10
THE OMAHA DATLV HE 13: srXDAT, SEPTEMltKIt 0, 1000.
The Unspeakable Turk.
By GEORGE MORTON.
III
(Copyright, 1D00, by George Iiortcn )
S - no I - nf I'rrcrrilriK .'linpter.
John Curtis, n young American, who
ehancr-s to bo In Athens nt tho outbreak of
tho Greco-Turkish wur, Joins a filibustering
expedition to Crete. The Ilttlo vessel la
wrecked, but Curtis, accompanied by Lieu
tenant Undbohrn, a soldier of fortune, and
a native Cretan, Mlchill, rc.ielt tho Island
safely. They arrive nt n village nnd aru
cared for by tho InhabltantH .Curtis has
Injured his foot on a e;i urchin Ho Is
nursed by lMnuyotn, the priests daughter.
In a few days word comes of tho advance
of the Turks under Kostakes toward tno
town. The Cretans gather In the pass, the
men fighting and th women nnd Bins
keeping tip beacon Urea. Thirty Turks are.
killed, but Mlcliull Is badly wounded and
I'ntinyota Is captured by Kostakes. 1 ho
Cretans retreat to the sea. Kostnkcs
plunders the town, taking the old priest
mid I'annjota along as prisoners. Curtis,
representing himself as u newspaper cor
respondent, also accompanies the ItirKS.
Kostakes has the old priest murdered.
Curtis kills two of the guards, wounds an
other and esrapes with l'anayota. I ii'.-y
meet Unilbohm and friends ami attack the
)lashl Ilazoukn. who recapture Punayotu.
Curtis and Mndbohtn en h dls ovi r that tho
other Is In love with the Cretan captive.
Kostakes now Imprisons her In his harem
In Canen and tries to persuade h'T to marry
Mm. Curtis learns from 1 tarsal), n lurk,
of the whereabouts of lMnuyotn. Kostakes,
after threatening rnrmyotu with violence,
collides with Kngllsh troops marching
through the Htreets to the custom house
from tho ship Hazard, which has como to
anchor In the hnrbor. There Is an nf
trnv. In which the Kngllsh are driven back
to their boats. The captain of the Hazard
determines to drop a lew Bhells Into the
town. The Turks burn the houses of the
Cretsns nuil tort ire the people, l'anayota
ercapes. Undbohrn and Curtis atari for
Can tin.
CIIAI'TKll A'.V.VVI.
l'anayota was part of tho flight nnd
of the panic, but sho was not, oven In
tho momont of her greatest Tear, u part
of tho Turks. Her ono thought as she
repeated the namo of tho Virgin beneath
her yasltmask nnd crossed hernolf will)
her hands hidden within tho loose black
robo was to get away from tho Ma
hometans. Let tho heavens fall und tho
earth yawn, so sho escape from Kos
takes and his kin! Tho ever-Increasing
stream of humanity ran, scrambled, nud, as
it grew denser, fought Its way on to tho
city gate, through which It poured Into
the dusty road beyond. Onco outsldo tho
city a momentary feeling of relief pos
sessed the throng, as though they had ar
rived at a placo of safety. They did not
cease to run, but thero was a lull In tho
frightened chatter. A woman seized I'an
nyota by tho arm and addressed to her a
voluble question In Turkish, between
jnsps for breath nnd hysteric sobs. The
Cretan, not understanding n word, plucked
away her sleovo and struggled toward tho
tifo of tho human stream. Tho woman,
following, again seized her by tho arm and
repeated tho question In a voice of shrill
qucrulousnesB. In tho midst of Panayota's
new terror, that of betrayal, sounded tho
boom of another gun and tho crash of near
by walls. Her tormentor screamed nnd
clutched both hands Into tho back of a
tall Turk, In whom fear had proven n
stronger paBslon than lust or fanaticism
nnd who was fighting a way to safety
through his weaker neighbors. I'nnayota,
luddenly released, fell clear of tho human
stream against tho corner of n hut that
itood by tho roadside. Sho ran to the
end of tho building nnd looked back. It
was absolutely certain that no ono of nil
that hysterical, panic-stricken flock of
human sheep saw her. Sho Btepped behind
tho building and rcoled for a moment
against tho rough mud wall, hands upon It
high up, fnco botwecn them. Sho folt faint,
sut tho Virgin answered her prayers with
Instant strength. An opening In a hedge
of aloes Invited her. Through this sho
stepped and, stooping, ran for n long dis
tance, keeping tho hedgo between her and
tho Ileclng Turks. Sho camo ut length to
a Ilttlo building, long and low, Btandlng by
tho side of a cross road.
Bho pushed tho iloor open nnd gavo
a cry of Joy. Tho tall stand, with
Its circular top, covered with spikes for
holding candles, tho curtained recess at
tho further end of tho room, tho crudo
carthern censer In tho window nil told
her that sho had taken refuge In a
Chrlstlnn church, which, strango to sny,
had neither been damaged nor defiled.
