Danira

ich Gerald had come to the village. Danira led the way and the others followed, but scarcely a word was e

e uproar of the elements seemed to transform all nature into chaos. Here no cloud dimmed the clear azure of the sky, in which the stars were shining brightly, and the moonlight rested clear and radiant on the rocky heights

the spirits of destruction had been let loose and were now sweeping on in search of their prey

tempest, it seemed as though all nature was spell-bound in a death-slumber which nothing cou

ugh they must long since have lost their way and there was no escape from this desert where one ridge rose beyond another

id, pointing down into the depths

huge, projecting rock. It was a strange formation of stone, towering upward in broad massive outlines, curiously jagged at the top, the peak inclined so far forw

k hangs over like one of our bunches of ripe grapes at home. I believe it will drop on ou

ad heard the words, "it has hung so for centuri

ng them. He cast one more suspicious glance upward; for he had become accustomed to regard everything in this country as a personal

hey had seen above, one of the little streams which often burst suddenly out of the rocky soil of the Karst and in a short time as suddenly vanish again. Even here the water preserved its beneficent power, for fresh

haustion of the rapid walk or excitement had made the girl trem

pot," she said, softly

scanned the surroundings,

hat will soon be done. Obrevic knows every defile as well as you, as soon

then he would be obliged to give you his hand in friendship; that hand cannot be raised against you here. Fierc

and again cast a searching

s here? But what protects thi

y, the memory sometimes came back to me like a half-forgotten legend that belonged to the realm of fairy-land. Since my return I have known that the tale contains a saving truth. The spring is more sacred than the threshold of any church. Her

is spell will guard even

es

at Gerald made no objecti

will be solved for us. We were treacherously lured into an ambush, and stand alone agai

he entrance and his lieutenant, for he still dreaded some piece of witchcraft from Danira. Unfortunately, he could not hear what was passing between the pair. The wind was blowing too violently; but he could at least keep them in view. So he stood at his post firm and fearless, ready

resolute in its denial that he dared not advance nearer. The deliverance she had bestowed only seemed to ha

moonlight clearly illumined the features of both. Hast

are you

expedition of the morning, and the troop

is known of

my hands, his portfolio as a credential. The village we all thought still occupied by our men named. Obrevic was cautious enough, though it would have been mo

ened, but she gent

f his foe; and, if he cannot accomplish it in open warfare, he resorts to stratagem. I heard the vow he made when we entered our native mountains on the morning after his escape, and he will fulfil it, though it should bring destruction on his own head. That is why you are safe

Who should, who could

I

you wou

comes from without. But I must wait till Marco has reached the village; he will s

t meet Obrevic, and I, too, know him. If he should gue

said Danira, coldly. "

nir

right, and I should not flinch from the blow. I am callin

price?" asked the young officer,

use I

re, and which enraged her even while she yielded to it. She had brought the foreigner, the foe, to the sacred spring, although she knew that such a rescue would

ghts, the spirits of all the murdered men whose blood has ever reddened the earth are abroad, and it really seemed as though spectral armies were fighting in the air and sweeping madly onward. Sometimes it sounded as if

the sole deliverance. A fierce defiance of all control, even that of law and morals, a bloody strife, and humiliating defeat. So it had been from t

nviolable fidelity with which all uncultured races cling to their traditions. Perhaps it was an instinct of the people that had formerly erected this barrier against their own arbitrary will and fierceness,

he heavens, and her light

n untroubled by all the raging of the tempest. Above were storm and strife, and here below, under the shelter of the towering rocks, na

at power as you do. Why should we keep this useless barrier of hostility between us; we both know that it will not stand; we have tried it long enough. I heard the cry

e low, half choked utterance forced a way to her heart; in vain she pressed both hands

a! I knew we must meet some day. Why did you leave me that message? You would not take my contempt with you, though you d

ured in a half stifled tone. "I never expected to s

hed to me," said the young

sudden, terror-s

r heaven's sake, what has happe

her left me the option of returning if I could conquer the 'dream.' I could not, and now--by all that is sacred to me--I no longer wish to do so. What is the reality, the happiness of a whole life, compared with the dream of this moment

ed these words, Gerald von Steinach, the cool, cir

. Her strength could no longer hold out against this language of passion, and when Gerald appro

ch other and you would have been happy by Edith's side. I know she merely entrenched herself behind caprices and obstinacy; her heart belongs to the man who was destined to be her husband. It is

e would not release it, and only bent toward h

will be stayed by this spot, and am prepared to fall a victim to his fury. But I must once more hear my name from your lips as you uttered it just now. You must not refuse that request. If,

ira remained silent and motionless a few seconds longer. At last she

ral

sired, the most absolute devotion, the cry of happiness, and with an excl

appiness was unfolded which swallowed up every memory of the past, every thought of the future. Gerald and Danira no longer heed

t without releasing the girl from his emb

a to the reality of thei

must meet what is

d each other? And am I to let y

firmly released he

e. Have no fear, your safety is at stake, I will be cautious. Yet, before I go, promise me not to leave the Vila spring; let no stratagem, no t

no one would suspect whence she came or where she was going, and a pretext was easily found. If she remained with him she must share his fate

? I never so loved life as at this moment when my Danira is its prize, and

ted on his features with a strange expression--a look at once gentle, yet gloomy and

ated. "Yes, Gerald, I will be that wi

afely; once there my comrades will know how to pro

ature, which were mysterious even to him. Danira started as though an insult had been hurled in her face; th

r the vengeance directed against myself alo

words, only the deep, devoted love, still so new to him from Danira. But she scarcely allo

she were commending her lover to its protection. Then she hastil

turing conflict! She alone knew what this parting meant. Gerald did not suspect tha

customs and opinions, while her own thoughts and feelings were in the camp of the foe from whom she had once so defiantly fled, but

eld out--and hold out he would--blood would be shed for the sake of one wh

ave him she must! It was a necessity to which she helplessly bowed, but to live on with the memory

y, she would go back to her brother and Marco, the head of the tribe, and confess what she had done. The traitress would mee

ed but once, gazed but once at the light to vanish again in subterranean chasms, yet its short course was a blessing to every one who approached it. Here, t

lended in the fierce chant of destruction and ruin. Danira was familiar with the legends of her

om, and Marco will pitilessly execute it. God himself would need to descend from heaven to se

the storm-swept, moonlit wa