Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-06-01
'1ChApter{ I1 1wentveishte 5

TT was late at night. and quiet reign
 ed in Volseni-the quiet not of SC
 curity. but of ordered vigilance. A
 light burned In every house; men lined the time worn walls and camped in the market place; there were scouts out on the road as far as Praslok. No news came from outside and no news yet from the room in the guardhouse where the wounded king lay. The street on which the room looked was empty save for one man, who walked patiently up and down, smoking a ci- gar. Dunstanbury waited for Basil Williamson. who was in attendance on the king and was to pronounce to Vol semi whether he could live or must die.
 Dunstanbury had been glad that Basil could be of use, but for the rest he had listened to the story which Zerkovitch told him with an amused. rather con temptuous indifference, with an Eng lishman's wonder why other countries cannot manage their affairs better and something of a travellers pleasure at coming in for a bit of such vivid. al most blazing. local color" in the course of his journey. But whether Alexis reigned or Sergius mattered nothing to him and. in his opinion, very little to anybody else.
 Nor had he given much thought to the lady whose name figured so promi- pently in ZerkOvitch's narrative, the Baroness Dobrava. Such a parsonage seemed no less appropriate to the sur roundings than the rest of the story-no less appropriate and certainly not whit more important. Of course he hoped Basil would make a good report, but his mind was not disturbed. His chief hope was that the claims of hu- manity would not prolons his stay in Nolseni beyond few days. It was a picturesque little place. but not one for c long visit, and. in any case. he was homeTard hound now. rather eager for the pleasures of the London season aft CT his winter journey-.the third he had made eA the interests of book on Rus sis which he had in contemplation. book designed to recommend him as an expert student of foreign affairs. He could hardly consider that these goings on in Kravonia came within the pur- view of a serious study of his subject. but it was a pleasant. mOOnlit night, the old street was very quaint. the crisis he had happened on bizarre and amusing. He smoked his cigar and waited for Basil without impatience.
 He had strolled a hundred yards away and just turned to loiter back when he saw q figure come out of ths guardhouse. pause a moment and then advance slowly toward him. The sheepskin cap and tUnic made him think at first that the stranger was one of the voIsenisn levy. The next mo ment he saw the skirt. At once he guessed that be was in the presence of Baroness Dobrava. the heroine of the piece. as be had called her in his own mind and with a smile
 Evidently she meant to speak 10 him. He threw away his cigar and walked to meet her As they drew near tO egh other he raised his hat SOphy bowed gravely. Thus they met for the first time since SOphy washed her lettuces fin the scuIlsTy at MOrpingham and at the young lords bidding fetched Loren 10 the Magnificent a bone. This meet ing vas. however remotely. the result of that DunsiRbUry had started her career on the n dgi which had led her tO where she was.
 I've see1 Mir Williamson she said. ~snd he knows me now. But you eoH't yet. do yOu. Lord Dunstanbury2 And. snybou. perhaps yOu wouldn't re- meuher-
 She had beeu slip of girl when be first saw her. ia a r-fnt frock. washing I ietfuceS- With . sniie and a dePreca- 1. tory gesture be confessed his iEzorznce and lis surprise Really. I'm afrzfd I l -I doat I've ben s1ch a traveBsr 1 nd meet 50 zany-- An acguzizfazcs ]