Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-06-03

VdOUGh not remote III dlSCdnce, l yet Volseni was apart and iso- lated from all that was hap pening. Not only was nothing known of the two great neighbors- nothing reached men in Voiseni of the state of affairs in Slavna itself. They did not know that the thieves were quarreling about the plunder nor that l the diplomatists had taken cold. They knew only that young Alexis reigned i 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 1 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. 1 They filled their little fortress with provisions. They could not go to Slav- na, but they awaited with confidence the day when Slavna should dare to move against them into the hills. Slav- na had never been able to beat them in their own hills yet The bolder spir- its even implored Lukovitch to lead them down in a raid on the plains. Lukovitch would sanction no more than a 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 Krav onia and were to be in Slavna irya 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. Lukovitch knew what 1t meant. Dunstanbury. who had served three years in the army at home, knew very well. Gov cred by such force as Stafnitz could bring up. the guns could pound Volseni to pieces. and Volseni could strike back not a single blow.
 And it's all through her that the guns are here at all." said Zerkovitch, with a sigh for the irony of 1t.
 Dunstanbury laid his hand on Luko- vitch's shoulder. Its no use" he said. We must tell her so. and we must make the men understand. She can't let them have their homes battered to kn ayA children in it-and all for nothing"'
 We can't desert her." Lukovitch protested.
 No 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 ar influence over the rude. simple men. Lukovitch looked 10 him for guidance. He had much to say in the primitive preparations for defense. But now he declared defense to be impossible.
 Who'll tel her so?' asked Basil Wil- Hanson
 We must get her across the iron tier" said DunstanburT. Thereby st. Peters psss-the way we came. Basil. It's an easy journey. and don't suppose they'n try to intercept us. You can send twenty or thirty we'll mount cd men with us. can't you. Lukovitch? :? A small party well mounted Is what we shall want"
 Lukovitch waved his hands sadly. "with the guns against Us it would he A mere massacre. IT it must be. let lt be as you say. my lord His heart was very heavy. After generations of desance Voiseni must bow 10 Slsvna and his dead lords will go for nothing. All this was the doing of the great guns.
 Dunstanbu bury's argument vas sound. but he argzed from his heart ss well ss his head He was convinced that the best service he could render to Sophy was 10 get her safely out of the country. His heart urged that her safety was the one and only thing to consider. As she Ee1t 10 and fro among them noE. psle and silent. yet always accessible. always ready to Es- ten. ro consider and to answer. she moved him with sa iafnlts pity and a growing att-zctloa- Her life vas ss tho-zh dead o. frozen IT seemed to hin as tho1ea all Kravoaia must be to her tha tozb cs him whose grave h the lIf-se hillside church Of Voiseni she vtsi-atI go otten- An ardent and over towering desire rose in hiu to rescue her. t1 drag her forth fr11 these diz7 cod shades Iaso the s-zIIzht of fife s-zi1- TEsn tse syeI cf this fro1en grief mIzht he E-oEe7. then s5ouid her ar007.ng gi0-fes revive and bloo1