The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1915-06-18
IN THE
BALKANS
Bv DONALD CHAshBERLIN

LOuX U81OCe lu0 UEedAluS OuI Oh Tue
late war between the Balkan states
and Turkey there was continued fight
ing between the Christians and the
Turks. A party of Turks would swoop
down on a hamlet or single house. kill
what men they found there, loot the
place and carry of the women.
The Christian Inhabitants held secret
meetings. which were the f~orerunners
Of rebellion. They would meet in cell
lars, In garrets-anywhere that they
could deliberate in secret. These meet
tngs gradually took the form Of a rev.
dictionary propaganda. They also be-
came fighting bodies. A meeting would
be held, and perhaps the next day a
body of Turks who were depressing
the people would be attacked while
they were asleep.
A young man named Alexander
1svor was prominent among the revo.
lutionists, so prominent that he be.
came known to the Turks and was
obliged to remain in hiding-that Is,
he hid himself when he was not on
some incursion against the Turks: then.
backed by armed men and with q car.
bine in his hands, his tall figure vas
een moving about encouraging the
Christians and fighting desperately
himself.
Alexander loved and was loved by u
young girl named Sonia Damotika.
She was very proud Of her lover. but
was in constant dread lest she lose
him by a Turkish bullet. But SO dread
full was the situation, so cruel were
their masters, that she could not con-
scientiously ask him to desist from his
efforts.
At last Alexander was betrayed, and
his enemies laid a plan to take him.
which meant death after torture. They
were informed that he was hiding in a
certain village. There a small party Of
Turks repaired. dashing into the place
just at dusk and searching every
house. There vas no force for de-
Tense, and they had their own way.
But their leader, who was bent on cap
turing Alexander. gave orders that no
loot should be taken, no women inter-
fered with. till he had been found.
After an hours hunt the Turkish
leader while ransacking q house
caught sight Of a woman's foot under
a bed. He ordered whoever was in
hiding to come out, and Sonia. pale
and trembling. obeyed. One Of the
Turkish soldiers recognized her as
A~lexanders betrothed and told the Off.
Ger in command of the fact. Imme-
diately in order to intimidate her he
put a pistol to her head and ordered
her to tell where her lover was hiding.
1t was some time before the girl
could gather enough strength to reply.
When she found her voice she said
that she could not tell where Alexan-
der was hiding; she could only lead
them to the spot But this did not
satisfy the officer. So eager was be
to get the man he was after that he
promised Sonia that If she would re-
veal to him bis hiding place be would
not modest her. II she refused he
would carry her OF with him. She
knew well enough what 1t meant to be
carried of by a Turk.
Sonia insisted that 1t would be i'm.
possible for her to direct them to Alex
ander's hiding place. To reach 1t they
would have to 60 through many secret
passages. Besides. she must get out
into the open air or she would faint.
Since she showed signs of swooning
the officer consented to take her out
Of the house. and a few drafts Of
fresh air seemed to revive her. As
soon as she was able to proceed she
started down the street which a
through the village.
By this time 1t was quite dark. and
the place was but dimly illuminated.
Coming to a narrow side street. she
turned into II, following it till she
reached a still narrower one. Pursuing
this for a short distance, she arrived
at a pair Of steps. Mounting the steps.
she entered a deserted house.
There" she said. weeping. you will
find him-that Is, unless he has gone
since you came"
Her tears convinced the Turks that
she was telling the truth. Indeed. so
horrible would be Der fate in case she
deceived them that they did not doubt
she would prefer to lose her lover.
Eager to pounce upon their prey. they
broke down the door OF the house. and
all rushed In. leaving the girl behind
them.
The place was billy, and this part
of the village was built IN a declivity.
The m Sonia found herself alone
she darted up the incline. soon reach
ing a low growth Of timber. The ter.
rible fate that threatened her gave her
strength to climb. and. though in dark.
ness. she knew the ground. Not far
from where she had taken to fight
was a cliff that was reached by a path
which was known only to the villagers.
Reaching the summit of this cliff. she
waited a few minutes to catch her
breath. The Turks. finding that the
building was empty. looked about for
Sonia. Not finding her. thew ran ont.