On tho wnll besldo tho curtain was a tiny
shelf, and upon this stood a bit of board
about four lnclieB square, bearing on Ub
hither surfaco tho dim resemblance of nn
oval-faced woman nnd chubby, naked child.
"Ah, tho dear l'anayola!" cried 1'ana
jota. transported with delight. Tearing
her Turkish garments from her. sho throw
them to the earth with a "Nn!" and spat
upon thorn. Then sho turned to kiss tho
elkon, but cro sho did so It occurred to
her that tho placo was defiled by tho cloth
ing which she had just romoved. She
therefore gathered tho pllo up nnd peeped
from tho door. Seeing no ono, sho hid tho
clothing In the hedge and returned to light
ono nt tho yellow candles which she found
upon the stand. Sho took It as a good
omen that half a dozen mntches, ovldontly
left by a previous worshipper, wcro scat
tered about among tho caudles, 1'annyota
had no money with her, not a lepton, not
a para, ho sho took a thin gold ring from
her finger, onco given her by her father,
kissed It nnd laid It among tho few copper
coins on tho stand. Wonderful praeo nnd
comfort camo to her. Tho sanctuary of tho
most high seemed pervnded by tho dlvlno
presonce. Savo for tho flicker of tho boes
wax cnndlo, sho wns almost In darkness.
It was nearly sunset and thu only light
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jjlfy5j
nnrP5
1
4V'
of day that entered camo through n na
r-
row slit In tho thick wall, sno went
tho door frequently nnd listened, whe
cmt she heard excited volets and footstu
to
n-
'PS
of people hurrying along the road, nut
all
tho nansorsby woro Turks
Tho world
seemed full of Turks.
Just at dusk three men stopped opposlto
the door and fell Into a dispute. After
wrangling for a few moments they camo
directly toward tho church, l'anayota ran
to the curtain and then drew back In su
perstitious terror. Should she tnter tho
holy of holies, even to save hor life? A
hoarso laugh at tho very door decided hor.
Tho men entered. Sho heard their ex
clamation of surprise nt tho burning candle
though sho could not understand what they
said. Sho looked about her Impotent with
terror, her white llpn moving niochnr.lcally
In prayer. In tho end of tho church above
her head was a narrow silt to ndralt tho
light, liven as she started n swallow Illttcd
In nnd out. Tainting with fear sho seemed
to feel herself dragged by rough hand3
from her hiding placo, as sho stood there
with closed eyes behind tho thin cur
tain. A fearful scream, tho scream of
a woman In tho last extreme of fright
nnd horror, did not nt llrst nrouso her.
It seemed perfectly natural for a woman
to bo screaming. Then, all nt onco, tho
consciousness that sho was saved Hashed
upon her saved through another's mis
fortune, but saved. She pulled the curtain
back and peeped out. The stand had been
kicked over, tho candle was out, but tho
room was empty. Still those dreadful
screams continued, mixed with bestial
chuckling and laughter. A Christian girl
wns hysterically shrieking for mercy. Hut
tho shrieks nbruptly ceased nnd then broke
forth ngnln at a greater distance, as though
eomo ruman were holding his hand over the
poor girl's mouth ns sho was being dragged
away, l'anayota turned sick with pity nnd
terror pity for tho unknown nnd unseen
victim and terror nt her own narrow escape.
A long period of silence ensued, nt tho end
of which l'anayota plucked up courngo to
pull tho door open n trlllo nnd peep out.
It was now nearly dark. Sho heard distant
voices, but could seo no one. Tho church
had becomo to her nn abodo of fear.
Mahometans might enter It nt nny moment
to commit sacrilege. Tho hedgo was near
by. If sho could only reach that unobserved
sho could flit along In Its shadow toward the
open country. Then Bho could run all night.
Several times sho nerved herself for the
start, but found her courage lnsulllclcnt.
Once, when sho had really pushed the door
open wide enough to lot her out, sho heard
men's footsteps. Sho drew back, and ngaln
suffered that dreadful apprehension thnt
they were coming Into tho church. Sho had
no hopes of escaping a second time. They
wcro two Turkish soldiers, nnd they went
right on. As soon ns their footsteps had
died nwny In tho night nnd distance
l'anayota crossed herself, nnd, stopping low,
ran to tho hedge. Sho stole by It for somo
distance until It wns cut In two by n gray
streak of road that dimly threaded tho
darkncBS.
"I cannot follow tho hedgo all night, she
reasoned. "If I get out into tho couutry, It
must bo by tho road."
Again commending herself to tho Virgin,
sho started down tho highway, walking as
quietly as possible and stopping every few
minutes to listen. Sho had not gono far ero
sho becamo awaro of gruff voices and she
stole a Ilttlo way Into tho Held and crouched
among tho vines.
