The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1915-07-28


toward the hamlet where Tarissa liv.
ed. Dusk was falling, and the Turk
before reaching the hamlet, directed
his. men to remain where they We're
and rode forward alone to reconnoiter,
for he knew that Boris was rs slippery
rs an eel and If he was aware that a
force was coming to take him he would
be off like the wind.
When near Tarissa's home the officer
approached cautiously. and since it was
dark he reached window without be-
ing seen. In the room into which he
looked were Boris and Tarissa. Boris
was trying to induce the girl to so
back with him and become his wife.
She Eesitated since he was marked for
destruction in Turkey and could never
come back with her to her home. So
intent were they with each other that
they did not notice the appearance of
the Turk at the window till they heard
click and. looking up, saw him level
ing pistol at Boris.
The Roumelian realized that he was
doomed and, preferrng to die by bull
let without being tortured, MS he doubt
less would be If he were captured, put
his hand to his hip for Il weapon. But
he had unclasped his belt and laid it
Oh a chair. Tarissa saw his eye turn
toward the chair. and. anticipating his
intention to die defending himself. she
threw herself between him and his
weapon.
This placed her between the officer
and her lover. Since the former could
not shoot without killing her he sprans
in through the window and. covering
Eoris. called OIL him to surrender.
There was nothing else for the captive
to do since he had nothing with which
to make a defense except to induce his
captor to shoot him.
The next move Of the Turk was to
get his prisoner to his men or his
men to his prisoner. The latter was
not an easy thing to do. for tho men
were beyond call. and he had no one
to send for them. Keeping his pistol
pointed toward Boris, he glanced out
through the window to see if any one
was near, for he was in Christian
hamlet, and il he attempted to drive
his captive to his men he might get
a bullet from some one Of the little
clump Of houses.
During these few moments in which
lie was Obliged to keep so many things
in his mind there were two very i'm
portant matters that he failed to grasp.
One was Tarissa and the other Boris
belt, to which was sung his pistol,
though he may not have seen the lat
ter. The Turks glance through the
window enabled Tarissa to take step
backward SO that by placing her hand
behind her she might reach the weapon.
Not seeing any one without to send
for his men. he ordered Boris to pre-
cede him through the doorway and
out of the house. Boris obeyed, and
as the men passed out. the Turk keep
ing his eyes fixed on his prisoner. TIA
rissa possessed herself of Boris pistol.
She now had every advantage. for
she was behind the Turk. Only the
knowledge that her lover would die a
frishtful death enabled her to kill a
man in cold blood. Stealing up close
to the Turk. she shot him through the
head.
Boris turned. saw the Turk fall and
Tarissa with a smoking pistol in her
hand.
CO." she said. "There must be 9th.
ers near
Without word he sprang on to the
horse on which he had come. and as
he passed out of sight the Turkish
soldiers We're heard coming.
Boris escaped. Tarissa hid in the
darkness for time. then set out to
join him.
Neither of them ever entered Turkey
again. for they knew that Boris would
be killed and Tarissa would meet
worse fate, In their home in Rou.
melia they were safe.