Danira

still remained in Cattaro, thereby subjecting his patience to a severe trial. He and his men had been ordered to the citadel overlooking the city, now used on

fog rested on the bay and mountains, and t

appeared the figure of George Moosbach, walking up

mime was not sufficient to enable them to comprehend each other, so the attempt ceased. George was strolling discontentedl

George from the

ure with grave, deeply-lined features which, however, expressed no sternness; the eyes, on the contrary, had an

orge, here in th

a most disrespectful way, but instead of doing so

would come here to the world's end too. I supposed y

to be one of my own parish," replied the priest, smiling. "I arrived yesterday and was sent to take

's face fairly be

a barbarous name that an honest Tyrolese tongue can't pronounce it. There is nothing except stones, robbers and goats, one can scarcely get anythin

es! But I hear that the regiment left Catta

d walls--the citadel, they call it--guarding a few of the rascals we've been lucky eno

't believe he finds it so hard to bear the dela

her be up among the savages

is future wif

sband, too, that's certain, b

d. "What is it you don't like?

ike the sunshine itself, and she can laugh and play pranks like an elf. I'm high in her favor, and am cons

d you mean by

arrassed, thrust his hand t

and brings her flowers, and rides and drives with

t in Baron von Steinach's circle people conduct courtships

in love it's all the same whether he's a count or a peasant, and Herr Gerald isn't in love a bit. In s

, that it was evident he firmly believed that a priest could s

there can be no interference. They will learn to know and love each

e never committed a folly in his life, and people must do foolish thin

eckless and somewhat quarrelsome son may fare in a foreign land. I promised to have an eye on you, but I

is head and drew down his cap so th

irely out of practice. Besides Bartel began; he gave me one blow, but only

he punishment he deserved. Just at that moment Gerald appeared on his way from the citadel, and, w

Leonhard said that he was going to call on the commandant, the young o

ules order

hey'll be at the colonel

ll be ready by that time. Let me

atly delighted that a reverend ecclesiastic was going with the reg

ept Edith, who, at the last moment, had taken a dislike to the expedition. She thought the weather too uncertain, the road too long, the ride too

l Gerald think if you stay at home? How can he help b

for him," was the defiant retort

ntered the room, and now the poor fellow is to suffer for it. Take c

nusually bitter tone. "You would even sacrifice a favorite plan

an?" cried the colonel, now really al

n to weep so bitterly that her f

Is he not an attentive, gallant lover? Doesn't h

e, she told me that he could not love and would never learn. I have never yet heard one warm, tender word from his lips, but, on the contrary, he plays the

excited girl's hand a

iage, but you also know that I will never force you into it. Be

face and, nestling in her father's

paign. He is impatient to get away, fairly longs to go, the sooner

lover, I admit, but you ought not to doubt his affection. Passionate impetuosity is not one of his traits of character, but the better

evidently very willing to be pe

mean,

iking a spark from the flint if she tries the other method? She always knows how to get her own way. Now go, my child, and dress f

he request. A smile was already breaking through her

im I've been crying, papa," and without wai

aversion to her proposed bridegroom, but he could find no opportunity to "say his word" to

a visit to a fort situated on a steep mountain several hours' journey away, whose commanding position afforded a wide and magnificent view. They intended to avail themselves of the opportunity to pay the commanding officer

gan just outside of the city. At first trees and bushes appeared on both sides, but soon everyth

and the mountains seemed higher and more rugged, the nearer the party approached them. Edith's moods that day perfectly justified the term "April weather." The shower of the morning was followed by bright sunshine. No one would have sup

ure was not proof against it. He must indeed have been stone to remain unmoved by such a sparkling flow of jests and witticisms. The smile that so well suited his grave features

istance between her and the two others imperceptibly increased. The rear of the little cavalcade was closed by George, who trotted comfortably along, thinking how foo

s frame and dark complexion of a man already past his youth. His rich garments and the small but spirited mountain horse, with its shining brown coat and gay trappings, showe

nd Edith. The stranger stopped his horse to let them pass, and made a haughty, dignified bow, though his eyes rested with a hostile gaze o

a perilous moment, but the horseman seized the animal's bridle with a firm grasp. While doing so he murmured a few words in the Slavonic tongue. Danira answered in the same language, probably an expression of than