"Perhaps they nro Christians," she mused,
and tho mere possibility thrilled lier wun
l.,nonrn Sin ITimtlv dill BllQ Wish It tO bC
to, that sho actually fancied that sho heard
Creek words. Resting upon one knee, witn
her hands proased tight to her fluttering
heart, sho leaned forward In tho darkness,
a smllo flickering upon her lips. Sho waa
almost ready In her confldenco to cry out:
"Kh. fellow countrymen! ' wnen tno voices
undeceived hor.
"Oh, mother of Rod!" she moaned, "nro
thero then, no raoro Christians in tny
world?"
Mon. rnntloiislv than heforo sho stole along
Mm fnlnt. Rlatn-colored ribbon of road that
unfolded beforo her, a few feet nt n time In
tho dimness of tho great stars; nnd at last
ah tiri,i liefnrn her a llirht that flickered
and went out soveral times and then burned
feebly, but steadily.
ah .hn Rtnln nionir. undecided whether to
mnko a wldo detour or to trust to tho dark
ness und pass by near tho light, two men
bcemcd to riso from tho ground at her very
feet. l'anayota saw them first and managed
to slip by thorn, but her foot nit a stone auu
sent, it rollluir down tho bank. Ono of tho
men called after her In Turkish. Sho did
not daro to run, but, lifting her skirts, tip
toed away with long steps, Tho men juado
a sudden tush for her, nnd tho flew down
tho road on tho wings of fear, scronming
once, "Help! Help! Pauuyoln-"
As her pursuers heard tho feminine olca
and tho Greek, they shouted, "Hoi Ho! A
Creek pullet!" nnd camo stumming arter.
Tint Pnnfivrttn wun 11 Knhnklntn maiden and
not so lastly caught. On, on, sho ran, with
tho sound of thoso heavy rootsteps ana mat
Satyr laughter over In her cars, and, as It
sectuod to her, nearer, nearer. Sho came to
n placo where th roads forked, and, by
soino Instinct, rouowea tno ngni urancn
toward that tiny, flickering beacon that
seemed to beckon her In tho darkness.
And all ut onco her pursuers stopped, burst
Into a hoarse guffaw and went back. l'ana
yota could not for tho moment believe it.
She feared that thiy wero Blmply torturing
her; that they would turn bnck In u mo
ment nnd resume tho chnso. Sho staggered
on. ton faint, nlmost. to staud. yet not
daring to stop. Sho wns passing a row uf
tiny houses. They were squnro patches oi
bluish gray and tho doors wero long holes
whom tbn d.irk camo throuKh. Hero was
absolute sllenco, ns though Bho wore In tho
city of tho dead, und tno wnus oi tno
dwellings wcro giant tombstones. Hut horo
nt last was tho houso of tho light. J'ana
vota stood on the opposlto sldo of the
road and looked Into tho open door.
"A Christian at last!" sho cried. "Now
God bo praised!"
A hnrn little room sho beheld, with a
floor of beaten earth, and containing ouly a
couple of chairs and a pair of barangas, or
nlnt forms of nlank. on either sldo of the
fireplace. Hut what mattered tho poorness
of tho placo? Upon the wall hung an
elkon of tho dear, blessed Virgin nnd upon
a shelf beneath snt a tumbler of ollvo oil
upon whoso surface floated a burning wick.
A womau stood beforo tho elkon crossing
herself rythniicnuy ana praying wun a
silent motion of tho Hps.
nut uhllii I'annvota stood In the door
beforo sho could open her mouth to speak,
her fleeting Joy cavo plnce to tho old
terror. This wns but a woman nftor nil,
wtih wlinm nhn wns about tn taka refuco.
and tho Turks wero Just behind her and all
around anout.
P.mnvntn Rit7eH tbn dnnr 1umb tn keen
herself from falling and hor head drooped
agnmsi nor arm.
"Woman," sho gasped, "are you not
crazy? Why do you not run? Tho Turksl
tho Turks!"
The woman looked around, She was
young nnd comely, with an oval faco, from
which tho black hair was neatly brushed
back, low down over the cats. Her eyes
wcro large unnaturally large nnd dark
nnd there was In them an expression which
awed l'anayota. Their utter fearlessness
was uncanny nt such n time And back of it
was a depth of accepted despair that has
tasted all grief and hence knows no further
fear.
"You nro In no danger from tho Turks
here." said the woman. Her voice was In
finitely calm. It came Into Pnnnyuta's world
of Are, mnssacre, outrage, llko a voice from
another world or from tho crave.
Then all at once light seemed to break In
upon Pannyotn's mind as sho stood there
bewildered.
"She Is dazed with fear or somo great
misfortune," Bho thought. "Sho Is losing
her mind," nnd, springing forward, sho
seized tho woman by tho arm, crying In her
ear:
"Como nway, sliter the Turks! the
Turks!"
nut the woman shook her off and shrunk
from her and motioned her back with out
stretched arms nnd uplifted palms, saying:
"Do not touch mcl"
"But the Turks aro upon you!"
