Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1908-08-28

"And that is roughly the story of my
life" she said. with a laugh, as she
reached the top of the causeway and
leaned against the rude balustrade
which ran up the side of it.
"a very interesting one. even very
remarkable" he said. returning her
laugh. But much more remains to be
written, l don't doubt. baroness"
Something perhaps" said Sophy
"a good deal. | imagine!''
She shot a mischieyous glance at him
She knew that he was trying to lure
from her an avowal of her secret "Who
can tell? 1t all seems like dream
sometimes. and dreams end in sudden
awakenings, you know"
IF It's dream. you make an excel
lent dream lady. baroness"
Peter vassip put his mop and pail
down by the stables and came up and
stood beside them.
"Did the mare carry you we'll today,
sir?" he asked Max.
Admirably. Peter We had splen.
did ride-at least thought SO. hope
the baroness
Sophy threw out her arms as though
to embrace the gracious world. ~
thought 1t beautiful. think every.
thing beautiful today. think you
beautiful. Baron Won Hollbrandt, and
Peter is beautiful. and so is your moth
er, and SO Is your father, Peter. And
half believe that. just this morning
this one splendid morning-l'm beauti
full myself. Yes. in spite of this hor
rible mark on my cheek"
II hear something" said Peer Vas
sip.
/ Just this morntng--this one splendid
morning-I agree with you." laughed
Max. mot even the mark shall change
my mind! Come, you love the mark
the red star-don't you?"
| "Well. yes" said Sophy. with little
confidential nod and smile.
81 hear something" said Peter Vas.
sip, with his hand to his ear.
4 Sophy turned to him. smiling. What
do you hear. Peter?"
He gave sudden start Of recollec.
ton. "Ah. has that anything to dc
with NJ Zerkovitch?"
IN. Zerkovitch?" broke from them
both.
Hes been here. He's ridden at 8
gallop on to Volseni to find the prince
/ He added briefly all there was to add
his hand at his ear all the time.
Hum! That looks like news" said
Max. What can it beP"
HE didn't stop even to tell Marie
1t must be urgent"
They looked at one another's faces
"Can there be-be anything wrong II
| Slavna?"
You mean the troops2"
81 had thought of that"
81 can think of nothing but that. II
it were anything from the palace i,
would come by royal courier sooner
than by any other hand"
81 can hear plainly now" said Peter
Vassip. "Listenv'
They obeyed him. but their ears were
not SO we'll trained. A dull, indefinite
sound was all they could distinguish.
"Horses-a number of them. Mount
ed men it must be. the hoofs are sc
regular. Cavalry!"
"It's the prince coming back from
Volseni" cried Sophy.
mo; it's from the other direction
and besides. there are too many fol
that"
Mounted men on the Slavna road
and too many to be the princes guard
What can it beY" asked Sophy In {
low voice
II don't know. Zerkovitch's arriva
must be connected with the same thing
| think"
There! There are their shakoe.
coming over the rise Of the hill!' cried
Peter vassip.
The next moment showed the com
pany. They rode In fours. with ser
geants on the TANKS. The officer II
command was behind. The three OF
the causeway could not see him yet
They were hussars of the kings guard
the best regiment in the army. Thu
| Prince of Slavna had made them goot
soldiers. They hated him for 1t. Blu
Stafnitz was their colonel. On they
came. In their blue tunics and silvel
braid they made brave show In the
sunshine.
The three watched now without wort
or motion. The sudden sight held then
/ Snn1lhorn1 Not ono n,