The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-30

1 and dismal misgiving arose in the mind
 of Gotzkowsky and showed itself in his face. Without a word he took the fug- | itive to the place of concealment indi-
 cated by Elise and hid him there. Then | he returned and was alone with his | daughter. Answer me-" said he stern- | ly, "who is concealed in the room?" "No
 one,' said she, trembling. Gotzkowsky l took his sword from the table where he
 had laid it and approached the door.
 What are you going to do. father?"
 she cried. q am going to kill the thief
 who stole my daughters honor," he re-
 piled. Father. father. before God in
 heaven I am innocent" Then let me
 have proof of that innocence-away from
 the door, or I will forget that I am your
 father" "Oh, do not doubt me- sobbed | Elise
 | My daughter said the merchant, | lone of the officers of the Russian army
 who came in with the flag of truce to | arrange the surrender is missing. It Is
 the man to whom I formerly showed | much kindness when he was prisoner | here The mad thought crossed my mind
 that perhaps he had left his companions
 to. visit you clandestinely That would
 be his gratitude for my hospitality. Eco
 dor von Brenda is the name of the treach-
 erous officer who has left his fellows. | Rut why do you tremble?" Then, raising
 his voice, Gotzkowsky said But should
 have known that if this insolent Russian | dared to renew former acquaintance | my daughter would never demean herself | or stoop so low as to welcome him; for | a German girl would never throw away | her honor upon a Russian boor. And only | a Russian would be base enough to hide himself instead of defending his honor | like man."
 | At that moment the door of Elise g chamber opened and the Russian colonel
 appeared with his eyes blazing and his
 cheeks burning. Elise uttered cry of terror. Here I am, sir to defend my self and avenge an insult" Feodor The | two men gazed at each other with faces full of hatred and rage. Elise threw
 herself between them and falling upon | her knees before her father, wrung | Ter hands weeping and sobbing. You
 must kill me, sir, or wash out this in salt with your blood," said Feodor, and l told briefly of the reason of his pres ence In the house of the merchant | told it and told the details of his in l terview with Elise truly. But the mer- chant would not be appeased-he hated the man before him too strongly. The swords of the two men clashed above the unconscious girl who lay fainting
 between them. Feodor was young, but af and the combat was not unequal.
 Just as the fight had reached It's | iercest stage the door of the house was broken in by party of Austrians who battered down the portal with the butts of their muskets. They came rush l ing in. Affrighted servants hnrriedly
 ran to warn their master of the inva- sion. The duel stopped, for the feet of the Austrians could be heard approach Ing. Feodor retired to an, obscure cor ner of the room. He knew that the Austrians sought the prescribed can
 noneer-and he resolved, with that gen. erous spirit which was still In him, which even the Russian court had not
 entirely made base, to help. If neces-
 snry. with his sword the man whose sword had just crossed his in mortal combat to defend the fugitive. Con cealed in the room of Elise he had overheard all that had taken place
 when the fugitive arrived begging the shelter of Gotzwosky's house.
 | When the Austrianss demanded where the merchant had concealed the cannoneer who had been traced to the house the merchant for a moment stood silent. He
 was trying to devise some plan by which
 he might save the brave defender of Ber- lin, whose presence, after what the Aus trian officer had told him of the pursuit, he could no longer deny. As sudden as lightning an idea came to him. He turned with singular expression to
 where Colonel won Brenda stood and said: