The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1908-10-01

| IHe man uth ne IAN d I k oVercoat
tern raised II IN the and bay horse
air. ,
| Markart's horse pecked. His rider
awoke to the fact that he was pound.
Ing his mount without doing much good
to himself. He would see whether the
unknown meant to pass him or was
content TO keep on equal terms. His
pace fell to n gentle trot-so did the
strangers. Markart walked his horse
for half a mile-so did the stranger
Thenceforward they went easily. each
keeping his position till Markart came
to where the road forked-on the right
to Dobrava, on the left to Praslok and
Volseni Markart drew rein and wait.
ed. He might just as well see where
the stranger was going.
The stranger came up. and Markart
started violently. The lighter tlnge OF
the blur was explained. The stranger
rode a white horse. II flashed on
Markart that the prince rode a white
charger and that the animal had been
In Slavna the day before. He had seen
1t being exercised He peered into the
darkness, trying TO see the mans face
The effort was of no avail The stran
ger came to stand beside him, and
for a few moments neither moved
Then the stranger turned his horses
head to the left. He was for Praslok
or Volseni. thenl Markart followed his
example. He knew why he did not
speak to the stranger, but he was won.
dering why on earth the stranger did
not speak to him. He went on wonder.
Ing till II occurred to him that perhaps
the stranger was In exactly the same
state of mind.
There was no question of cantering or
even OF trotting now The road rose
steeply. II was loose and founderous
from heavy rain. Great stones lay
about dangerous traps for careless
rider. The horses labored. At the
same moment, with the same instinct,
Markart and the stranger dlsmounted.
The next three miles were done on foot.
and there before them in deeper black
rose the gate tower OF the castle OF
Praslok. The stranger had fallen
little behind again. Now he drew level.
They were almost opposite the castle.
A dog barked from the stables. An.
other answered from the castle. Two
more took up the tune from the sta
bles. The castle guardian redoubled
his responsive efforts. A man came
running out from the stables with a
lantern. A light flashed In the door
way OF the castle. Both Markart and
the stranger came to standstil. The
man with the lantern raised It In the
air to see the faces OF the travellers.
They saw each others faces too. The
hrst result was to send them into fit
Of laughter-a relief from tension, a
of the absurdity into which |
their diplomatic caution had led them.
by the powers, Captain MarkartP
an. Zerkovitch. by heavenp
They laughed again.
"Ah and we might have had pleas.
ant ride togetherw
II should have rejoiced in the solace
of your conversationw
But neither asked the other why he
had behaved In such ridiculous man
ler
"And our destination is the sameT'
asked Zerkovitch "You stop here at
The castleT
Yes, yes, M. zerkovitchl And your"
"Yes. captain. yes. My journey ends
It the castle"
The men led away their horses.
which sorely needed tending, and they
mounted the wooden causeway side by I
'ide, both feeling foolish, yet sure they
nd done right In the doorway stood
Peter VassiD with his lantern. |