. There was no occasion for anxiety, as the rider

h, laughing. "Her countrymen are not usually ready to pay poli

," replied Gerald, without averting his eyes from the group. "I don't und

er foster sister, who had remained perfectly undistu

thing must have fri

man, Fr?ulein Dan

thanking him for

ons. The young officer remained silent, but cast a keen glance at the spot where the stran

know him,

openly declared war against us, is only waiting for the signal to join the insurrection. He has been in Catta

peated. "You seem to regre

sent--his son is a prisoner in our hands. This son was one of the first to resist the attempt to force him into the military service, and unceremoniously shot the officer

ecause he defend

quietly talking with him, expecting no attack--in civ

rp in tone, but Edith, who had been

I'll make George my cavalier; he will at least try to ente

ly meant, but Gerald seemed to unde

's company to mine I

ch always enraged her. They did not fail to produce their effe

here! We'll ri

to a steep path that saved a l

e. He quickly put his mule into a tr

former play-fellow rather than his subaltern, and had instantly granted his entreaty that she would address him with the "Du" used in his native Tyrol. George, on his

ached the main road again, and were now far ahead of the

wait here for the l

ready vanished, but she wanted to punish Gerald for his

tual, for he and Danira avoided each other whenever they could. So Edith found much amuse

in advance, we'll get to the fort f

imed George, whose tongue always seemed to have an

ur eyes, Krivoscia is the incarnation of everything horrible. So much the better. You won't run the ris

horror, dropped the mule's

d to boot. I believe my father would leave the whole farm to the mon

ou to bring him one of the Tyrol

"No other girls can compare with those in the Tyrol. The

s myself, and who knows--if I were not already betrothed, I

y. "I should have no objection, I'd take y

t seriously. Now let us ride on, the animals have rested long enough." She urged her mule forward and George followed. He

y alone. The latter, it is true, had paused

t feel at all inclined to submit to his fiancée's whim. "The path is s

lesson," Danira ad

nterest in my profession; that i

with this mode of teaching,

re was unconcealed mockery in this appeal for counsel to the girl of seventeen, but the cold, sullen glance that answered the scoff showed that it ha

he replied. "Then she can be swayed complete

I have not un

so. The tutor will gain nothing from th

also felt a touch of Edith's irritability when she was reproved.

own its untrustworthiness, she seemed perfectly fearless. Gerald could not help noticing how steadily the animal now trod upon the loose stones, and

ky projection, when Danira suddenly

" asked Gerald, whose a

e saddle must have been disarranged by the mul

anding on the ground when he approached. He saw that she wished to avoid his assistance, and therefore, without a word, instantly turned

little. They have had a sharp climb, a

hen stepped out upon the point, where Danira w

stes, and green, smiling shores, white hamlets glimmering in the brightest sunshine, and gloomy ravines where scarcely a ray of light penetrat

st ended in jagged, riven peaks. Far below gleamed the bay in its strange, curving outlines, which sometimes seemed to seek and meet each other, then to recede far asunder. The surface of the water flashed unde

ed, the blue expanse seeming to stretch into infinite distance, for at the point where sea and sky met it blended w

, were now fixed on the mountain peaks of her home, looming dimly through the mists. The girl herself stood like a dark enigma amid the surroundings into which fate had cast her. The cold, expressio

s black habit was wholly devoid of ornament, and the little black hat, which did not half cover the heavy braids was equally simple. The slender yet vigorous figure, it is true, showed perfect symmetry of outline, a

resting upon her, for she suddenly turned,

ntry! I think it can bear com

rb background of the sea. The country is beauti

s not a ravine, not a rock-bound province which has not been

ds from our foes, and I think we

n was attracted. She cast a quick, inquiring glance at

, th

nce here with the query: 'Where did y

ld you that he is

so, but I don

Steinach, I must beg you not to extend your

y the rights of a child in his household. I must remind

but, as though warned by some sudden recollection, controlled herself

e commandant's house has

grasped the hilt of his sword. No one would have supposed that his clear eyes could blaze with so

