Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-20
CHAPTER XVII.
In Purple and Red and Gold.

house had commenced soon after day.
break. At that early hour few persons
were abroad in the streets except the SOL
diers. who had been hastily marched to all
points of vantage in the city as soon as
the escape of the princess became known;
but 1t was not until an hour or two, later
that the news of the attack, and the des-
perate resistance the soldiers had met
with, began to circulate.
When the riot, which had resulted IN
Maritza's rescue, had been quelled, and
the rioters had melted away before the
onslaught of the troops, 1t was hoped that
salutary lesson had been administered
which would prevent any recurrence OF
open rebellion. That the princess could not
long elude recapture seemed certain. ana
her brief triumph had been dearly paid
for. Citizens lying dead in the streets
were a grim reminder OF the reality OF
law and order.
The strenuous defense of the Countess
Mavrodin's house had come as severe
blow to the complacency Of the author.-
ties. 1t seemed probable that Princess
Martha had found shelter there, that she
was actually In the house when the attack
was made, and her defenders had succeed
ed in holding the soldiers back until she
had escaped But this was not all. IL
was evident that it was not only upon the
rabble that the princess could depend. Her
cause was espoused by Frina Mavroolh'
and those who had considered her only
beautiful. frivolous woman aWoke to the
fact that she had power and uni mtted
wealth. She had played part, she had
become a Lady Bountiful i'll Sturatzbers,
and it was easy to understand now iar
reaching her commands might be al this
crisis. Baron PetCescu, too. had been
prominent figure in tire resistance when
had been made. and was still unframed; 1t
was impossible to foreteil no" many
others, from one cause or another
That the attack had been successfully
resisted. in SO far that the princess had
been able to escape. gave an enormous
stimulus to the courage OF the rebsl5 me
death of companions last night had had
SOLDERING effect upon some; they were IN
clined to argue that they had done What
they had set out to do and that for the
present enough had been Accomplished
but the news Of the morning raised lse s'n
passions within them and their leaders
were not slow to add fuel to the furnace.
These enthusiasts declared that 1t was
only necessary to seize the advantage al
ready gained to win the city and to force
their will upon the country. Was not their
princess among them? Had not important
persons already declared for her! were
there not hundreds of others ready to 90
and half-heartedness held them back?
So the carefully -secreted arms were
taken out again. There were stir and De
termination in every corner OF the Guy,
The word had gone forth that the Day so
long looked for had indeed come: that pc
fore nightfall Sturatzberg would be 10
their hands; that Martha, Their sovereign.
would most surely come among them IN
the Grande Place to lead them. ana that
by noon all loyal men must win their way
there 1t was no mere rabble to whom TINS
command was given. some organiza IONS.
at least. had been proceeding Tor long
time Points of meeting were know3.
Leaders had been chosen and accepted:
men who knew every alley and byway o.
the city and had made study OF street
fighting. the cover to be had and taken ad-
Of narrow
the soldiers would maneuver al dtsaa
vantage being compelled to fight slng's
and hand-to-hand.
AS the morning advanced separate bands
trayersed the meaner streets. aVolons
conflict for the present as much as posi-
Bile Here and there sharp skirmishes took
place but no determined EFFORT was mace
to rush the soldiers. nor were the soioiefs
successful in dispensing those with whoh
they came in conflict. except, perhaps, 10
make them change their route The renel
the Grande Place before noon. that wouia
only be to make known what their OBJ
jective was. When the time came; tnei.
numbers would be oyerpowering, ana "neh
once the soldiers saw that they were
hemmed in, many OF them would be fight
ing with them instead of against them
Was 1t not common knowledge that
among the troops there was dissa'isi ;tt On
Desmond Ellerey had fallen in with Re
of these bands when he escaped from
Frina's garden. The leader, rusty en-
thusiast who had already looked forward
to thes rewards which must accrue IRON,
this DAVIS victory could tell him all that
was to happen. but Of Maritzas where
abouts at that moment he knew nothine:
All he was sure of was thai she would De
in the G.ande Place at the appointed time.
He was a skillful leader. He took his TO-
lowers by a multitude of back streets.
avoiding every point where soldiers WERE
likely to be. Every man was Valuape' an!
to lose even one In a skirmsh which couid
achieve nothing was to jeopardze the sue
cess of the rebellion to that extent. He con-
stantly turned aside to avoid some partlc-
ular corner which the scouts sent on peIore
reported occupied but although this often
necesstated returning for some distance
along the way they had come. he managed
gradually to approach the place OF renuez-
Vous until a little before noon he had
brought his band into an alley opening out
of one of the streets which led directly into
the Grande place
IAN excellent battle ground for u.s. he
said turning to Ellerey. The space is
confined narrow streets abound for us to
fight in which will prevent the soldiers
rushing us or bringing guns into action
Ellerey nodded. but his heart was heavy
Enthusiasm might accomplish much. but
he did not believe in the ability of the
rebels to Withstand the military force which
would be opposed to them. After last night.
was not likely to be caught
asleep. What was this day to bring to the
woman he loved? If he could have known
that she was in safety. he could have drawn
his sword with lighter neart ana Struck
boldly for Eer cause-died for it. If need
he But she was not safe. Unless she had
already fallen into the hands of her enc
mics she was coming to the Grande place.
She had promised. and that promise was
the handspring of the enthusiasm which
was on every side Of him. He knew her
too well even to hope that she would not
come Ard her coming must mean death.
HIS love made him afraid. He could not
see even the barest possibility of victory.
nor had he any hope that she could escape
now Love made him coward-hts vital
force seemed numbed, and his hand shook.
He had been an entire stranger to such
sense Of fear until this moment. and 1t was
only with a great effort that he was able
to throw off the paralyzlng effect it had
upon him.
From the tower of the Hotel de Vile the
hour of noon sounded clear and unsteady
over the city.
Ready" said the leader.
But the princess?" said Ellerey.
''She will come" was the answer.
Would she? The striking of the hour
was evidently the signal The last stroke
had not died away when the men moved
out from the alley into the street and went
quickly toward the Grande place. Similar
bands OF men came from other alleys, and
from every street they poured impetuously
into the square.
No place had been assigned to Ellerey
no duty had devolved upon him. and as the
forward rush was made he contrived to
keep at the side of the street, that he