The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1909-01-25
Sophy of
kravonia.
BY ANTHONY HOPE.
Author Of -The Prisoner ~ zsndl-
Copyright 1906. Anthony Hop
Hawkins.
CONTINUED from Last Issue)
= ChApter n
Thirtyoe ]

III WV tht tAhtt @N"'
stanbury. Basil Williamson and
Henry Brown. Dunstanbury's servant,
an old soldier. good rider and shot
The rest were sturdy young men OF
Volseni, once destined for the ranks Of
the Prince OF Slavna's artillery. Luke
witch and Peter vassip led them. Not
n married man was among them. for.
to his intense indignation. Zerkovitch
was left behind in command of the
city. Sophy would have this so. and
nothing would move her. She would
not risk causing Marie Zerkovitch 10
weep more and 10 harbor fresh fears
of her. SO they rode without incum-
brances." as Dunstanhury said. laugh
ing. His spirits rose inexpressibly as
the moment Of action came.
| Their horses were all that could be
mustered in Volsenl OF mettle equal
to the dash. The little band paraded
in the market place ON Friday after
noon. There they were Joined by So
ply. who lad been TO pay last visit
to monseigaeur's grave. She came
among them sad. yet seeming more
serene. Her spirit was the happier for
striking blow In nonseigneur's name
The rest OF them We're in high feather.
The prospect OF the expedition went
far 70 blot out the tragedy OF the past
and TO veil the threatening face Of the
future. As dusk fell they rode out OF
the city gate.
Miklevni lies twenty miles up the
course of the river from Slayna, but
the river flows there nearly from north
TO south, turning TO the east only four
or five miles above the capital. You
ride, then, from Volseni 10 Miklevni al
most in a straight line, leaving Slavna
away on the left. Ii is a distance OF no
more than thirty-fve miles or there
abouts, but the first ten consist OF
precipltous and rugged descent by a
bride path from the hills TO the valley
OF the Krath. No pace beyond a walk
was possible at any point here. and for
the greater part of the way II was
necessary to lead the horses. When
once the plain was reached there was
good going. sometimes over country
roads. sometimes over grass. TO Mi
Llevni
II was plain that the expedition
rould easily be Intercepted by a force
issuing from Slavua ana placing itself
astride the route: but then. they did
not expect force to issue from Slav-
ma. That would be done only by the
orders OF General Stenoyics. and Le-
page had gone back TO Slavna 70 tell
the general that his message was being
considered-very carefully considered
in yolsenl. General Stenovics. II they
understood him rightly. would not
move till he heard N ire. For the rest
risks must he run. II all went well.
they hoped to reach Miklevni before
dawn on Saturday. There they We're to
lie In wait for Stafnitz and for the big
guns which were coming down the
Krath from Kolskoi TO Slavna.
ruKovitch was the guide aud had no
lack OF counsel from lads who knew
the hills as well as their sweethearts'
A., faces. He rode Grst. and. while they
were on the bride path. they followed
In single file, walking their horses or
leading them. Sophy and Dunstanbury
rode behind, with Basil Williamson
and Henry Brown just in front OF
them. In advance, some hundreds OF
Z yards. Peter Vassip acted as scout.
coming back from time to time TO adj
wise Lukovitch that the way was clear.
? The night fell fine and fresh. but II
D was very dark. That did not matter.
The men OF Volsenl were like cats for
E seeing In the dark,
The first ten miles passed slowly and
tediously. but without mistake or mis-.
/. hap They halted on the edge OF the
4 plain an hour before midnight and took
rest and food. Each man carried provl-
/. sion for two days. Behind them now
rose the steep hills whence they had
2 come. before them stretched the wide
/ plain. away on their left was Slavna,
= straight ahead Mlklevni. the goal OF
their pilgrimage. Lukovitch moved
about. seeing that every man gave
heed TO his horse and had his equip
ment and his weapons In good order
Then came the word TO remount. and
between II and !, with n cheer hastily
suppressed. the troop set forth at a
good trot over the level ground. Now
Williamson and Henry Brown fell to
the rear with three or four Volsenians
lest by any chance or accident Sophy
should lose or be cut of from the main
body. Lukovitch and Peter Vassip
rode together at the head.
To Dunstanbury that ride by night
through the spreading plain was won
derful, thing sufficient In itself with
out regard TO Its object or Its Issue
He had seen some service before, and
there was the JOY OF that. He had
known the comradeship OF a bold en-
terprise; there was the exaltation OF
that lie had taken great risks before
there was the excitement OF that. The
night had ere now called him to the
saddle. and 1t called now with all Its
fascination. His blood tlngled and
burned with all these things. But
there was more. Beside. him all the
way was the figure Of Sophy dim In
the darkness and the dim silhouette OF
{ her face-dim. yet. as It seemed, hard
y iy blurred; its pallor stood out even In