Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1908-09-04
his back on the hills and came up to

his back on the hills and came up to
Sophy
I'VE Essex folk ought to stand by one
another" he said ITS the merest
chance that has brought me here. but
I'm glad of the chance now. and it's be.
ginning to feel not the least strange.
So long as you've need of help count
me among your soldiers"
But you oughtn't to mix yourself
up
Ibid you act on that principle when
you came to Kravonia?''
With smile Sophy gave him her
hand. $50 be It, | accept your service
for monseigneur."
II give 1t to you." he persisted.
Eyes. and all that is mine give to
monseigneur' said Sophy.
Any man who meets or after an In
terval Of time again meets an attractive
woman only to find that her thoughts
are pre-empted and totally rreoccupied
suffers an annoyance not the less real
because he sees the absurdity Of 1t. 1t
10 to find shut gate which with better
!! luck might have been open. The I'M
usual circumstances of his new en-
counter with Sophy did not save Dun.
stanbury from this common form of
chagrin. The tragic element In her
situation gave 1t rather uncommon
flavor He would fam have appeared
as the knight Grant to rescue such
beauty in such distress. but the nature
| Of the distress did not seem favora BILE
to the proper romantic sequel.
He made his offer Of service to her.
She assigned him to the service of mon
seigneur. He laughed at his own an.
hoyance and determined to serve mon.
seigneur as we'll as he could At the
same time. while conceding most amply
may, even feeling Acknowledgements ex-
cuse. he could not admire his policy in
the choice Of a bride That was doubt
less a sample Of how things were done
In Kravonia. He lived to feel the ex-
!! cuse more strongly and to pronounce
the Judgment with greater hesitation.
Sophy had given him her hand again
as she accepted his offer in monseign-
eur's name. He had not yet released
It when she was called from the street
below in a woman's v0ice--a voice full
of haste and alarm.
marie Zerkovitch calls me! must
60 at once" she said. Il expect mon
seigneur is awake" She hurried OF,
| with a nod of farewell.
Dunstanbury stayed little while on
the wall. smoking cigarette. and then
went down into the street The door
of the guardhouse was shut All was
| very quiet as he passed along to the
market place. where the inn was stu.
| ated. He went up to his room over.
looking the street and. taking off his
coat only. flung himself on the bed
He was minded thus to await Basil
Williamson's return with news of the
king. but the excitement Of the day
had wearied him. In ten minutes he
was sound asleep.
He was aroused by Basil William.
sons hand on his shoulder. The young
doctor. slim built, dark, wiry fellow
looked very weary and sad.
"How has it gomez" asked Dunstan
bury. sitting up.
ITS been terrible night. I'm glad
you've had some sleep. He awoke aft
!, er an hour. The hemorrhage had sci
thousand to one against him. He sem
for her and made me leave them alone
together. There was only one othel
] room. and waited there with littl,
woman-a Nine. Zerkovitch-who criet
; terribly. Then he sent for Lukovitch
/ who seems to be the chief man In thu
place. Presently Lukoyitch went away