Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-31

and had crashed through, breaking part of
the stairs away.
We can make shift to stable the horses
between some of the walls outside, and
ourselves in the tower" said Ellerey ut
might be worse, Stefan, and with fortune
our stay will be short"
1T must be if we're to live. There is no
food for a siege" Stefan answered.
Meanwhile the men had unsaddled. and
fire was already cracking on the old
hearth. There was promise / comfort for
the night, and they were not disposed to
grumble. While some looked to the horses,
others made haste to PREF re meal. A
kid caught earlier in the day suggested a
feast Others. finding a broken door. made
shift to set it on four stones, improvising
a table, on which they set out the wine
TASKS and the food they carried with tnem.
while one man paced up and down the edge
of the plateau watching the mountains OPP
posite and the pass beneath.
Kids flesh. even when roasted over a
who can choose their viands, but it is hon
est food for all that and no one round
that improvised table uttered a word
against 1t. More logs had been piled on
the fire. and the blaze threw dancing shad-
ows on the stone walls and lit up the
rough faces of the men. They were silent
for a while. their sharp-set appetites
fully occupying them, but a draught of
wine set the tongues wagging again.
"a song, Stefan: I've heard you roar a
good stave ere this
Not love song, surely?" said Grigosie.
mo. of wine
wine strangely go together. said the boy.
Proving that the joys of both are tran
STORY. perhaps said Ellerey, who sat be-
side him. He spoke only to Grigosie, but
Stefan heard him.
Love. captain-a snap of the fingers for
love; but wines the very heart of life.
There's wisdom and truth in wine, there's
valor in it, and it's powerful enough to
make even good, sound men fall in love.
| There's a stave I've heard which you may
have If you will" And with much sound
but little music Stefan broke into song.
1t was a tavern ditty, and not too nice in
| its sentiments, as, indeed why should it be.
to please its hearers?, There was a Tilt in
it's chorus which even Stefan's unmusical
voice could not hide. and it set the mems
heads nodding in time as they roared it out
together waking the echoes with the dec
laration that
THE eye of maid may sparkle.
And the fools may for love repine,
But the wise man knows,
That the .' best stu of II lies s' gifts is wine.
That isn't true, is it. captain?" whis-
pered Grigosie. I'VE know better than
that"
Ellerey laughed. but he was not dis
pleased to keep the lad in low conversation
The song had let loose flood Of jest and
anecdote which lost none of their ribaldry
in the telling. They were i'll suited for a
boy to hear and batten on
Yes, lad we know better, you and L.
he said. Let them talk we need not
listen"
Il suppose it is natural in youth to shud-
der at some things they talk of, and much
/ do not understand
keeping such ignorance you will be the
happier. And do not drink much wine to-
night. Grigosie: you must take your turn at
sentry duty. 1t is share and. share alike
in an enterprise like this"
"Grant. then. there be stars tonight.
never feel lonely under the stars" the lad
answered. 1T was good wine that was
poured into my flask at starting: l have
hardly tasted it until now. Is yours
good?"
1T might be worse, and 1 was never a
heavy drinker.'
Taste mine"
No. lad; why should 1 rob your
Indeed. it will be no robbery. If you do
not take it shall offer it to Stefan pres
emily. 1t is too strong for me-"
I'm taste 1t before l sleep, If you will
The air is close here. Let us go and fill
our lungs with mountain breeZes"
The boy sprang to his feet at once care
full to take his wine flask with him. and
followed Ellerey on to the plateau
There were stars in the clear sky, and a
| crescent moon that seemed to be poised on
sharp edge of the higher mountains. The
air was keen, tinging in throat and nos
trils.
'@ the wise man knows
As his road he goes,
That the best Of lifes gifts is wine.''
came again the Hitting chorus from the
tower. 1t was the only sound that dis
turbed the silence-the silence of a world
"A night for regrets. captain, yet one to
speed ambition said Grigosie.
Yours has been too short to accumulate
regrets"
They get heaped together very rapidly
sometimes" was the reply. How long
shall we stay here?"
"Only until we have seen Vasilici and de-
livered our message"
"And then back to Sturatzberg with our
demands backed by an army of patriots, -
said Grigosie. And for the success of the
scheme-how do you reckon the chances3"