Danira

t the mountaineers were familiar with tempests that brought destruction to every living thing in their path, and often hurled horse and rider over a precipice. To-day the wind had roared over the e

tood a somewhat larger building, the only one that deserved the name of house. It was firmly built, had a door and windows, and was divided inside into several separate rooms. The first and largest of these apartments seemed to be used as a common living-room by the occupants. A huge fire was blazing on the hearth and illumined the bare, smoke-blackened walls, w

e capable of bearing arms, were now away at the scene of war or camped in inaccessible ravines and narrow passes. Sometimes they secretly returned

n cleaning the pot in which she had prepared it. She did her work swiftly and silently, wi

agle-like features, and a face as hard and rigid as the rocks of his home, was gazing gloomily with frowning brow into the fire. His companion, who was several years his junior, also looked grave and gloomy, but his

ou," said the elder, angrily. "Another

artened. You will not see, Marco, that we are constantly being forced back, more a

killed your father, as well as mine? If you can forget that you are Hersovac's son--my name

Hersovac. "I recognized him during the fight. You will

, how often he was to have been betrayed into my hands by stratagem. Others, the wrong ones, were always struck and he escaped. Bu

so that the sparks flew in every direction; it was an express

Doesn't she know

he refuses

then!" said M

? You do not k

ill, as soon as she is mine;

c obeyed. He was still very young, and apparently not e

the house of Joan Obrevic after the latter brought his dead friend's son home. But, even in those days, the energetic Marco exerted authority over

spect. She had nothing at all in common with the women of her race, the timid, humble creatures born and reared to subjection. There was a col

yes glowed with a fervent, passionate admiration, alt

o comes to your brother's heart

ly. "You only came to hold a conference with

me the man to whom your brother has promi

recognize this promise. I

. "Your brother is now the head of the house. He has a rig

y i

calmness, but such unyielding resolutio

n below? You have now returned to us, and none

is: "Everything. Ask my brother whether I shrink from the labor of which I was ignorant, whether I refuse to do what is imposed upon me. I ask only

she was already worn by the hard burden of toil that rested almost entirely upon her shoulders. She had prepared the meal, and waited on the men without receiving the slightest notice from them. Even in her husband's presence she showed nothing bu

exclaimed. "With us the husband is the only person of im

y, her eyes flashed, and with

never will be--that is the very r

r it contained a shade of his own unbridled, unbending will. His hand was still clench

ent--that is why I

dying fire. Her hands showed that she had learned to work and did

advancing a step nearer seized the girl's

be, even richer than your brother. You need not labor like the other

vident that the rude son of the mountains was completely under the thrall of a feeling experienced for the first time, and which subdue

ered you know no limits. You bend even my brother absolutely to your will; what would be your wife's fate?

would not have allowed myself to be routed

e, and can do nothing for a lost cause, for--whether you admit it or not--our caus

What do you know about it? Has Stephan already infected y

nquer or fall. I wish I could die with you, if it comes to that

quite capable of verifying them if matters proceeded to extremes. Marco

Stephan the woman. You have inheri

was usually exchanged only between men. Danira had compelled him t

we have better things to do. But when the time comes--and come it wi

and the two men began to equip themselves for departure. The farewell was brief and laconic. These rude

and him his gun, yet they had been only a few months wedded, and the two men might expect de

ldiers in the vill

a short time, and marched

seeking us, as they have so often done, and will not find us unl

ie. And they never ask, they know we will not betra

may be united in the

visible for a time, making their way vigorously against the gale, then they vanish

she dreaded darkness and sleep. Her sister-in-law had already gone to rest. She did not understand how any one could shorten or wholly

Danira saw and heard nothing. She was dreaming, dreaming with her burning eyes wide open, and from the floating smoke appeared visions far, far removed from the darkness and solitude of the hour--

stern severity, bitter reproach, as in that hour on the rocky h

visionary face began to lose its harsh expression, softened more and more, until finally it disappeared, and only two clear eyes gazed forth from the drifting wreaths of

onds to recall where she was, but her surroundings soon brought her back to reality. Yes, this close, gloomy room, with its bare walls and wretched household furniture, its smoky, stifling atmosphere

had told the truth. Here the man was the only person of importance, and the idea of freedom, fierce and unbridled as it might be, existed for him alone; the wife was merely the best piece of furniture in th

dence was lost. Marco's ardent passion still gave her power over him. He still yielded to the influence of a higher nature, and was charmed and allured by what was refused, but only so long as it continued to be denied. When once his property, the old tyranny would assert its rights, and his wife would have no better lot than the other women of h

aved passionately, and she suddenly sank down before the crucifix and pressed her burning brow against the cold wall. The prayer that rose to heaven was fervent and de

ravine had great difficulty in making a stand against it. The moonlight showed that both men wore the Austrian uniform. Th

straight," said one. "The place down yonder is as dark and silent a

came from the lips of Gerald von Steinach, w

ace. It is the village our troops entered this morn

ess an Imperial Chasseur. We must have been

ng the wounded officer in charge of the necessary escort. The message to me was all right at any

o it, I don't like the looks of the business, still less those of the ragged lad who acted

efuse the request of a severely wounded comrade, who wants to see me and perhaps has a last commission to give? To be sure i

and it will come to that. That confounded boy has vanished as though the earth had swall

ght of danger. "He forgot to tell us the direction, so we must find the way ourselves. Yonder house seems

e shelter of the rocks. "If they call this a 'little' bora, I'd like to see a big one

ht was shining. The gale which had prevented his footsteps from being heard also drowned h

ly revealing their figures, but at the same time dazzled them so that, for a moment, they coul

rom the storm and darkness outside, as though her own thoughts had assumed form and substance. Not until Gerald advanced did she become conscious of the reality of

ral

at George, who had entered behind his lieutenant, hastened to

rits guard us! Th

the first who tried to regain her self

thought--I did not exp

rge's movement had also restored composure, for it reminded him that this inte

n to give me the information we desire.

