Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-05-07

RodoslavS great ambition. If this spot in
any way typifed the wide realm his fore
fathers had once ruled, what a mean spirited
carCature of man he would be not to dream
of its reconquest! The great emprise, al
ways remote and shadowy hitherto. became
wildly concrete. She asked herself how he
meant to act, now that the time seemed ripe
for action, and realized with. wonder, that
she knew little or nothing of his actual plans.
He had called her his ally; but their alliance
had carried with 1T no sweeping condolences.
She knew he aimed to fuse the scattered host
of Servian blood into a single nation and she
inferred that he had won to his support
picked group of leaders who the signal
given, would rally the impressionable many
round his historic name. That this implied
a coup d 'etat, dependent on armed force, she
recognized, as she did the likelihood of an en-
suing war which more than one great power
might find it imperative to join. Beyond
this, what did she really know? Who were
his lieutenants? What was his plan of cam
paign? At which point did he mean to
striker All was shrouded in mystery.
Standing here on the verge of an outbreak
that might set all Europe ahame, she knew
no more of its details than she had learned
that strange night in Cadenabbia when
Rodoslav's will overbore her own.
The days that Immediately followed did
nothing to enlighten her. Rodoslav seemed
determined that, if this was the end, it
should be a golden end. She had never
found him more considerate or more COM
panionable. Not hint of his vast response
bilities escaped him. Outwardly he was
man of infinite leisure their attentive tire
less host He loitered with them as long as
they would under the arches of the Rector's
Palace, he pored over the enamels of the
treasury in their company as if he saw them
for the first time, he shared their exclama-
tory interest in the picturesque chatter about
La Sponza, he idled with them in cafes to
watch the gay hued, ever changing life of the
city ebb and flow through the Stradone.
Then, the bloom brushed from these novel
ties, he planned excursions to outlying gar
dens and cloisters with enchanting views of
mountains and sea. So sped a lotus eating
week which, in all frankness, it must be ad-
mitted Ann enjoyed. She was two and
twenty Tomorrow surely-wOuld be kind!
THEN Virginia. at Mrs. Blair's instance
1 reluctantly announced that they must
60. "Not that I'm ready she added, as
Rodoslav instantly protested. u should
never be ready. But we are due in Cannes
the week before Easter, and before that we
must pick up friends in Sicily, and before
Sicily there is, of course, poor Price Buckley,
him. I've had long letter from him since
let him know we were en- route, and he says
that the first thing We'll see when we put in
at Cattaro will be his beaming face. l sus-
pect he is bit homesick among his Mon
tenegrins."
"Have you set day to meet him. asked
Rodoslav.
Eyes. told him Saturday at latest
"And this is Wednesday," His manner
conveyed fattering regret. "Ah, we'll you
must not fail him after his trip over the
mountains
Ann, a listener merely, believed his regret
less poignant than he made it appear. He
was at heart no doubt relieved to be rid of
his house party They had masked his adj
vance, Henceforward he could shift for
himself.
But his next words proved her assumption
hasty. at isn't often l can inveigle guests
down here, and I'm heartily sorry to give
you up" he continued. al regret it so much
that should like to see you little way on
your journey
@See us all the way" urged the stock
broker promptly. "Make the Don't Care
your headquarters as long as you will
Rodoslay shook his head. "You Amer
leans are the most generous people on earth;
but-alas!-1 can't accept"
4Then come as far as you can" said Vir-