The San Francisco call., 1908-03-01

to DObraVd. ana on 10 OldfNd 4@CI
Slavna-hated Slayna-reckon with
that, And If the snake--or another like
it-came to Volseni? Well, that was
better than kIiuck1ing down to SiaVna-
Tonight King Sergius was avenged, and
Queen Sophia had returned In victory.
For the first time since the kings
death the bell of the ancient churcn
rang joyously. and men sang and feast
ed in the gray city of the hills Thirty
from Volseni had beaten loo from
Slavna; the guns were at the bottom
of the Krath; 1t was enough II Sophy
had hidden them, they would have
.streamed down on Slavna that night IN
one OF those fierce raids in which their
forefathers OF the middle ages had
loved to swoop upon the plain
But Sophy had no delusions she
saw her crown-that fieeting phantom
ornament. ftly foreseen in the visions
of chariatan-passing from ner .., oIow
without a sigh She had not needed
Dunstanbury's arguments to prove to
her that there was no place Tor her
left in Kravonia. She was content 10
have it so; she had done enough Sor-
row had not passed from her race put
serenity had come upon 1t in fuller
measure She had struck for monseig-
neur and the blow was witness to her
love 1t was enough in her. and enough
in little Volseni Let the mightier
avengers do the rest
She had allowed Dunstenbury to
leave her after supper in order TO
make preparations for start to the
frontier at dawn. You must certainly
CO.. she had said, "and perhaps III
come with you.
She went at night up to the wall
always her favorite place; she loved
the spaciousness of air and open eoun-
try before her there. Basil William
son found her deep in thought when he
came to tell her Of the progress OF the
wounded
They're all doing well, and Peter
Vassfp will live. Dunstanbury has
made him promise to come to him when
he's recovered, so you'll meet him
again at all events. And Marie Zerko-
witch and her husband talk of settling
in Paris. You won't lose all your kra-
vonian friends"
You assume that I'm coming with
you tomorrow morning."
I'm quite safe in assuming that
Dunstanbury won't so unless you do"
he answered. smiling. We can't leave
you alone here, you know"
'1 shouldn't stay here anyhow. she
said. "Or ar any rate. l should be
where nobody could hurt me-" She
pointed at a dim lantern fastened to
the gate. tower by an iron clamp. chen
waved her hand toward the surround
ing darkness. That's life. isn't ft?'' she
asked. rIf believed that I could go
to monseigneur. l would go tonight
nay, / would have gone at Miklevni;
it was only putting my head out Of that
ditch a minute sooner IL 1 believed
even that 1 could lie in the church
there and know that he was near! III
/ believed even that 1 could lie there
quietly and remember to think OF himi
Of NJ a
peasants child as I am. What do you
think? You mustn't wonder that I've
had my thoughts. too. At Lady Meg's
we did little else than try to find out;
whether we were going on anywhere
else. That's all she cared about And
IL she does ever get to a next world. she
won't care about that; she'll only 90
on trying to find out. whether there's
still another beyond. What do you
think?"
'.I hardly expected to find you so phil
osophically Inclined he said.
Its a practical question with me
now On its answer depends whether
l come with you or stay hereby mon
seigneur in the church"
Basil said something professional
some thing about nerves and temporary
strain. But he performed this homage
to medical etiquette in a rather perfume
tory fashion. He had never seen Al
woman more composed or more obvi-
ously and perfectly healthy. Sophy
smiled and went on:
But If 1 live. I'm sure at least OF be-
ing able to think and able to remember.
1t comes to gamble. doesn't 'it7 It's
just possible Il might get more: it's
quite likely--I think it's probable
should lose even what have now
II think you're probably right about
the chances of the gamble he told
har 81 NO fnfx fe
of place--or at least one doesn't talk
about 1T. Shall l tell You what science
says?p
'.No." said sophy. smiling family.
Science thinks in multitudes-and I'm
thinking of the Individual tonight.
Even Lady Meg never made much of
science. you know.
do you remember the day when l
heard you your catechism in the avenue
at Morpingham?'
Yes. i remember. Does the cate
chism hold good in Kravonia, though ?s
TT continues, anyhow, a valuable
document in its bearing on this life.
You remember the mistake you made.
1 dare say?"
"I've never forgotten It, It's had
something to do with 1t ALL said Sophy.
That's how you. as well as Lord Dun
stanbury, come in at the beginning as
you do at the end.
mas II HOlnlnS 10 DO with the QueS-
tion now-putting 1t in any particular
phraseology you like?" In his turn he
pointed at the smoky lantern. That's
not life" he said growing more earnest,
yet smiling. That's now-just here
aud now--and. yet. It's very smoky"
He waved his hand over the darkness.
That's life. Dark? Yes. but the night
will lift, the darkness pass away; val
ley and sparkling lake will be there.
and the summit of the heaven kissing
hills. Life cries to you with a sweet
voice.
Yes she murmured. with q sweet
voice. And perhaps some day. there
would be light on the hills. But. an,
I'm torn in sunder this night. / wish
l had died there at Mi<levni while my
blood was hot She paused a long
while In thought. Then she went on:
If l go, must go while it's still dark.
and while these good people sleep. Go
cnd tell Lord Dustanbury to be reaGy
to start an hour before dawn: and do
5ou and he come then to the door of the
church, If I'm not waiting for you
there. COME inside and find me-"
He started toward her with sn eager