The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1908-11-12

cacy.
SO in the meantime Slavna was left
to its own devices for little longer
to amuse itself In Its light hearted. un-
remorseful, extremely unconscientious
way. and to frown and shake distant
fist at grim, gray sad little Volseni In
the hills. With the stern and faithful
band who mourned the dead prince nell
ther Stenovics nor Stafnitz seemed for
the moment inclined to try conclusions.
though each would have been glad to see
the other undertake the enterprise. In
military regard, moreover, they were
right The obvious thing, II Sophy still
held out. was to wait for the big guns.
When once these were in position the
old battlements of Volseni could stand
scarcely longer than the walls Of Jeri-
cho. And the guns were at the head
of navigation on the Krath now, wait
ing for an escort to convoy them TO
Slavna. Max Won Hollbrandt-too In
significant person to feel called upon
to have cold-tnoved about Slavna
much amused with the situation and
b. 4, ,uly gratified that the fruit which the
coterie had plucked looked like turning
bitter in their mouths.
Within the palace on the river bank
young Alexis was strutting his brief
hour vastly pleased. but Countess FL
lanburg was at her prayers again, pray
ing rather unfortunately against ev-
erybody who might be dangerous
against Sophy at volsenl. against the
big neighbors, whose designs began to
be whispered; against Stenovics, who
was fighting so hard for himself that
he gave little heed to her or to her dig
nifty; against Stafnitz. who might leave
her the dignity, such as 1t was. but GER
tainly. II he established his own su-
premacy. would not leave her a shred
OF power. Perhaps there were specters
also against whose accusing shades she
raised her petition-the man she had
deluded. the man she had helped to
kill-but that theme seems too dark for
the comedy OF Slavna In these days.
The most practical step she took. so far
as this world goes, was 70 send very
solid sum OF money to a bank in Dres-
den. II was not the first remittance
she had made from Slavna.
Matters stood thus-young Alexis
having been on the throne in Slavna
and Sophy In Volseni for one week
when Lepage ventured out from Zerko-
vitch's sheltering roof. He had suffer.
ed from n chill by no means purely
diplomatic; but, apart from that. he
had been In no hurry to show himself
He feared to see Rastatz's rat face
peering for him. But all was quiet
Sterkoff and Rastatz were busy with
their colonel In Suleiman's tower. In
fact, nobody took any notice Of Lepage
His secret once so vital. was now gos'
sip Of the market place. He was Sc.
cure but he was also out of situation
He walked somewhat forlornly into
St Michael's square. and. as luck would
have it-Lepage thought It very bad
luck-the first man he ran against was
Captain Markart. Uneasy In his con
! kBcience. Lepege tried 10 evade the en-
counter. but the captain was Of another
mind. His head was sound again, and
on cool reflection. he was glad to hav
slept through the eve"ts of what Ste
movies proclamation had styled 9Th
ausplclous day" lie seized little lie
page by the arm. greeted him witt
cordlallty and carried him Off to drinI
at the Golden Lion. Without imputin
any serious lack of sobrlety to hi
companion. Lepage thought that thl
refreshment was not the first of whic
| the good humored caDtaln had paI
taken that afternoon, his manner wa
so very cordial his talk so very free.
"Well, here we are" he said. "W
did our best. you and |. Lepage. ou
consciences are clear. As loyal sui
jects we have now to accept the exist
ing regime"
what In ltT' asked Lepage. "rv
been indoors a week."
} "Its Alexis-still Alexis! Long liv