Marble Hill press., 1905-11-02
CHAPTER xXlIl.
Prince Wasp Stinqs.

MENTORS taunt. Her arms were about
Naurice's neck, and her lips, salt with
ears, sought his in a last kiss. The
officer of the Princes guard touched
ler on the shoulder. She shook him
laughtily off, and then, having COM
oleted her farewells. she lOosened her
hands and went slowly backward To-
wards the further end of the hall with
her eyes still upon the man she
loved.
SO" cried Prince Louis, in the
2uriousIy uneven voice OF coward
Iashing himself into a fury, you nave
played out your treachery upon
reigning Prince Of Courtland. You
cheated me at Castle Kernsberg. you
have made me NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
throughout the empire. You nave
shamed maiden of my house, my SIS
ter. the daughter of my father. What
have you to say ere l order you TO be
flung out from the battlements OF the
western tower?"
"Gentlemen and Princes" Maurice
Won Lynar answered. that when /
have dorIe' have done for the sake OF
nv mistress, the Lady Joan, and am
not afraid Prince Louis, 1t was her
will and intent never to come 10
Courtland as your wife. She "oulo
not have been taken alive. 1t was
therefore the duty OF her servants 10
preserve her life, and l offered myse1
in her stead. My life was hers al
ready, for she had preserved IT, ohe
had given. 1t was hers to take. WIN
the chief captains Of Kernsberg L
DIOtted that she. should be seized ana
carried to a place of refuge wherein
no foe could ever find her. There she
abides with chosen men to guard her
I took her place and was delivered up
that Kernsberg' might be cleared Oh
it's enemies Gladly / came that
might pay a little of my debt TO my
sevran lady and ,liege mistress, JOAN
Duchess of kernsberg and Hohen-
stein"
'Nobly perorated," cried Prince
Ivan, clapping his hands Right So
norously ended. But, listen, Sir Mum
mer, in. all this there is no word OF
the Princess Margaret. How comes II
that you loudly proclaim having given
yourself a noble sacrifice for one fa1r
lady, when at the same time you are
secretly married to another? Are you
a deliverer of ladies by wholesale!
Speak to this point. Let US have an
other noble period-its subject my af1-
anced bride. Already we have heard
of YOUR high devotion to Prince Louis
wife Well-next!"
But it was the Princess who spoke
from where she stood behlnd the
crossed swords of her guards.
THAT | will answer. l am woman
and weak in your hands, princes both.
You have set the grasp of rude men
alarms upon the wrists of Princess
of Courtland. But you can never COM
pei her soul. Brother Louis, my father
committed me to you as little child
have l not been a loving and faith
full sister to you? And till this Musco-
yite came between were you not good
to me? Wherefore have you changed?
Why has he made you cruel to your
little Margaret"
Prince Louis turned towards his
sister, moving his hands uncertainty
and even deprecatingly.
Ivan moved quickly to his side and
whispered something, which rekindled
the light of anger in the weaklings
| eyes.
you are no sister of mine," he
said; you have disgraced your family
and yourself. Whether it be true ol
matters littIe!"
at is true; do not lie!" said Mar
garet. recovering herself.
| 'It is the worse, then, and he shall
| suffer for it. At least l can hide
cannot prevent your shame!"
81 will never give him up; nothing
| on earth shall part our love"
Prince Ivan smiled sweetly, turning
to where she stood at the end Of the
| hall.
| Sweet Princess" he said, divorce
| is, | understand, contrary to your holy
| Roman faith. But in my land we have
| discovered a reader way than any
| papai bull. Be good enough to OBJ
serve this"-he held a dagger in hi:
hand. at is a little blade of steel, bu
| a span long, and narrow as one o
your"dainty:Tnge yet it will divorce
the best married pair in the world"
But neither dagger nor the hate o
enemies can sever love-" Margaret an
swered proudly. You may slay my
husband. but he is mine still. Yol
cannot twain our souls"
The Prinde shrugged his shoulder
and opened his palms deprecatingly.
| Madam" he said, Il shall be salts
fed with twaining your bodies. Ii
holy Russia we are plain men. w
| have a saying, No one hath ever seer
| a soul. Let the body content you!
When this gentleman is-what | shall
make him, he is welcome to any com