"Wo who llvo in this village aro not afraid
of the Turks, Who comes hero runs a
greater danger than that of the knife."
"Yes, I know. Violence," whispered
Pnnnyota, turning her face toward tho door
and listening.
"Who would offer vlolcnco to n leper?"
If thero is any horror In a Cretan girl's
mind equal to that of dishonor It In the
horror of leprosy that hideous sora on the
body of tho lovellost siren Isle that lloata
In uny sen. Pnnnyota In her vigorous nnd
life-giving mountain homo had heard leprosy
spoken of as a curso of Cod. She had al
ways classed It with the punishments of
hell, or something to bo shuddered at oven
when mentioned, but tho possibility of com
ing into contact with it had never entered
her mind.
Sho turned to fleo again Into tho darkness.
INSTINCTlVKLiY SHE COVERED HER
HACK INTO THE HOUSE.
when she heard In the street, almost beforo
tho door, tho Round of footsteps and husky,
gargling voices talking Turkish. Pnnnyota
sank to tho floor senseless. Two Mahometan
lepers, who lived further down tho street,
passed by on their way home. They did not
look In becauso Aglala, (stepping quietly over
tho prostrato form, had closed tho door.
CHU'TlIll .WWII.
Aglala stood Irresolute looking nt tho
woman who lay as quietly us though she
wero sleeping upon tho floor of hard
beaten earth. Her llrst linpulso was to
pick her up and drag her to ono of th
plntforms nt tho fireplace, for her heart
forgot Its own bitterness for tho moment
and was illlcd with pity for tho Christian
maiden who had taken refugo In her horrid
home.
'No, no, I will not touch her." sho mur
mured nt last, "for so It Is most fre
quently given and caught."
So alio drew up n chair und sat watch
ing l'anayota. Sho did not have long to
wait, for the young, vigorous constitution
soon ussertcd Itself, l'anayota opened her
eyes and stared straight up at tho celling:
then tho light caught them nnd sho looked
at tho elkon, murmuring, "Pnnayela, savo
me!" Sho sat up and looked deep Into
AgUla'H largo and mournful eyes. The
latter aald nothing, but sho saw complete
consciousness nnd recollection dawning In
her guent'8 countenance.
'Do not bo bo frightened," said Agliiin.
"I will not touch you nor como near you,
nnd It Is only by contact that ono catches
the leprosy. And the Virgin will shield
you."
Panayota roso to her feot. bno was a
nrlest's duughtsr. and religion wns her
over present comfort. "Sho has savod me
thus fur In a wonderful manner, sho re
plied, and going over to tho elkon sho
prayed that tho Pannyela would protect
her from the horrible dlseaso nnd help hor
to oscnpo to tho mountains nnd her own
noonle. Aglula brought broad from n
closet, olives nnd checso and set them upon
the table.
"Na!" sho said, "eat and gain strength
and we will devlso some means for you to
got awny from here."
Pannyota folt ns though tho very food
wcro contamlnntcd, but sho managed to
oat somo of the bread, pulling morsels
from tho Interior of tho loaf. Onco ngaln
sho heard voices from without nnd started
from her seat, whispering:
"Tho Turks nro coming!"
"Fear nothing here," said Aglnln, In thnt
calm, uncaring voice, "you nro ns safo here
ns It you wero In your grave safer, for
tho Turks fomctlmcs exhume tho bouca of
Chrlstlnns, but they never disturb us. Wo
nro all dead in this village, dead to tho
hato of tho world, to Its love, to Its friend
ship." Panayota could mako no reply. Human
sympathy seemed a mockery In tho face of
Buch Borrow ns this. Bha stepped to the
door nnd looked out. All was Bilent In the
narrow street. Tho lepers nro not a gay
folk, and sleep U to them God's greatest
Loon.
"Wo do not fear tho Turks!" sho mut
tered. "My God! Suppose I should catch
It! I must get away from hero."
Turning, Bho looked keenly ut Aglala, who
sat with hands clasped in her lap, rocking
gently forward and back.
"Hut you do not seem to bo sick, my
sister. Why do you think you have lep
rosy? Why, you look as well ns I do."
Aglala laughed bitterly. Rising, sho
struck her left leg with her doubled fist
and stamped upon tho ground.
"Numb, numb," sho said. "No feeling.
Dead. I am only one-fourth rotten now,
but It will creep on, on over my whole body.
Como hero a few years from now, whon It
gets Into my face, and you will know
whether I nm a leper or not."
Pauayota stood for a long time looking
KM
out Into tho darkness. Sho wan weary to
cry famine's, but it seemed safer to stand
there, leaning her faco out Into tho night,
breathing tho ecol air. Resides, sho could
not talk with this woman. She did not know
what to say to her. At last Aglata spoke
again.
