Danira

e jagged mountain-peaks were but dimly outlined against the sky, and the bl

stationed, and on his arrival did not find Gerald. The latter had waited vainly for his superior officer, who had been unusually delayed, and as the lieutenant was obliged to be at his post on the citadel at nightfall, he le

which did not allow itself to be influenced by mere conjectures, not to heed the warning. He gave the necessary orde

True, Gerald had unaccountably insisted upon shortening the visit to the fort, and avoided entering even one of the inner fortifications with the ladies. He seemed still graver than usual, but, on the other hand, had treated his young fiancée with a tenderness never before displa

. The fair little head, turned somewhat on one side, nestled among the pillows, the smile evoked by a pleasant dream hovered aroun

on a dark cloak, which enveloped her from head to foot. Gliding noiselessly across the carpet, she approached the bed. There was something ghostly i

ked, still scarcely r

ut when Edith, yet half asleep, continued: "What do y

you fa

o wake fully and s

e middle of the night

was foolish, imprudent, to come to you, but I could not go

but gazed as if bewildered into the face of her a

s--now it must be to-night. He has left u

in such riddles. Where are you going? Y

clasped the young girl's hands;

e has felt as little affection for me as I for him--let him condemn me! But you, Edith, have loved me, spite of all my failings. You never intentionally caused me pain, never turned coldly from me, even when

ise, but Edith, who at last understood that the farewell was serio

ira, half beseechingl

d, though it should cost my life. If you wake the others and put them o

that Edith, in her alarm, let her arms fall, and Da

I have made no hostile plots against those who call themselves my benefacto

ying and fixed her astoni

to Gerald? And I a

h of late, but I will not endure that scornful glance from his eyes. Promis

y for a moment, the next Danira had vanished. The door closed behind her, and the lamp diffused its soft light through the chamber as before, while

lderment. Then she rose hurriedly, threw on a dressing-gown and rushed into the adjoining room occupied by Danir

rds echoed in her ears: "If you put them on my track, it may perhaps cause my death--it will not bri

erald, for whom that strange message was left. Why was it addressed to him, who had always treated Danira so distantly, almost rudely, and why could she not endure his contempt, when she w

n came a single sharp report. It echoed from the citadel, and directly after the garrison was astir; lights appeared and vanished, and the red glare of torches fell upon the rocky declivities, w

y, for actual cowardice was not in her nature, but now, startled and excited by what

s several minutes before she was ready and hurrying

too had been startled by the shots, and was in the act of buckling on his s

apa? What has happened

ishing the sentence. "The alarm-shot gave the sign

ere, and other sh

st have escaped or the signal would not have been given. I shall send at once and get a report. But why are y

, not to arouse grave anxiety. The young officer had mentioned treason, and something unusual was evidently occurrin

with an orderly he had hurriedly

ghter, who still clasped him in her

hing else. I must go at once. Try to sleep again, and don't a

so she was now sent to bed like a child that was only in the way, while the whole city was roused from slumber, while her father and lover were hurrying to their posts, and Danira--at the name

mself that there were no suspicious appearances in the city. Two hours elapsed before his return. Orderlies came and went. At dawn a detachment of soldiers left Cattaro and marched towar

of a prisoner who had escaped during the night, and was now being pursued by the military. Lieutenant von Steinach, w

n the colonel's private room, and both faces were so grave and gloomy that it was

d. "I had been on his trail for several days, but this daring attempt at rescue was the last thin

e rocks and cliffs are concerned. But how did it happen that you discovered the pris

sons were waiting for him. I instantly alarmed the sentinels, and hurried to the spot myself. The fugitives, finding themselves discovered, fired at me. Their bullets whistled close by my head; I returned the shots, and stretched one on the earth. The two oth

expression of his face became more and

g Obrevic

well as the other prisoners, w

k he recognized

for me; in a pursuit by the guards they probably would not have delay

and down the room several times; at last

f some other bullet than you

oung officer, look

y the news of your deed there, and I have already told you that last evening orders

m really tired of guarding prisoners while

anxious expression of his features w

e chief has fallen by your hand, not even in battle, in a hand-to-hand conflict, but while

could not, ought not to have acted otherwise. I was obliged to fire upon the f

l their chief's son was released and in safety, now its members will instantly join the rebellion and you may be compelled to march aga

o set my men an example of timidity and cowardice? You are a soldi

s from you, but do not go beyond it and allow yourself to be carried away by your zeal to defy a danger which, after last night's oc

life recklessly. I can promise nothing

rt. Hush! here comes Edith. Do not let her know what we have been discussing; she must not be

look so bright and blooming as usual. Her features had a weary, worn expr

in the house was awake and moving; besid

ntained in her words. He had not even thought of sending her a mess

ou had already learned from your father that the

tives fired at you, that you

and has done his duty; but you see he is safe and sound. Unfortunately, he has brought new

at her father; she turn

a has

ent ere the passing emotion was repressed,

e! W

e even more than her words. She forbade me to awake you or betray her flight, and was gone ere I could fairly col

ow, whose amazement at fir

for

half timid, half questioning expression. She saw the flush that crimsoned his brow for an

er what had happened she could not stay, and would undoubtedly have gone soon

treacherous creature, who has lived with us for years and been treated like a child

o curb an alien, refractory element, but anger made him unjust. All the secret aversion cherished against his adopted daughter now

and darker. When the colonel again repeated the expression, "base treachery," the young man's eye

n a sharp, positive tone, "and her aiding in the rescue

o make excuses for a vagabond who leaves the house in the darkness o

tear this girl from her birthplace, a mistake by which she has been the greatest sufferer. She has done wrong, it is tru

t at his future son-in-law, whom he saw in

t forth. "You are actually constituting yourself the knight and defender of

e young officer's face, and eve

d, gently. "I felt the same when D

rom you; we won't argue about it any farther. At any rate, I am glad the affair is ended in this way. I have always considered it a misfortune

all!" said Gerald, with a long breath, as if

s, as was his custom when struggling with any

n't yet know, my child, that Gerald must leave. The order came last ev

looked at her in surprise; he had expected that she would receive the news ve

o show myself worthy of my fiancée in this campaign. If I return we will turn our backs upon this country and I will t

siness, while he grasped in a convulsive rather than fervent clasp the hand of his promised br

. But go now, my son. You must make the arrangements at the citadel which we have been discussing. We shall expect

ly pressed a long, ardent kiss upon it. The caress seemed almost like a plea f

ad closed behind the young officer. "The parting appears to make Gerald realize wha

ather; it was startlingly pale, and the b

with quivering lips. "I have learned t