The Elbert County tribune., 1906-01-25
JOAN 49s Ss SWORD HAND
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tcopyrtght. 1885. 1900. by s. r. crockett)

Had this Dane and our Joan been
brother and sister. they could not
have favored each other MORE" they
said.
A deep blush rose to the youths
swarthy face.
Il am not worthy" he said, and
kept his eyes upon the 1.-THE figure of
the girl in its array of well fitting
green Il cannot thank you!" he said
again.
Tut" she answered, "worthy-un-
worthy-thank- -unthank-what avail
these upon the mountains of Kerns-
berg and in the castle of Joan of the
Sword? good heart, a merry fight.
quick death. These are more to
the purpose than many thanks and
compliments. Peter Balta. are you
seconding Werner? Come hither. Let
us try the swords. Will not these two
serve? Guard, Well smittenl There.
enough What. you are touched on
the sword arm? Faith, man. for the
moment | forgot that it was not you
and ! who were to drum. Now, then,
Maurice Won Lynar-Werner. At the
salutel Ready Fall tot"
Il give the Sparhawk five minutes"
said Boris to Jorian, after the first
pass. 1t was little more than formal
and gave no token of what was to fol-
low. Yet for full twenty minutes
Werner Won Orseln, the Oldest sword
er of all the north, from the marshes
of wilma to the hills of Silesia, could
do nothing but stand on the defen-
sive, SO fierce and incessant were the
attacks of the young Dane.
THE Kernsberger is playing with
him!" said Boris, under his breath.
Jorian nodded. He had no breath to
waste.
But he is not going to kill him.
He has not the Death in his eyel"
Boris spoke with Judgment. for so It
proved. Werner lifted an eyebrow
for the fraction of second toward
his mistress. And then at the end of
the next rally his sword Just touch
ed his young adversary on the shoul-
der and the blood answered the
thrust. staining the white under-dou-
blet of the Dane.
Then Werner threw down his sword
and held out his hand
"A well fought rally" he said, ''1et
us be friends. We need lads of such
mettle to ride the forays from the
hills OF Kernsberg. am sorry
baited you, Sparhawk!"
"A good fight clears ALL" replied the
youth. smiling in his turn.
Bring bandage for his shoulder,
Peter Balta!" cried Joan. Mine was
the cleaner stroke which went through
your great muscle, but Werner's is
somewhat the deeper You can keep
each other company at the dice box
these next days. And, as I warrant
neither of you has a Lubbock guilder
to bless yourselves with, you can
cen play for love till you wear out
the pips with throwing"
Then l am not to go back to the
dungeon?" said the lad, one reason
of whose wounding had been that he
also lifted his eyes. for moment to
those of his second.
ITO prison-no," said Joan, "you
are one of us now. We have blooded
you. Do you take service with me?"
Il have no choice-your father left
me none!" the lad replied, quickly
altering his phrase. Castle Lynar is
no more. My grandfather, my mother
and my uncles are all dead, and there.
is small service in going back to Den
mark, where there are more than
enough of hungry gentlemen with no
wealth but their swords and no living
but their gentility. If you will let me
serve in the ranks, Duchess Joan, |
chalI ha we'll coptapttp
II also" said Joan heartily. 1--WE
are all free in Kernsberg. even if we
are not all equal We will try you
in the ranks first