Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1908-09-11
Chapter
Thirty

pculuS. A>Ol Ouly was uOIuluX
known of the two great neighbors-
nothing reached men in Volseni of the
state of affairs in Slavna itself They
did not know that the thieves were
quarreling about the plumber nor that
the diplomatists had taken cold. They
knew only that young Alexis reigned
in Slavna by reason Of their kings
murder and against the will of him
who was dead; only that they had
chosen Sophia for their queen because
she had been the dead kings wife and
his chosen successor.
All the men who could be spared
from labor came into the city. They
collected what few horses they could.
They filled their little fortress with
provisions. They could not go to Slav-
ma, but they awaited with confidence
the day when Slavna should dare to
move against them into the hills Slav-
ma had never been able to beat them
in their own hills yet. The holder spir-
its even implored Lukovitch to lead
them down in raid on the plains
Lukovitch would sanction no more
than scouting party to see whether
any movement was in progress from
the other side. Peter Vassip rode down
with his men to within few miles Of
Slavna. For result Of the expedition he
brought back the news Of the guns.
The great guns. rumor said, had
reached Kravonla and were to be in
Slavna In week.
The rank and file hardly understood
what that meant. Anger that their
destined and darling guns should fall
into hostile hands was the feeling up
permost. But the tidings struck their
leaders home to the heart. Lukoyitch
knew what it meant. Dunstanbury
who had served three years In the
army at home. knew very we'll Gov
cred by such force as Stafnitz could
bring up, the guns could pound Volseni
to pieces, and Volseni could strike back
not single blow.
"And It's all through her that the
guns are here at ALL" said Zerkovitch
with sigh for the irony of It,
Dunstanbury laid his hand on Luke
vitch's shoulder. ITS no use," he said
eve must tell her so, and we must
make the men understand. She can't
let them have their homes battered to
pieces-the town with the women and
children in it-and all for nothingr'
1--WE can't desert her." Lukovitch
protested.
mo. We must get her safely away
and then submit"
Since Dunstanbury had offered his
services to Sophy he had assumed a
leading part His military training and
his knowledge Of the world gave him
an influence over the rude, simple men
Lukovitch looked to him for guidance.
He had much to say in the primitive
preparations for defense. But now he
declared defense to be impossible
Who'll tell her so?" asked Basil Will
hanson.
1--WE must get her across the from
tier" said Dunstanbury. Thereby
st. Peters pass-the way we came,
Basil. It's an easy journey. and don't
suppose they'll try to intercept us. You
can send twenty or thirty well mount
ed men with US, can't you. Lukoyitch!
A small party we'll mounted is what
we shall want"
Lukovitch waved his hands sadly.
with the guns against us it would be
a mere massacre. If it must be, let 1t
be as you say, my lord" His heart
was very heavy, After generations of
defiance Volseni must bow to Slavna
and his dead lords will go for nothing.
All this was the doing of the great
guns.
Dunstanbury's argument was sound,
but he argued from his heart as wei,
as his head. He was convinced that
the best service he could render to
Sophy was to get her safely out Of the
country. His heart urged that her
safety was the one and only thing to
consider. AS she went to and fro
among them now, pale and silent. yet
always accessible, always ready to lis.
ten. to consider and to answer. she
moved him with an infinite pity and q
growing attraction. Her life was as
though dead or frozen. 1t seemed to
him as though all Kravonia must be to
her the tomb Of him whose grave In
the little hillside church Of Volseni she
visited SO often An ardent and over.
towering desire rose in him to rescue
her, to drag her forth from these dim
cold shades into the sunlight of life
again. Then the spell Of this frozen
dropping glories revive and bloom
again. Kravonia and who ruled there
aye, In his heart even the fate of the
gallant little city which harbored them
and whose interest he pleaded-were
nothing to him beside Sophy. On her
his thoughts We're conferred
Sophy's own mind In these days can
be gathered only from what others
saw. She made no record of it. Fallen
In an hour from heights of love and
hope and exaltation, she lay stunned
in the abyss. In intellect calm and col
lected she seems to have been as one
numbed in feeling, too manned fol
pain, suffering as though from NOR
tifcation of the heart. The simple mer
and women of Volseni looked on hel
with awe and chartered fearfully OF
the red star; how that Its wearer had
been predestined to high enterprise
but foredoomed to mighty reverses OF
fortune. Amid all their pity for bel
they spoke Of the evil eye Some whis
pered that she had come to bring ruiz
on Volseni Had not the man who
loved her lost both crown and life?
And 1t was she through whom the
guns had come. The meaning Of the
guns had spread now to every hearth