The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1906-06-16
JOAN fEs 3h SWORD HAND
EsIZSG%-sE@s. go 1--e-;szESS1
Copyright. 1895 1900 by : T. crockettJ

Madam" ne said. Il shall be salts
fed with twa!ning your bodies. In
holy Russia We are plain men. We
have a saying. No one hath ever seen
soul. Let the body content YOU
When this gentleman is-what | shall
make him, he is welcome to any com
muuicn Of spirits to which he can at
tain with you. | promise you that. SC
far as he is concerned, you shall find
me neither eXigent lover nor jealous
husband"
And the Prince of Nuscoyy laughed
loud and long. But Prince Louis did
not laugh. His eyes Glared upon the
prisoner like those OF wild beast
caught in corner when it wishes to
fee but cannot.
He shall Gie-this day shall be his
last. l swear it" he cried. He hath
my hand"
He drew the dagger from his belt
But in the center of the hall tho
Sparhawk stood so still and quiet that
Prince Louis hesitated. Ivan laid q
soft hand uron his wrist and as gently
drew the dagger out of his grasp.
Nay my Prince, he will give him
worthisr passing than that. So 40
BILE knight-errant must die no com
mon death. What say you to the
Ukraine Cross, the Cross of Steeds?
have here four horses, all wild from
the steppes. This squire of danes.
this woman hummer. hath, as now We
know, four several limbs. BY a strange
coincidence | have wild horse for
each of these. Let limbs and steeds
be severally attached. my Cossacks
know how. Upon each flank let the
lash be laid-and- well. the Princess
Margaret is welcome to her liege lords
soul. l warrant she will not desire his
body any more
At this Margaret to.tered, her knees
giving way beneath her, so that her
guards stood nearer to catch her if
she should fall.
'Louis-my brother" she cried. do
not listen to the monster. Kill my
husband if you wi!l-because | love
him. But do not torture him. BY the
last words of our mother by the
memory of oar father, by your faith
in the Most Pitiful Son of God.
charge you-do not this devilry"
Prince Ivan did not give Louis OF
CORTLAND time to reply to his sisters
appeal
The most noble Princess mistakes"
he murmured, suavely. death by
the Cross Of Steeds is no torture 1t
is the easiest of death | have wit
messed II often. In my country it is
\ 6, l.,
tinguished. No common felon dies by
the Cross of Steeds, but men whose
pride it is to die greatly We will
show you tomorrow on the plain
across the river that | speak the truth
1t is a noble sight and all Courtland
shall be there. What say you. Louiso
Shall this springald seat himself in
your princely chair. or-shall we try
the Cross of the Ukraine?"
Have it your own way. Prince
Ivan" said Louis, and went out with
out another word. The Muscovite
stood a moment looking from Maurice
to Margaret and back again. He
wa. smiling his inscrutable Oriental
smile.
Let the Princess pass" he cried.
The guards dropped their swords to
their sides.
Instantly the Princess Margaret ran
forward with eager appeal on her face.
She dropped on her knees before the
Prince Of Muscovy and clasped her
hands in supplication.
prince Ivan" she said, "1 pray you
for the love of God to spare him, to
Jot l.,
him more. | will go to nunnery. |
will look no more upon the face of
day"
"Tha., above all things. cannot al
low said the Prince. so fair face
must ste many suns-soon, l trust, in
Moscow and by my side"
Margaret" said the Sparhawk, at
is usele IS to plead. Do not abase your
self in tae presence of our enemy. You
cannot touch mans heart when his
breast covers a stone. Bid me good
by and be brave The time will not
be long"
Like child after its bedside prayer
she lifted up her face to be kissed.
Goodnight, Maurice" she said,
simply wait for me; l shall not be
long after."
She laid her brow moment on his
breast Then she lifted her head and
walked slowly and proudly out of the
hall The guard fell in behind her.
and Maurice Won Lynar was left alone
with the Prince of Muscovy.
AS the door closed upon the Pr!n-
cess a sudden devilish grimace of fury
distorted the countenance of the
Prince Ivan. Hitherto he had been
studiously and even caressingly cour-
teous But now he strobe swiftly up
to his captive and smote him across
the mouth with the back of his gaunt-
leted hand.