Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1936-12-18

can. l remember during the war
at times they had to wait quite
while before they got the wounded in
to ambulances. Her Highness is
feeble, but she has no fever. The
fever in wounds doesn't start before
the, second or third day. We can take
advantage of that"
Tatiana's lips moved.
Don't talk, it will make you
cough!"
go on, go ont" the grand duchess
whispered.
eve are going now" declared the
Baron.
The fugitives took the road once
more. At dusk they swung wide to
evade the lights of a village. Perhaps
there was help there, danger also.
The morning Of the third day they
were far from any inhabited section
and the food was gone. The grand
duchess had been delirious during the
day and her fever was mounting. Fa-
tigue had almost worn the little troop
out. Sonia did not spak, but the con-
traction of her features showed her
suffering. Jean, weakening also, Of
fered her his arm and, after a slight
resistance, she leaned on it.
Always space, infinite space. Walk
ing on and on through land cut by lit
tie streams and rising towards wooded
hills, the paths were becoming harder
to follow.
"a steeple!" cried Jean, as twilight
was falling. It was a small Russian
parish home, rearing above the trees,
it's bell ringing gently.
"No matter what comes, we go no
further" declared Sir Herbert. "The
princess needs attention. We can
trust these people, I think"
The party climbed to the isolated
house and the noise of their coming
brought the priest to the door.
"Peace be with you strangers"
greeted the priest quietly. "Be you
thieves OF HOTTEST HIGH
eve have committed no crime,
Father" answered Sonia, "yet we flee
from the wickedness of men. My sis
ter is wounded; can you give her care
and sanctuary?"
The priest stood aside to let them
enter.
"These be hard times" he sighed.
eve must help one another. Your
secret shall be kept"
The priests Of the Orthodox Russian
church are not ordained to celibacy.
This pastors wife prepared the rooms
for the guests, The princess was plac
ed on a crude but clean and comfort
able bed. At night the village doctor
arrived, changed the bandages and
prescribed few simple remedies.
"Will my sister recover, Little Faith
err" Sonia asked in Russian.
The surgeon shook his head doubt
fully. with the help Of God. The
bullet pierced her lung, we must be
careful of inflammation or embolism."
Neither he nor the priest seemed to
suspect the perilous honor they shar-
ed.
Days passed, the fever ran it's
course and even seemed to abate. Ia
tiana could not eat a little. The
blood which slightly flushed her fea-
lures brought back some of her for
mer radiant beauty. Beside Sonia
(who stayed with her night and day.
and the four men (who took turns
watching at her bedside) only the
priest and the village doctor visited
her.
time of the year. The air was peace
full; pigeons coed in the shadows of
the caves. 1t was so far from revolu-
tons here, this tiny place lost in the
vast expanse of all the Russias, nest
led in the steppes, with the lowing of
cattle in the meadows and, at night,
the songs of the peasants dancing a.
round smoking fires.
The last bodyguard of the daugh-
ter of the Cars did not show itself
often outside the parish house. How
ever, hope had returned for them. Sir
Herbert spent days beside Tatiana's
bed, searching for the least indication
!. of recovery. She would gaze at him
with her large, deep eyes.
"My FRIEND" she would say, and
these simple words, falling from her
lips, would shake him with a violent
emotion. He kissed her hand.
"Your Highness shall live, I want
you to so much!"
The grand duchess smiled feebly,
doubtfully.
J "They await mel have kept them
0JI-