"Forgive me," he ssld with n sob In her
voice. "I have uo ono to talk to nnd I
sit hero and brood over It. And It will be
for years for years. Hut you must be very
tired, nnd you must rest so as to go on with
your Journey. Como and llo down on the
barangttza. I will not como near you."
l'anayota lay down upon tho hard planks
und mado a pillow of her arm.
"I cannot offer you tho bcdclothlng." said
Aglala. "It might not be safe."
So weary was Pntmyota that sho dropped
off Into a drowse, ouly to bo awakened after
a few moments by the sound of low sobbing.
Listening sho heard the words:
"Oh, my Hod, I am nn outcast, a thing
accursed. I am a poison to tho touch. Holy
Virgin, save my children, save my Ilttlo
ones."
l'anayota sat up on tho bench.
"I cannot sleep, Sister Aglnln," sho said.
"I am so sorry for you. If my father were
hero ho would know what to say to you.
Ho was killed by tho Turks. I am nn or
phan." She spoke of her own grief Instinctively,
feeling that tho sympathy of tho prosperous
Is not n comfort to those In sorrow.
"My father was a good man, Sister Aglnla.
Ho wus a priest nnd everybody loved him.
My mother died when I was a Ilttlo girl
and left me to his care. Ho never snid nn
unkind word to mo in all his life. He used
often to talk to mo about mamma, nnd his
voice was ory, very tender. And ho used
tu put his mm ntound mo thero In tho door
of our little pnrsouago at night beforo we
went to bod, and pointing to tho stars he
would sny: 'When wo nil get together up
thero you will teil mamma that I was good
to yon, won't you, l'anayota?' And I used
to say to him, 'Oh, papa, 1 nsk tho Virgin
FACE WITH HER HANDS AND SHRANK
every night to tell her." Hut mamma knows,
Sister Aglala, sho knows It all."
"Oh, but your mother Is dead nnd In
heaven," replied Aglala, "and you can cher
ish her memory und plant flowers upon her
grave. Hut suppose Bho had been a leper,
nccursod of God, would you not hnvo thought
of her with with horror? As she grew
more and moro repulsive would you not havo
fahuddered ecn at tho thought of her?"
"No, no, Indeed. I Hhould havo thought
always of her beautiful soul. Her misfor
tune would havo mado my lovo greater.
That Is tho way any child would feel to
ward Its mother."
"Do you really think bo?" cried Aglala,
"O, It docs me bo much good to hear you
say so. I havo a husband and two chil
dren a girl and a boy. That Is why you
saw mo praying when you caino In. I pray
all tho time to tho virgin to Hnve them
from tho curse. I never pray for myself.
I nm past all help. Hut I pray, pray night
und dny for my children."
"Hut thero Is another world," said Pnna
yota, solemnly. "Do you never ask for
happiness In that?"
Aglala laughed bitterly.
"Listen," she replied, "my children never
como here. I would not nllow It. Hut
sometimes I go down to tho bank by tho
rondslde, whero the other lepera go to beg,
und my husband brings them and stands
ufar olf, und I look at them and stroteh my
arms toward them. Ih there any greater
hell than that? When you're a mother you
will know."
"Hut," Interrupted Panayota, who had
entirely forgotten her own troubles In tho
preseuco of Buch great sorrow, "aro you
not afraid for their safety, ovor thero In
Canca?"
"No, praise God! My husbnnd Is captain
of a caique. Ho has gono to Athens nnd
taken the two children with him. Heforo
ho wont away ho brought them down to
sco me. And tho baby laughed und
shouted, 'Na, mamma, come here, mummu'. '
My baby has red cheukB and curly hair,
but Yanno don't know how to llx her hair."
She sat for somo time In thought uud
Panayota heard her mutter, "Na, mamma,
como hero, mammu." And later, "when my
fuco changes I shan't go down to sco them
any more. I shnll never let thera seo me
liko that."
Panayota could not Bleep, and Aglata,
who hud been but a short time a resident
of tho leper village, nnd whoso horror
of hor follow sulTercis prevented her from
hnding companionship among them, could
nut contain herself now that the had found
a friendly car Into which to pour her
BLrrow. Sho described to l'anayota rain
utoly how tho symptoms first camo on
languor, general debility, weariness after
Blight exertion, depression, tendency to
sleep. Then followed chilliness und fever,
dizziness nnd bleeding ut the nose. A
womnn whom Yanno had Jilted In ordor to
marry Aglala, nnd who had never forgiven
her, raised tho huo nud cry of leprosy.
Indignant protests wero of no nvull. She
hnd been seized with burning and Itching
nil over Iter body. This passed away and
then camo back again. So great was tho
scandal that the neighbors demanded an
examination. Sho was hauled nt last bofoio
tho authorities nnd examined. Hy this
timo Ilttlo round spots had begun to ap
pear upon her body, reddish brown In
color. Sho was torn from her family and
put In this hut. No, thoro was no doubt
that sho had It. for her left leg was dead;
It had turned brown, and thero was a aoro
on her foot. She was better off than tho
other loptr8, for her husband sent her
food, and Bho was not obliged to go down
to sand hcnpR by the roadsido and beg.
