Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-10

Hope dies hard with you. princess"
L have fancy to look upon another
dawn she returned. Perhaps tomorrow
is the anniversary of some great event in
my history. and that Is why 1 long to see it.
do not know. but in US all there is a
vein OF superstition. 1 will go and relieve
Anton"
Stefan watched her as she went up the
stairs and disappeared into the upper cham
II any one could make me change my
opinion Of women. she would" he said
but Ellerey took no notice Of the remark.
He had commenced walking up and down,
deep in thought.
The day passed quietly. The brigands
made no attempt to storm the tower, and
the huge stone above the doorway remained
balanced on the wall. But to those within
the hours dragged heavily. Stefan spent his
time feeling the edge Of his sword and see
ing that the revolvers were In good order
and loaded. The occupation seemed to
bring him nearer to his emancipation. FL
lerey walked from wall to wall. turning
with the regularity of a wild beast in a
cage dozen times or more he climbed to
the roof. but hardly spoke a word to who
ever happened to be sentry there. Martha
lay down and appeared to sleep a good deal
when her duty on the roof was over, for
she demanded to take her turn with the
rest; and Anton was restless and nervous
He lay down, but he did not sleep; his
eyes were constantly on the princess.
You know what we have decided?" said
Ellerey to him during the day.
Yes, captain
You have no better plan?'
content"
The day drew slowly to It's ending. A
campfire blazed upon the plateau, and two
In the pass below, around which the be-
slegers gathered. Still there were no
signs that an attack was meditated, and
EHerey watched the moving figures for q
long time and marked the position OF the
sentries. Such knowledge might prove
useful tomorrow night. And he deter
Providence so far favor them as to allow
them to gain the pass. 1t was a relief to
find even this employment to occupy his
mind
most welcome. First Stefan. then Ell
lerey. had watched through the early
hours: now Anton paced the roof restless
ly while Martha still slept. She was to go
new day break as she wished. When Ell
lerey came down Stefan was sleeping
heavily, and the princess lay in her corner
with her arm under her head. a picture Of
graceful repose and rest. The thought Of
the certain death that awaited her made
Ellerey sick almost, and with shudder
and curse at his own impotence, he cast
himself down. For time he tossed and
turned restlessly this way and that UNTIL
utterly wearied out, sleep fell upon him
and held him fast. smoothing the care
from his face with pleasant dreams Now
he climbed a stretch Of sunny. wind-swept
downs, the song of a lark and the signing
sound Of the long waving grass in his
ears: now he heard the rustic OF silk be-
side him and a sweet low voice and pleas
ant laughter answered him, a little foot
stepped out bravely beside his own and
little hand rested confidently in his There
was music and laughter about him, and
then q sudden pause, and darkness and
out of 1t a sharp cracking sound.
What was that?"
Ellerey had started up only half awake.
It was Stefan's sudden question which
come and dim light was in the chamber,
strangely dim and somber after the light
and movement in his dream. He looked
across at Maritza's corner and saw that
It was empty.
We have slept soundly, Stefan" he
said. sprnging to his feet. THE princess
has gone on duty"
'It sounded like revolver shots to me"
the soldier answered as he followed Ell
lerey quickly to the roof. They stepped
from the broken stairs into the open, and
then stood still, turning to look at each
stone still rested on the wall, and a rope
which had been in the lower chamber lay
spraying over the roof, one end Of 1t
hanging q few feet over the parapet. Both
men ran to the wall together. The plateau
was empty, not a man remained there. No
sentry paced along the edge Of it, no one
stood there at the head Of the zig-zag
path.
''Gone!" Ellerey exclaimed. It was not
Of the brigands he was thinking, and
Stefan knew 1t.
by that rope. And Anton. too: May be
then. as Ellerey turned questioning eyes
to him. he added: There's the look of
treachery In this
Ellerey did not answer. but the question
asked a moment later showed the direction
his thoughts were taking.
Have they really gomez he said. point
ing to the plateau.
and then suddenly leant forward. his hand
stretched out toward the pass before
them. Look yonder!'
The light was growing stronger every
valley could be seen distinctly. There was
more going forward there than the awak-
ening of a camp to new day. The men
were moving in orderly groups and there
was no curling smoke from newly-lighted
fires.
They are on the march captain: and
look. Ia not the lad In the midst of them?"
to pick out the slim figure. but thus d.
rected he had no doubt it was the princess
In the midst of the men who marched quick
ly along the pass for little way and then
turned aside and seemed to be swallowed
up in the foot Of the mountain opposite.
She could not have gone of her own
accord. Stefan. They must have found
means to capture her"
anton may have helped them. perhaps"
"No; he was faithful-my life on that
Great heavens! She Is In their power, In
Vasilcfs power and We stand here doing
nothing
'Shs may have gone willingly" said
Stefan. as Ellerey rushed toward the steps;
Besides, what can we do?"
Come or stay you wfll!' Ellerey
shouted as he disappeared
She went willingly" Stefan murmured,
lingering behind for a moment to look at
the rope AT least. she climbed down to
them. not they up to her. 1 never trusted
Anton. If I hadn't taken liking to Girl
gosie shouldn't trust the princess. She's
woman"
Although only q few moments had
elapsed. Ellerey was already throwing down
the barricade at the door In the lower
chamber of the tower. Stefan first looked
at his weapons and then went across to
the corner which the princess had occupied
Ellerey did not notice him, and he rose
from his knees there only as Ellerey had
sufficiently thrown down the stones to
draw back the bolt and open the door
wide enough to get out.
'One moment. captain. I am with you
but be prepared to attack" Elierey, sword
in one hand. revolver In the other, rushed
out on to the plateau, Stefan at his heels
No shout rang out, no man sprang from
his hiding place among the ruins to bar
their way. Even the valley was empty
The last of the men who had encamped
there had been swallowed up by the noun
at 20