Had a man dared to so insult me, I sh

sudden outbreak. So this man must be irritated, stung to the quick, ere sparks would flash from the flint. She almost felt a secret satis

I have no weapon of def

d to repent the ebullition of rage and resumed his u

lein," he added, as she made an angry gesture. "The subject must be mentioned between

m, for she requested no explanation. Yet her eyes no longer avoided the ga

ad not quite dawned when I reached the spot. Just at that moment the door opened and two persons came out. A man--not Joan Obrevic, but a slender youth, who, like him, wore the costume of the country--and a lady whom, in spite of the gray dusk, I distinctly recognized. How she had succeeded in passing through the city gates, which at night open

ttempt to defend herself. The young officer had probably expected something of the sort.

is incident, Joan Obrevic appeared in the city. He, too, frequents that house, and probably also receives reports there from persons most closely associated with the commandant

by the speaker's glance and tone. Her face seemed to grow actually livid in its pallor, and her bo

t where our safety is at stake. I shall inform the colonel that he is being betrayed by a member of his own household, and at the same time beg him if possi

Now she at last found words, but they sounded like the out

insults. You are spea

th that doubt was impossible. Nor did Gerald doubt, but he seemed fairly

brot

and talked with him that nig

emed to fall from his breast. The worst fact, the treachery still existed; but he had a vague

could not possibly suspect that a brother and sist

ed Danira sullenly. "He was implicated in the affair which delivered young Ob

y done only to see a sister who has become so much a stranger to him, fo

the same earnestness, and the look which strove to read the young

ou against my will; you understood how to drive me to extremities, but you will take no unf

everywhere confront us; we must be watchful. I have done you injustice once, Fr?ulein, and should not like to do so a second

my whole youth? I suppose you

g officer frowned angrily, and his voice r

cted the existence of such an idea in the mind of his adopted daughter, nor has he

tate Danira still more. A threat

was spared this fate; he was carried back to our native mountains. I remained among strangers, as a stranger, whose presence was tolerated beside the beloved and idolized child of the household. They robbed me of everything--country, parents, friends and gave me in return the wretched alms of an education which only made me miserable, for it never filled the deep gulf that separated m

very precaution, swept away every barrier. Her pallid face flushed crimson as the hot blood suffused her temples; her

n as if spell-bound. Hitherto he had only known her cold, reserved, mysterious; now the veil was rent asunder, and he sa

t, notwithstanding all this, the girl was beautiful, bewitchingly beautiful in this storm of passion. She stood proudly erect, with flamin

clear, still air. There stood Edith, who had already reached the end of their rid

d hastily passed his hand over his forehead,

rangely tremulous tone. "It is really time for us

gain, and with them the veil seemed to fall once more over

them to browse on the puny plants growing here and there between

me, perhaps too much so. Can you, dare you, tell me the sub

e curt, reso

of seeming to you an informer.

e young girl with quivering

ose protection you live? How you reconcile your residence under that roof with what I was forced to

his assistance, and, with a single effort, sprung unaided into the saddle. The next i

ained and maliciously enjoying the vexation inflicted upon her lover. She read plai

hy did you dismount on the way? You spent

nically. "You were far ahead. Did George take proper

was the merry, bell-like

de me a proposal in all due form, and I requested time for consideration

ancée and was riding close beside her. He felt as if he must seek in her sunny

han below. At their feet lay the country with its rocks and waters, its dreary, barren wastes and luxuriant shores. The fe

like the people who belonged to it, and whoever had once