Panayota wont to tho door nnd gazed at
the sky through a mist of tears. What a
dreadful placo this wns, whero grief abodo
that not even tho Virgin could assuage!
A cool breeze from tho sea was abroad over
the land, aud ono star glittered llko a
drop of dew on n spray of lilac Yonder
wio the hills to which she longed to fleo,
gray giants, moving toward her out of tho
darkness.
Tho whole earth was swallowed In si
lenco, nnd tho beautiful valley that spread
out beforo her seemed wrapped In the
slumber of peace. Hut nlns, If she looked
to the right n few slender columns of
smoke rising from Cnnea bore witness to
tho dark deeds of yester eve nnd last night,
Pnnnyota'9 momentary Joy nt the coming
of day forsook her at sight of that smoke
Tho light was cheering, but It did not help
her to aco any escape from her perilous
position. If sho ventured forth she would
certainly bo caught by tho Turks. To re
main longer In tho lepers' village was to
continue a horrlblo risk. And might not
Kostakes search for her even there? Tho
Turks who hnd pursued her Inst night might
they not tell of the Incident and cxclto
suspicion?
An hour ponied awny nnd tho sun nrose.
Aglnla made sotao coffee, which Pannyota
drank without revulsion. Everything about
tho little hut wan spotlessly clean and tho
stricken woman herself had not fallen Into
those careless ways which come to tho
leper when all pride Is extinguished.
"How will I be able to go on my Journey?"
asked Pnnnyota.
"Ood will 6how a way. He has not do
serted you as he has me."
"Perhaps he has deserted nil Christians.
Perhaps the wholo world has turned Turk.
If so I would rather stay here and bo a
leper."
"Nover believe It. Yanne, my husband,
who Is a great traveler, says that the Eng
lish will ono day kill all tho Turks In tho
world nnd glvo Creto bnck to Greece. And
the English nro In some respects llko Chris
tians. At nny rnte, they do not believe In
Mnhomet."
Tho lepers began to bestir themselves. A
patriarchal looking man, with a tuft of white
hair abovo each ear. a snowy beard nnd a
dirty moustache, shuffled by tho door, carry
ing a water Jug. Feeing tho two women
ho stopped and peered Into the hut, say
ing: "Good morning, Sister Aglala," and "Good
morning, Sister"
"Pa-Paraskove," stammered Pannyota,
"Whero nro you from, sister, and how
long havo you beon nfIUctcd7"
Aglala nnswered glibly. Her guest wns
from a little village far away. God only
knows how sho hnd got leprosy, and sho had
only como Inst night. The old mnn wore a
priest's frock, shiny and rngged and reach
ing to his foot. Ills woolen shirt was open
In front, disclosing two or threo tawny
stains. Ills face was unnaturally red far up
onto his bald brow nnd was streaked with
angry looking, volnllko lines. Ho had no
eyebrows.
"Hum," ho said. "Adlo! Adlo!" and ho
shuffled awny muttering.
"Ood havo mercy! Ood have mercy!"
"That's Papas Spiro," explained Aglnla.
"He Is a priest. They say that It Is a Judg
ment on him, thnt ho made lovo to ono of
his congregation."
Tho Insistent, eager notes of tho martial
music caught Panayota'n ear A moment
she stood listening nnd then turned deadly
palp.
"Kostakes!" sho gasped, "Kostakca nnd
the Hnshl Hnzouks!" and again sho caught
at tho door Jamb to keep horself from fall
ing. "Hark!" cried Aglala, "that Is not Turk
ish music, neither Is It Greek. It Is foreign
music. This should mean grent nows. You
wait here a few moments and I will go nud
And out whnt It means."
Aglnla hastened down the road nnd I'nn
ayota Blood In tho door, waiting and listen
ing. Tho sound of tho music grew louder,
came nenror. Tho body of troops was
passing down tho lino of tho fork that
formed tho opposlto boundary of the lep
ers' village. Aglala had been right. That
was not Turkish music, tho tlmo was for
eign to Panayota, hut It thrilled her some
how. Slio loosed her fingers from the door
Jamb, her hands dropped by her sldo and
sho stood erect.
As sho listened thus and looked down
tho road, anxiously waiting tho return of
Aglala, n man approached quite close to
hor. The first intimation that sho had of
his presenco was tho sound of crunching
footfalls. Instinctively she covered her
fnco with her hand and shrunk back Into
tho house. Mother of Ood! Wns this per
son, too. about to Inflict himself nn her?
Whoever It was, he had ovldontly otopped
outside, before the house was waiting
there. Perhaps eomo face, moro hideous
than anything sho had yet seen, would np
pear ut the door.
