Danira

sovac was not a man to uphold a lost cause to his own destruction; he lacked both the obstinacy and the energy of his predecessor. He had

the last to leave. It remained some time in Cattaro before the embarkation, but fate spared the

responsible position that due recognition of his services was not delayed. He was recalled from his post

an fortress for garrison duty at home, and it was doubtless

, and directly after his predecessor quitted the city and wa

he obstacles that warred against his love. He had been compelled, in the fullest sense of th

rest after their hurried march, and here a final struggle occurred to induce the young girl to keep si

luence of his devotion persuaded her that here, where no blood had flowed by her fault, no atonement was required. Obstacles and barriers of every kind barred the possibility of a union--the tie still existing in name between Gerald and his former fiancée, the probable opposition from his mother, the conflic

same moment, Marco's last words, in which he uttered his suspicion of Danira, had either been unheard or not fully understood--except by Stephan, and the latter p

and he knew that she was lost if even a suspicion arose against her. He therefore pretended to believe what was told him and his companions at the fort--to protect Danira from any act of vengeance--that the t

them only a confirmation of the judgment which had overtaken their leader because he had ventured to defy the ancient, time-hallowed tradition

h a medal for bravery as one of the conquerors of Krivoscia, but he was much out of humor and greatly offended

uneasy, and he afterward restricted their intercourse as far as possible. Besides, he was seriously embarrassed to decide how to dispose of the young girl. Jovica had

stion what was to become of the "little Pagan" had to be seriously considered. George wanted to take her to the Moosbach Farm and formally present her to his parents as his adopted

s a sort of maid, and remain under her protection until her future was finally decided. True, George was only half satisfied with this arrangement, which

amer which conveyed the officers and a small

and by his side Danira, who, since the day before, had borne his name. Fath

t her beauty so effective a setting. The gloomy, defiant expression that had formerly marred this loveliness had passed away. In the bright sunshine that flooded the deck t

the commandant's house, from whose windows Danira had watched the ap

ought her lover, was now closed. The memory of the price her happiness had cost suddenl

home, I know!" he said, bending

brother. Peace is now restored, and as chief of a tribe he often comes to Cattaro; but on my w

made it hard enough for me to win you; I was forced to fairly wrest you from him. You do not imagine how painful it has been for me to

y under it than I, for in your case the opposition came from the person who

the stern 'no,' the obstinate prohibition, till I was at last forced to remember that I am no longer a child, but a man who knows what he desires in life, and will not suffer his happiness to be dest

n the question, and his young wif

use she sa

ome again, will not even try to

y be stern and proud, but this boundless harshness to her only son is no part of her character; it is Arlow's work! You know that after our betrothal, I wrote to him frankly and unreservedly, but with the respect of a son; he vouchsafed no reply, but instantly wrote to my mother,

but to have Edith turn from me in persistent resentment was at first more than I could bear. She knows from my letter how and where we met, knows that mortal peril first brought me t

not have allowed i

d is all-powerful with her father. Had she wished to write me she would have done so, in spite of

resentment on the part of his mother and Edith weighed upon him

officers had grown louder and more ani

r of the campaign, and will make a sensation in the garrison with his beauti

pted another of the group laughing. "Your stolen portfol

othing with the notes and letters, but the portfolio itself served as a means of luring Gerald into the trap. Had the plot succeeded we should have had one brave comrade the less, and-

h his wife, they vied with each other in attentions to the latter, and the young pair i

nions, who made no attempt to interrupt them, for it was well known that George was very sensitive about his protégée, and really would not hesitate to fight h

this Krivoscia is a God-forsaken country, and we thank all the saints that we a

ood very little of his speech, and the parting from her home did not appear to trouble her much

yards and castles, and there's not another place in the whole world equal to the Moosbach Farm. Some day it will belong to me. Do you understand, Jovica? I'm no poor vagab

e boasted advantages. George saw that she did not perceive his meaning and tried to enlarge her ideas by seizing both her

Jovica?" he asked, with unwonted sternness. "Y

" replied George, instantly taking up his protégée's cause. "I wouldn't advise them to

ot particularly edified by this protection,

retired he approached his parishioner,

l, to take such familiarities with the young girl, but you don'

paternal rights. If I even look at the girl your reverence appears and gives me a lecture, and then the lieutenant comes and unceremoniousl

mes that you are far too young to fill such

at him in surprise. "I have longed seen that, and was just going to speak to you about it. The place of a father doe

s declaration which he had long dreaded, but a frow

scarcely beyond childhood, and--not at all--

ndously in love with each other," said George, earne

you thought what they wi

a week in Trieste, your reverence, you can unite us there. Of course you must first baptize my future wife, for she can't remain a pagan, and then many her dire

dent he had pondered over it a long time, but unluckily Father Leonhard did n

ur head; it can't be thought

nt his marriage; his mother and Colonel Arlow, the brother-in-law and the whole people of Krivoscia c

benediction, and I finally yielded only to the force of circumstances. Stephan Hersovac's opposition to the marriage rendered it impossible for his sister to remain longer in his house, and it was equally impossible for her to accompany her lover as his affianced wife. S

r practice witchcraft, especially the women. Dani--the young baroness, I mean--tried it on my lieutenant, and Jovica has used hers on me; I'm just as far gone as h

he received in the commandant's house, with her own personal qualities, fit her for the position in life she will henceforth occupy. Jovica is the child of poor shepherds, she is not even a Christian, u

e Jovica. Nothing else will do, and I'll get

e heir of his father's property, and has already taken possession of it, but farmer Moosbach can deprive you

the Moosbach property. The lieutenant will not object to keeping me with him, I know, and his wife will have

ell to dread a serious family quarrel. For the present, however, the conversation was interrupte

s this matter further," but the latter leaned defiantly against the side o

avoided the stern of the ship and sorrowfully descended the stairs, but had scarcely entered the saloon, which for t

but she glanced anxiously towa

r Leon

just told him how we both feel, but I happened to think that I haven't spoken of

no idea what the strange word meant. She repeated it with a foreign acc

on. "Well, then, she must learn. Come here, Jovica, and listen to me. Yesterday we went to church and saw the lieutenant a

ced a Slavonic word, which had some success, for the y

tize--become

if he hoped in this way to make her understand its meaning, but Jovica's knowledge of the

a Chri

suitor, whose piety deserted him on this point. "Girl, for heaven's sake, you must

zed the words, it was all in vain, the young girl looked h

ust make it plainer to her," and as though an inspiration had sudden

ing the slightest resistance she nestled closer to the young soldier, gazing at him with sparkling eyes, whi

he said, with great satisfaction, and while repeating several times the new met

ards he has nothing to forbid, but gives it his blessing. Now come to the lieutenant and his wife. They must be the first to know that we

fully increased, uttered the newly-learned word to th

as now approaching the outlet of the bay. Gerald and

ir rugged, riven peaks bathed in the full radiance of morning. The ship now passed through the straits at the end of the harbor. The gloomy, threatening cliffs rose on either sid