Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1908-09-04
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TT was late at night. and quiet reign
ed in Volseni-the quiet not of Sc
il curfty. but of ordered vigilance.
light burned In every house; men
lined the time worn walls and camped
in the market place; there were scouts
out on the road as far as Praslok. No
news came from outside and no news
yet from the room in the guardhouse
where the wounded king lay. The
street on which the room looked was
empty save for one man. who walked
patiently up and down. smoking ci-.
gar. Dunstanbury waited for Basil
the king and was to pronounce to Vol
SEM whether he could live or must die.
Dunstanbury had been glad that Basil
could be Of use. but for the rest he had
listened to the story which Zerkoyitch
told him with an amused, rather con-
temptuous Indifference, with an Eng
tishman's wonder why other countries
cannot manage their affairs better and
something Of travellers pleasure at
coming In for bit Of such vivid, al
most blazing, 'local color" in the course
of his journey. But whether Alexis
Yseigned or Sergius mattered nothing to
him and. in his opinion, very little to
anybody else
Nor had he given much thought to
the lady whose name figured so promi-
nently in Zerkoyitch's narrative. the
Baroness Dobrava. Such parsonage
seemed no less appropriate to the sur
roundings than the rest of the story-no
less appropriate and certainly not
whit more important. OF course he
hoped Basil would make good report,
but his mind was not disturbed. His
chief hope was that the claims of hui
mainly would not prolong his stay In
Volseni beyond few days. 1t was a
picturesque little place. but not one for
q long visit. and in any case. he was
homeward bound now. rather eager for
the pleasures Of the London season aft
er his winter journey-the third he had
made in the interests Of book on Rus
STA which he had in contemplation, a
expert student of foreign affairs. He
could hardly consider that these goings
On In kravonia came within the pur-
view Of a serious study of his subject,
but 1t was q pleasant, moonlit night,
the old street was very quaint. the
crisis he had happened on bizarre and
amusing He smoked his cigar and
waited a s9F B saiJls Mithout
away and just turned to loiter back
when he saw figure come out of the
guardhouse, pause a moment and then
advance slowly toward him. The
sheepskin cap and tunic made him
think at first that the stranger was one
Of the volsenian levy. The next mo-
ment he saw the skirt. AT once he
guessed that he was In the presence of
Baroness Dobrava. the heroine OF the
piece, as he had called her in his own
mind and with smile.
Evidently she meant to speak to him.
He threw away his cigar and walked
to meet her. As they drew near to each
other he raised his hat. Sophy bowed
gravely. Thus they met for the first
time since Sophy washed her lettuces
| In the scullery ut Morpingham and at
the young lords bidding fetched Loren.
J 20 the Magnificent bone This meet.
! ing was. however remotely. the result
| of that Dunstanbury had started hel
! career on the road which had led her to
where she was.
1--WE seen Mr. Williamson" she said
land he knows me now. But you
don't yet, do you, Lord Dunstanbury
And. anyhow. perhaps you wouldn't re
member"
She had been slip Of girl when he
first saw her. in print frock, washing
lettuces With smile and q depreca
!. tory gesture he confessed his ignoranc.
and his surprise. Really. I'm afraid
II don't. I've been such traveller
and meet so many An Acquaintance,
with the Baroness Dobrava was amoni
the last with which he would hav,
credited himself or perhaps, to speal
his true thoughts. charged his reputa
ton.
"Mr. Williamson knew me almost di
rectly-the moment reminded him o
my mark" She touched her cheek
Dunstanbury looked more closely q
her. a vague recollection stirring II
him. Sophy's face was very sad. We
she smiled just little as she added
II remember you SO well-and you
dog Lorenzo. I'm Sophy Crouch o
Morpingham, and became Lady Meg
companion, Now do YOU rememher?"