The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1906-06-02
JOAN &Es 3R SWORD HAND
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CHAPTER xxI.-continued.


AT this point an officer came swift
ly across the parterre and stood with
uncovered head by the steps of the
terrace, waiting for permission TO as
cend. The Prince summoned him
with a movement of his hand.
What news?" he said; have the
ladies' yet left the Summer Palace"
40, my lord" answered the officer
earnestly; but Johannes Rode of the
Princess Margaret's household has
come with message that the plague
has broken out there, and that the
Lady Princess is the first stricken"
Which Princess?" demanded l..n
with an instant incision of tone
The Lady Joan. Princess of Court
land, your Highness," replied the man.
without. however, looking at the
Prince of Muscovy.
The Lady Joan" cried the Prince
Louis, "she is i'll? She has brought
the Black Death with her? She is
stricken with the plague? How for
tunate that, so far. I"
He clapped his hand upon his
brow and shut his eyes as if giving
thanks
Il see it all now" he cried This
IS the reason the Kernsberg traitors
we're SO willing to give her up. 1t is
all plot against my life. will not go
near Let the court physicians be
sent. Cause the doors of the Sum
mer Palace to be sealed, Set double
guards! Permit none to pass ei,her
way. save the doctors only, Ant let
them Change their clothes and perfume
themselves with the smoke of sulphur
befo-e they come OUT"
His voice mounted higher and high
er as he spoke and Ivan of Muscoyy
watched him without speaking, as
with hands thrust out and distended
nostins he screamed and gesticulated.
Prince Ivan had never seen a thor
ough coward before. and the breed in
teregted him. But when he had let the
Prince run on far enough to shame
him before his officer, he rose quietly
and stood in front of him.
Louis" he said in a low voice,
listen to me-this is but report
1t is like enough to be false; it is GER
tain to be exaggerated. Let us go at
once and find out
Prince Louis threw out his hands
with gesture of despair.
Not I-not T." he cried You may
20 if you like, if you do not value your
life. But II do not feel well even
now. Yesterday | kissed her hand.
All, would to God that had not, That
is it. I wondered what allied me this
morning. Go-stop the court ply ST.
clans! Do not let them go to the Sum
mer Palace; bring them here to me
first. Your arm, officer: l think l
will go to my room-I am not well ="
Prince Ivan's countenance grew not
tied and greyish, and his teeth showed
in the sun like thin line of dazzling
white. He grasped the poltroon by
the wrist with hand of steel.
Listen he said-'no more of this;
I will not have it, l will not waste
my own time and the blood of my
fathers soldiers for naught. This is
but some woman's trick to delay the
marriage know it. Hearken! | fear
neither Black Death nor black devil;
I will have the Lady Margaret to-day
il have to wed her on her deathbed!
Now, l cannot enter your wife's cham
Der alone. Yet go l must, if only to
SEQ what all this means, and you shall
accompany me. Do you hear, Prince
Louis? l swear you shall go with me
to the Summer Palace. If I have to
drag you step by step."
His grasp lay like tightening cir
Gle Of iron about the wrist of Prince
Louis: his steady glance dominated
the weaker man. Louis drew in his
breath with choking noise.
81 will he gasped: 'if I must Il
will go. But the Death-the Bla *