
quarters, and you'll soon bring the Sheepskins to
their senses StenoviCs advised insidious1y. Stat
ntz preferred headquarters in Suleiman's Tower
He not that coming back from Praslok
with small force, however picked, would be easy
going there
In the back of both mems minds there was bit
of news which had just come to hand The big
guns had been delivered and were on their way to
Savna, coming down the krath in a couple of
barges. They were consigned to the Commandment
Who was that important officer to be?
When thieves fall out, honest men come by their
own. The venerable saying involves one postulate
that there shall be honest men to do it. In high
places in Slavna this seemed to be difficulty, and
It IS not so certain that Kravonia S great neigh
bors, TO east and west entirely filled the gap These
Powers were exchanging views now. They were
nightly shocked at the way kravona had been
going on. Their ministers had worse colds than
any OF the other ministers, and their press had a
great deal to say about civilization and such topics
kravonla was rich country, and its geograph-
ical position important. The history of the
world show that the standard of Ciyiliza-