The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1906-11-29

daughter of Henry the Lion!"
The tall woman turned without bow
Ing and looked at the girl
Il am the mother of Maurice Won
l.ynar. and this is the Isle Rugeni"
she said simply, as II the answer were
,l.sufficient.
The woman in the crimson cloak
waited for Joan to be assisted from
the boat, and then, without a word of
greeting, led the way up little sand.
cd path to a gate which opened in
high stone wall Through this she
admitted her guests. whereupon they
found themselves in an enclosure
with towers and battlements rising
dimly all round.
Then came long. grey building,
another door, low and creaking heav.
lily on unaccustomed hinges. a sudden
burst of light, and lo the wanderers
found themselves within lighted
hall, wherein were many stands of
arms and armor, mingled with skins
| of wild animals, wide-spreading, many.
tined antlers, and other records of
| the chase.
The woman who had been their
guide now set down her lantern and
allowed the hood of her cloak to slide
from her head. Werner and his two
male companions, the captains of Plas.
senburg. fell back a little at the appa-
rition. They had expected to see
some bag or crone. fit companion of
their wordless guide.
1 n not
not girlish certainly, nor yet in the
first bloom of her youth, but glorious
even among fair women by reason of
the ripeness of her beauty.
The mother of that young paladin,
their Sparhawk? It seemed impossl.
BILE. This woman was too youthful,
too fair. too bountiful in her gracious
beauty to be the mother of such a
tense young yew-bow as Maurice Won
Lynar.
my lady joan" she said, in the
same thrilling voice, my son has sent
mo word that till certain great dan
ger Is overpast you are to abide with
me here on the Isle Rugen. | live
alone, save for this one man, dumb
Max Ulrich, long since cruelty MANNED
at the hands of his enemies. | can
offer you no suite of attendants be-
yond those you bring with you. Our
safety depends on the secrecy of our
abode, as for many years my own life
has done ask you, therefore, to re-
spect our privacy, as also to impose
the same upon your soldiers"
The Duchess Joan bowed slightly.
"As you doubtless know, I have not
come hither of my own free will :"
she answered haughtily; "but thank
you, madam. for your hospitality.
Rest assured that the secrecy of your
dwelling shall not be endangered by
me-"
Then with large gesture the elder
Indicated the way up the broad stair.
case, and throwing her own cloak
completely off she caught it across
her arm as 1t dropped and so fol,
lowed Joan out of sight.
Instinct was so strong that, as soon
as the women had withdrawn them
selves upstairs, the three captains
started towards the door to make the
round of the defences. The Wordless
Man accompanied them unasked. The
square enclosure in which they found
themselves seemed liker an old fortified
farmhouse of grange than regular
castle, though the walls were thicl
as those of any fortress, being loop
: holed for musketry, and lin thos;
days of bombards few and heavy cap
able of standing a. siege in good ear
nest against small army.
/ The three captains returned through
the hall into long dining room vault
ed above with beams of solid oak
Curtains were drawn close all abou
the walls. In the recesses were man,
stands of arms of good and recen
construction, and opening a cupboar,
with the freedom of man at arms
Boris saw ramrods, powder, and sho
arranged in order, as neatly as though
he had done 1t himself, than whicl
no better could be said.
In little while the sound of foot
steps descending the nearer staircas
was heard. The Wordless Man move
| to the door and held 1t open, as Joa,
| came in with a proud, high look o.
| her face. Won Lynar's mother e1
| tered Immediately after her guess
! and 1t needed nothing more subtl
| than Werner Won Orseln's masculn
acumen to discern that no word ha
been spoken between them while the
/ were alone.
] With queenly gesture the hostess m,
1 toned her guest to the place of homo
| and indicating that the three soldier
| we're to take their places at the othe
side of the table. Werner Won Orsel
moved automatically to obey, bl
Jorian and Boris were already at tn
g sideboard. busting platters and nal
If ing them ready to serve the meal.
a. 81 thank you, madam" said Jorial
n Were we here as ENJOYS of our ma
It ter, Prince Hugo of Plassenburg, "
t, would gladly and proudly sit at me;
q with you. But we are volunteers, an