Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1908-09-15

i
"Ihts Is my first aoar. Lord Dunstan-
bury" she said.
you." he laughed. LAS 1t is I'm break
ing all the laws in the world, sup
pose. Perhaps they'll never hear Of it
in England, though"
"Where there are no laws left you
can break none." she said. There are
none left in Kravonia now. There's
but one crime, to be weak, and but one
penalty, DEATH"
Neither the crime nor the penalty
for us tonight" he cried gayly. "Queen
Sophia's star shines tonight!''
"Can you see it?" she asked. touch
ing her cheek moment.
mo. can't" he laughed. II forget;
l spoke metaphorically."
when people speak of my star, I
always think Of this. So my star
shines tonight? Yes. think so-shines
brightly before it sets! wonder II
Kravonia's star. too. will have a set
ting soon-a stormy setting!'
''Well. we're not helping to make 1t
more tranquil" said Dunstanbury.
He saw her turn her head suddenly
and sharply toward him. She spoke
quickly and low.
'I'm seeking a mans life in this e1
petition" she said. ITS his or mine
before we part"
81 don't blame you for that"
ooh. no" The reply sounded almost
eontemptuous; at least 1t showed plain
ly that her conscience was not trou-
bled. "And he won't blame me either.
When he sees me. he'll know what 1t
means"
"And. in fact, intend to help. SO
do we all. think"
| ut was our oath in Volseni," she an
| swered "They think monseigneur will
sleep the better for it. But know we'll
that nothing troubles monseigneur's
sleep. And I'm so selfish that l wish
he could be troubled-yes, troubled
about me; that he could be riding in
the spirit with US tonight. hoping for
our victory, yet very anxious, very
anxious about me; that could still
bring him JOY and sorrow, grief and
delight l can't desire that monseign-
eur should sleep so we'll They're
kinder to him-his own folk of Volseni
They aren't jealous Of his sleep-not
Jealous of the peace Of death. But I'm
very Jealous Of it. I'm to him now
just as all the rest are. l, too am
nothing to monselgneur now"
1 HWhn EnnUo2 Who oon lyrou, 90 IA
Dunstanbury softly.
His attempted consolation, his invok,
ing Of the old persistent hope, the say.
ing doubt, did not reach her heart. In
her great love Of life the best she
could ask of the tomb was little
memory there. So she had told mon
seigneur. Such was the thought in hel
heart tonight. She was jealous and
forlorn because Of the silent darkness
which had wrapped her lover from hel
sight and so enyeloped him. He coulG
not even ride with her in the spirit OF
the night when she went forth t.
ayenge the death she mourned!
The night broke toward dawn, the
horizon grew gray. Lukovitch drew IL
trot. Their journey was almost done
Presently they halted for few min
utes. while Lukovitch and Peter VassiI
held consultation. Then they logged
on again in the same order, save tha
now Sophy and Dunstanbury rode will
Lukovitch at the head of the party. II
another half hour. the heavens tighten
l
double row of low trees which marked
at irregular intervals the course of tn,
river across the plain. At the same mo
ment row of squat buildings rose IL
murky white between them and tn,
river bank. Lukovitch pointed to 1
with his hand.
There we are. madame" he said
'"That's the farmhouse at the right enc
and the barn at the left. within hun
dred yards of the lock. There's ou
shelter till the colonel comes"
what Of the farmer?" asked Dun
stanbury.
eve shall catch him In his bed-hin
and his wife," said Lukovitch. There
only the pair of them. They keep tn
lOCh anu nave lew dCTeS VI pdSluC
land to exc out their living. They'll
give us no trouble. If they do, we cal
lock them in and turn the key. Thel
we can lie quiet In the barn. With bi
of close packing it'll take US all Pete
Vassip and will be lock keepers /
anything comes by. We know tn
work. Ell. PeterY
AYE, captain. and the man-Peter'
his name. too, by the way-must Civ
us something to hide our sheepskins"
Sophy turned to Dunstanbury. Sh
was smiling now.
1T sounds very simple. doesn't 1t?
she asked
Then we watch our chance for
dash = when the colonel's off hi
guard" Lukovitch went on.
But If he won't oblige us In tina
way?" asked Dunstanbury. with
IauQh