The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1906-05-26

Inc door closed upon the Swedish
maiden. Margaret and Maurice turned
to each other with one pregnant in
stinct and took hands.
Already" said Margaret family,
going back into the woman; they
might have left us alone a little long
er. How shall We meet this? What
shall we do? l had counted on this
one day"
Margaret" answered the Sparhawk
impulsively, this shall not daunt us.
We would have told your brother
Louis ore day. We will tell him now.
Duchess Joan is safe out of his reach,
kernsbers is revictualed the Musco-
Vite army returned There is no need
to Keep up the masquerade any longer
Whatever may come of il, let us go
to your brother. That will end it
swiftly. at all events" The Princess
put away his restraining clasp and
came closer to him.
No-no," she cried; you must
not. You do not know my brother.
He is wholly under the influence of
Ivan of Muscovy. Louis would slay
you Tor having cheated him of his
'''N van ioA lHS IOltSldllpu MN
with me-"
But you cannot marry Ivan. That
were an outrage against the laws of
God and Mani"
Marry lvan," she cried, to the full
as impulsively as her lover. mot
though they set ravens to pick the live
hesh off my bones, But yet the
thought of torture and death for Won
-tna' cannot abide. We must con-
tlnue to deceive them. Let me think,
let me think"
Hastily she barred the door which
led Out upon the corridor. Then tax.
ing Maurice's hand once more she led
MIN over TO the window, from which
she could see the green ALA cutting
It's way through the city bounds and
presently escaping into the yet green.
er corn lands on its way to the sea.
1t IS for this one days delay that
we must plan. Tonight we will Ger.
talniy escape. | can trust certain of
those of my household. | have tried
them before. have n
Maurice, you must be taken lille
do"h on this couch away from the
Ilght. There is rumor of the R1ack
Death in the city-we must build on
that. They say an Astrakhan trader
is dead of it already. For one day we
may stave off with this 1t is the
poor pest we can do. Lie down, I will
can mora She is staunch and fully
to be trusted"
Inc Princess Margaret went to the
inner door and clapped her hands
sharply.
The fa'r-haired Swedish maiden
came running to her. She had been
waiting on such a signal.
Ihora, said her mistress in a quick
Whisper, we must put off this mar
riage. l would sooner die than marry
Ivan. You have that drug you spoke
oi-that which gives the appearance
OF sickness unto death without the re.
amy. Inc Lady Joan must be i'll, very
i'll You understand. we must deceive
even the Princes physicians"
The girl nodded with quick under.
standing, and turning. she sped away
up the inner stairs to her own sleeD.
ing chamber, the key of which (as
was the custom in Courtland) she car
ried in her pocket
'Tnis will also keep you from being
suspected-as in public places YOU
would have been,' whispered Margaret
to her young husband What Thora
thinks 1r knows does rot matter,
can trust Thora with my life-nav,
with what is far more with yours"
light tap and the girl re-entered.
tall phial in her hand With a swift
look at her mistress to obtain permis-
sion, she went to the couch uDon
which the Sparhawk had lain down
Then with deft hand she opened the
bottle and pouring little of the color
less liquid into a cup she gave it him
TO drink. In few minutes a sickly
pallor overspread Maurice Won Lvnar's
brow. His eyes appeared injected,
the lips Daled to grey white beads
Of perspiration stood on the forehead.
ard his whole countenance took on the
hue and expression OF mortal sick
ness.
Now" said Thora, when she had
finished will the noble lady deign to
swallow one of these pellicles, and in
ten minutes not leech in the country
will be able to pronounce that she is
not suffering from dangerous dis
ease"
You are sure, Thora," said the
Princess Margaret almost fiercely,
laying her hand on the tirewoman's
wrist, that there is no harm in all
this? Remember, on your life be it,"
The placid, aXenhaired woman
turned with the little silver box in her
hand.
Danger there is. dear mistress"
she said softly, but not, think, so
great danger as we are already in.
But l will prove my honesty"
She took first a little of the liquid,
and Immediately after swallowed one