"Will he never go?" sho muttered, her
tcoth chattering with revulsion. "I must
get away from hero away Into God's clean,
freo mountains. No! I believe ho Is going
away. Praise God!" for tho crunch, crunch
of footsteps In tho coarso gravel was re
newedgrew lalnter In tho distance. I'nna
yota was about to peep from the door again
when she heard other footsteps, or people
walking rapidly, Theso passed by without
stopping nt ull. She henrrt a man call as
though khoutlng at someone far away, and
then thero wns sllenco for so long that she
ouco moro ventured to look out.
It had been Hassan Hey calling to Curtis
nnd begging him to walk moro slowly. What
trifles affect our destinies! Had Llmlbohm
lifted up his voice as ho wns on the (point of
doing this story might possibly have a dif
ferent ending.
Panayota saw only Aglala coming down
the road, waving ber arms. Sho lost all fear
and ran to meet her.
"It's tho Kngllah," cried the woman.
"Thoy aro arresting Turks right nnd left.
They nre throwing tho leaders Into prison
nnd taking the guns away from tho Uashl
Hazouks."
"Now God bo praised!" laughed Pnnnyota,
"The TurkB aro hiding like hares. Not
ono dnro show his head. Papas Spiro says
that nil tho principal Turks will bo hanged
and tho rest driven Into the sea."
Panayota's eyes blazed and sho held her
head high ns sho mnrched back to tho leper's
hut, unconsciously keeping step to tho tune
of "Tommy Atkins."
CH.Vl'THIl XXXVIII.
"I will walk with you to tho other end of
the village." said Aglala.
Papas-Splro had roturneil nlso from the
roadside. Ho had talked with a young
mnn from Cnnea. Tho English wero thor
oughly angry becnuso their soldiers had
been killed. They wero going to send over
a gront army.
"O, yes, it would bo perfectly safe for a
Christian to go anywhore now. Not a Turk
would daro peep."
l'anayota hnd long ago formed her plans
when sho had dreamed of cscapo In tho
houso of Kostakes. Her mother's brother,
Kurlos KurmulldhcB, lived at Asprochorl.
a Ilttlo village about twenty miles from
Canca. She had often henrd her father
speuk of him ns a godly man and now
Papas-Splro said that Asprochorl had not
fallen Into the hnnds of the Turks. In the
early days of the Insurrection thu Crotan.i
had held that religion and Blnco tho nrrlvul
nt Colonel Viissoh frcm Greece the Ma
hometans had not been ablo to get out
there nt all. It wuh still early morning:
alio would bo ablo to reach the placo before
nightfall.
Sho talked excitedly as she set forth,
carrying tho cotton bag Into which Aglala
had put a half loaf of bread and some
cheese.
"Oh, yes, this Is a glorious thing for Crete.
God wna long suffering, but everything came
right In the end."
Aglala's enthusiasm bad passed away as
suddenly as It had come. Hor
leg felt moro lamo than usual
and sho had great dllllculty In
keeping up with tho strong, healthy young
woman, who was going out Into a world of
light nnd Juy They were passing n row of
square white huts, ench containing but ono
room. The llrst half dozen thnt they pasied
wicre vacant, thrflr occupants had gene
to henr the music nud had remained by
the roadside to beg.
They passed tho little graveyard, nt tho
farther end of the town. Several humble
tombstones standing nmong the tall grass
nnd a bl.tck cross or twu marked the las.
resting place of lepers who havo gone to
the comfort prepnred for thoso who do not
get their good things In this lifetime.
"Now, goodby, and God bless you!" said
Pannyota.
"Why, where nre you going?" asked Papas
Spiro.
"Sho Is not a leper," explained Aglal
"She came to mo last ulsht for re(yge. and
I took her In."
"Not a leper!" exclaimed tho priest
"Now pray God that sho has uot caught It "
"Christ and tho virgin save me! Christ
and tho virgin!" cried Panayota, crossing
herself.
"Amen! Amon!" said Aglnla. "Do not
oven speak of It, Papas-Splro."
"Adlo!" said Panayota, moving awny
"Adlo, and God be with you!" Tho old
priest with tho bloated face and the white
beard extended his hnnds.
"Hcfore you go. daughter," he said, "take
tho blessing of a poor old leper, who still
bellevfs In tho mercy of Ood."
Panayota bowed her bend.
"God bo with this thine handmaiden,"
said the priest solemnly, "bless her and
keep her and bring her to a place of safety.
In tho name of the father, son nnd holy
ghost, amen."
Onco out of the leper vlllnge Panayota
walked very rapidly, onco or twin aitually
breaking Into n run. Tho grent lulls, upon
whoso lower slopes lived her mother's
brother, looked bo near that sho fancied
herself nblo to climb to tho top In half nn
hour. Hut she soon lost breath and as
obliged to stop and rest beneath a tree.
She had no doubt of her welcome by Kurlos
Kurmulldhes. Ho hud often written to her
father poor papa! and hnd expressed tho
grentest wish to seo his Bister's daughter.
"I must not tiro myself all out at the
start," sho reasoned. "It Is much farther
away than It seems."