his being rebelled against discipline. In his eyes Gerald was bewitched; and therefore wholly incapable of sound judgment

ar worse than those which imperilled life and limb, for here the soul's salvation wa

Herr Lieutenan

nto the affair of mingled love and witchcraft, and all inclination for further resistance instantly vanished. As Gerald, without a word, pointed with a quiet, imperious wa

aid him! She has got him now--m

the young girl, who had slowly risen and advanced into the circle of light cast by the fire. The ruddy glow made her figure stand

and luxuriance, and her whole bearing was free, fetterless and haughty, as though relieved from the burden of a dependence that had oppressed her for years, released from the bonds of the gratitude reason imposed upon her, but against which her

us to greet this meeting with pleasure," she said at last. It was the old icy tone, special

er also grew colder and

his interview. I repeat I had no suspicion who

o see troops in our homes, though they

at we do not attack the defenseless. True, we have the men

ira curtly. "Any advantag

a law was at stake, a law we could not resign and which is recognized through

s cannot and will not bow to the yoke.

the token of ill-repressed excitement, had long since crimsoned th

led caprice your people call liberty; it must first be taught. But, rely upon it, Fr?ulein, we shall teach it yet. I may be permitted

n hour before, but nothing in the world would have induced her to

holds out, and with him the bravest of our peo

strangely gloomy, searching gl

repeated. "So you

brother'

--for the plan of escape

as purchased at a high price, it cost him his father a

ves fired at me first. I will repeat th

s spoke a very different language from that of hate. Gerald could not avert his gaze from the beautiful, hostile face; he had forgotten everything else, eve

w recalled the charge you hurled at me then with such scathing fury. The purpose for which I used my knowledge of the place and circumstanc

they did not inquire about you once during all those years. Not until they needed you did they find the way to reach you, though, according t

er that she had been only a means to an end--she had known it long before. Gera

your choice and returned t

! That is

l be yours. Is it possible that a high-spirited girl, with this energetic will and ardent desire for freedom, can endure to be, not the companion, but the slave of a rough, fierce man, who does n

whom he was describing, though no name was spoken. But the young offic

u beheld the reality, and the chasm which formerly apparently divided you from us, yawned a gigantic abyss on the other side. You can no longer descend to these people with their b

ts, her own dread which had just forced themselves upon her with such annihilating power. Word after word fell f

ing again of the tempestuous night illumined by flashes of lightning. His pitiless words had, ro

ought me into perpetual conflict with myself, I have solved it by returning here, and this decision is to me irrevocable. I cannot hav

l, who stood before him so pale and gloomy; then his eyes wandered slowly around the squalid room, with its smoking fire and s

main one in your eyes," he said at last. "Danira,

moment, but she quickly repressed the gentler emotion, and the next mom

uty.' I must remind you of it, apparently. You have doubtless come to occupy the v

d him that any attempt at conciliation would be

y. I am in search of a wounded comrade here in the hamlet, whom I expect

e is some misunderstandi

e village this morning. We

an an hour they left

e wound

unded with them. See for yourself; ther

ppeared, but, mindful of the rebuff just re

e whole accursed den. Our rascally guide has made off, and here in this house"--he darted an extremely hostile glance at Danira--"here the

a look of mortal terror res

ach, you are here at the head of your men,

ne with Georg

turned de

a hostile place? At night?

here, and the message was so

on summoned? Where is the guide? Did yo

t Gerald at last began to understand the gravity of the situation. His h

g me. We were not attacked on the way. Nothing occurred to rouse our suspicions except the mysterious d

len, taken from a dead body. The whole story

bringing me----" Gerald began, but

revic has sworn vengeance upon you!

y revealed the terrible danger impending. But Ge

so? Now we'r

posure. He drew himself up to his full height,

to the last breath. We will sell our lives dearly, Geor

ath had now gained the upper hand. "Just let the murderous

omes he will come with ten times your number, and fighting would be impo

der, which the two men, who knew how the war was conduc

t us get out of doors, George. There will be more chance

the door, but Dan

already knows that you have obeyed the summons, and has barricaded your way

-law slept, and listened a few moments to the deep, regular breathing of the young wife, who had not been rou

the door, and retur

e and trust me--tr

had seemed completely transformed from the instant that danger threatened him. He saw the entreaty in the large dark eyes, and in the m

it should be to death!" h

fear, for he was firmly convinced that this blind c

ed. "Yet I will not force you to f

er than his superstition. "Where you are, I'll be also, and if you can't help it and

deep breath as they emerged from the small, close room, with its smoking fire and stifling atmosphere. Outside, storm, darkness and mort