New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-05-07
Chapter XIV.


Chapter XIV.
RODOSLAV had not spoken idly when he
warned his guests that they must cY-
pect 10 rough It. There were rooms and nse.
sages in plenty which could still boast a roof
above them; but the livable part Of the
structure was limited and rudelv furnished
Ann bed, an iron cot Of military SIMPLICITY
stood in a stone walled chamber which
would have satisfied the notions Of an ascctic
monk. Her aunt's quarters and the Trus.
colts were as austcrc. The one apartment
that made prctcnSlOns 10 comfort was the
low vaultcd hall where they assembled for
dinner II was too plain ever 10 have served
ceremonial uses, -Rodoslay said it was CON.
monty called the guardroom.- but. with
candles set about its walls and us great
hooded fireplace and darker inches banked
with yellow gOrsc and some unknown bios.
som Of namclikc vividncss. it took on an air
Of fcstivitv which, contrasted with the cells
where they had removed the dust of the
ride. was almost frivolous.
They were waited upon by the wife and
daughters Of the steward, drcscd Ike the
men Of the family. in the peasant costume
Of the Herzegovina. The tableware was uch
as might have been set before them IN a
country inn: but the thick soup Wa avory.
the roast fowl cooked beyond rcproaoh. the
salad Of tOOthsome CriSpncss and 'hc red
wine Of a body and bouquet that bcglled
the stockbrokcr who declared De- folt Ike a
robbcr baron to drink deep and dcfy
rheumatism % do its worst In truth. The
spirits Of the trcnchcrmcn who bad once
tcnantcd the hall seemed 10 po e an #
them. The talk owed nothing to intellect
ANYTHING passed as wit. The prime affair
was the food and drink, which they con.
sumcd with the honest JOY Of eating Of ruder
days
Thi, elemental mood outlas'cl 'ao meal.
and still ruled them when strangc 0aan'ing
drew them outdoors. and thence back under
the archway 10 the courtyard they lad first
traycrscd. But this was no longer obscure.
Wherever the ancient torch holder, It'll
chung 10 the decaying masonry famed lights.
Over against q stretch Of gray sail. where
some Venetian master Of the place had
sc,llp,urcd the conqucring lion o. Saint
Mark. was grouped the bright garhcl family
Of the steward Soplaccd, grave -'a'uo-Que.
they struck rs weird note as the chant Hseif
The latter. intoncd in deep bass ar 'ae I'D
shepherd. became at Rodoslav's 0r,ng q
duet which the wife shared. whcrcgror ne
daughters dartcd 10 the fore and began "a
dance. They kept their arms pinned as
closely TO their sides as if they were Dbl, wood
but nothing could be less wooden '.an 'h,
Young girls themselves. They were a- grace.
ful as they were picturesque, and picturesque
they were beyond question. y brown eyed
as Rodoslav himself yet darker skinned
their kcrchicfs and aprons as gay Up-ics'
their silver ornaments flashing IN 'he gnDcr
tain light. their glanccs and attitudes ,e
ductivc compromise between shync and N,
yitation. they were al once Of the Orient and
the Wc,,. barbaric and refined. ~ music
save the curious antiphony Of 'te chant
accompanied them. Nor did they need
more They were music Themselves. i.
they finished they kissed.
With q shou, the two young men ,capei
forward 70 replace them. Nofcm,n'nedarce
this. Their dagger drawn. their .yes fash
Ing dramatic defiance. they looked as Il
nothing shor, ot murder would sake ,hcir
hate. Their faces became inhumau masks,
terrible 10 see: they sprang into the ar as
If whipped on by demons; their fierce OUT
cries woke echoes which might have been
the voices Of the slain Turks and SaTians
who had made this spot their battle-ground.
Thi. too WAS the Orient: but the Orier.