So sho struck out again In the bright 3i'n
nt n strong, steady gait. Onco she henid
tho clatter of horses' hoofs In the distance,
rapidly growing louder ns they camo near,
and she fancied herself pursued nnd looked
about her for somo hiding place. Then,
turning around, she saw half a dozen n-d-checked,
light-hatred foreigners upon
horseback nud nt their head a moro boy
with a face llko a girl, but who neverthe
less sat very straight nnd took himself
quite seriously. Sho felt tho earth shako
with tho beating of hoofs nnd stepped to
tho side of tho road to seo them pound by
In a whirl of dust. Hut they hud not gono
far cro tho young officer threw his nrm In
the nlr and cnlled out n slnglo syllablo In
a clear, sharp tone, and the horses stopped
so suddenly that they reared on their
haunches. The officer spoke n few word3
hurriedly nnd ono of tho troopers fell out
nnd rode back toward her. Sho must
havo exhibited evidences of fright, for tho
man called out In Greek, laughing merrily:
"Don't bo afraid, stupid. Wo aro friends."
"Whnt Is it? What Is It. fellow country
men?" cried Panayota delightedly. What
a change had come over tho earth! Hut
yesterday you met only Turks, heard only
Turkish, und now tho whole world was
speaking Creek.
"Aro you from Cnnea?" nsked the trooper.
"No, I am a Sphakloto maiden. I was
taken prisoner by the Turks, but now,
thank God, I am escaping."
"You wouldn't happen to know Yussuf of
fendl by sight, then?"
"No, why?"
"Did nny old Turk with a white beard
pats hero on n mulo?"
"Ts'ot a soul, but I've only been on tho
rond about half nn hour. Why, who nro
you? What has Yussuf dono? Whero does
he"
"Wo'ro arresting tho ringleaders In tho
massacre. Yussuf Is ono of thera. I'm nn
Interpreter with tho English army. You
can go back to Cnnea or nnywhere you wish,
sister, In perfect safely. It Isn't henlthy to
bo a Turk theso days, Adlo, ami many
thanks."
"Adlo."
Thero wero gone and Panayota resumed
her way. After an hour's walk through
snrdens und vineyards enclosed In low mud
fences overgrown with vines she enmo to
the foot of a tluy hill. Climbing this, she
saw plainly the triangular little village of
tho lepers, with Its suburb of tombs houses
for the dying and the dend. The huts were
all neatly whitewashed and looked very
peaceful and pretty against tho foreground
of green trees nnd vines. Further awny
wero the round Turkish mopques. the Chris
tian bell towers of Canea and the tops of
high buildings rising above tha gray walls.
Two or three thin columns of smoke rose
to n great height nnd bpnt lazily landward.
Toward noon Panayota came to a moun
tain Btrcam, beside which grow several llg
trees. She climbed into ono of theso that
forked near tho ground nnd succeeded In
finding half a dozen purple figs nmong tho
cool green leaves. Then she wnshed her
fnco nnd hands In tho brook nnd took thu
bread from the bag.
"Poor Aglala! Poor Aglala!" she Bald
shuddering. "Heavenly virgin comfort
her!"
Sho pulled tho crust off tho bread and
throw It away, together with tho snck and
tho cheese. "Tho first thing I whall do
when I get to Uncle Potro'n," she resolved,
"will bo to ask him for somo clothes. Then
I will burn these uh!"
Much refreshed with the brend and figs
and a drink of tho cool mount nln water,
Panayota ngaln set out briskly on hor
Journey, hor heart full of hope. Indeed,
oho seemed to bo under tho virgin's special
care, for Just ns she had como to a placo
whuro there wero two roads and was In
doubt ns to which ono sho ought to take a
venerablo priest camo trotting around a
corner, Beated sldewlso upon a very Btnall,
bluish gray donkey.
"Yes, tho road to the right leads to As
prochorl, nbout ten miles distant," ho re
plied, removing his tall hat nnd wiping his
brow with a red bandana handkerchief
"Oh, yes, ho knew Kurlos Kurmulldhes
very well Indeed, a godly and Just man be
quiet thero!"
Tho last remnrk was addressed to a pair
of young goats, hung to thn snddlo In a
Back and covered by tho father's long black
robo. Ho had already heard of tho arrival
of tho English nnd wns In hopes, by tho
graco of God, to sell them theso two kids
at twice their value. So ho trotted awny,
bobbing up and down on his Ilttlo donkey,
not looking ut nil grotesque to Panayota,
In his tall hat with eaves, his gray chignon
und his long, wind-lifted robe.
And as Pnnnyota fared onwnrd she hnd
over In her mind that sho was coming
Into tho country of tho Cretan Insurgonts
nnd sho muttored again and again:
"Perhaps I shall hear somothlng of hlra.
Perhaps ho will bo thero!"
In this new, bright world everything
seemed possible.
(To bo Continued.)
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