The Elbert County tribune., 1906-03-22

So also Joan of Hohenstein desired
to go down with Dessauer that she
might look upon the man betrothed TO
her from birth. She went She
looked, and within her there grew up
a heart of flesh Then, when the
stroke fell, that heart uprose in quick,
Incorporate revolt. and what might
have issued in the dull compliance of
Princess, whose whole life was set
tied for her became the imperious
revolt of a woman against an intoler-
able and loathsome impossibility.
So in her Castle of Kernsberg Joan
waited. But not idly. All day long
and every day Maurice Won Lynar rode
on her service. The hillmen gath
cred to his word. and in the court
yard the stormy voices of George
the Hussite and Peter Balta were new
er hushed. The shepherds from the
hills went to and fro. marching and
countermarching. wheeling and charg-
ing. porting musket and thrusting
pike. till all Kernsberg was little bet
ter than a barracks.
But there were two, at least, with
in the realm of the Duchess Joan who
knew no drawbacks to their joy. who
rubbed palm on palm and nudged each
other for pure gladness. These Gt is
sad to say were the military attaches
of the neighboring peaceful State of
PIassenburg Yet they had been spe-
cially cautioned by their Prince Hugo,
in the presence of his wife Helene.
the hereditary princess. that they were
most carefully to avoid all interna-
tional complications. They were on
no account to take sides in any quar-
rel. They must do nothing prejudi-
clal to the peace. neutrality, and uni
versal amity of the State and Prince
dom of Plassenburg. Such were their
instructions.
They promised faithfully.
Yet these two soldiers of fortune
lay waiting on the slopes of the ia
gernbergen, talking over the situation.
"a man surely has a right to his
own wife." said Jorian, taking for the
sake of argument the conventional
side.
"Narren-Possen, Jorian," cried
Boris, raising his voice to the indigna-
tion point. "Clotted nonsensel Who
is going to keep a mans wife for
him if he cannot do it himself?"
THE trouble is that so far she feels
no necessity to be any ones wife,
said Jorian.
THAT also is nonsense" said Boris,
who, spite his defense of Joan. held
the usual masculine views. Every
woman wishes to marry. if she can
only have first choice"
There they comet" whispered Jo-
rian.
Boris rose to his feet and looked
long beneath his hand. Very far away
there arose from the level green
plain first one tall column of dense
black smoke and then another, till
as far as they could see to the left
the plain was full of them.
Gods truth" cried Jorian. they
are burning the farms and herds
houses. The Muscovite is OUT These
are Cossack fires. Bravo!! We shall
yet have our Hugo here with his axe!
He will never suffer the bear so near
his borders"
Let us go down." said Boris, "or
we shall miss some of the fun. In two
hours they will be at the fords of the
Allal"
What do you here? Go back!"
shouted Werner Won Orseln, who with
his men lay waiting behind the flood
banks of the ALA. This is not your
quarrel! Go back. Plassenburgers!"
I'VE have for the time being de-
mitted our Office" exclaimed Boris.
1.-The ENJOYS of Plassenburg are at
home in bed, sick of a most sanguin-
ary fever. We offer you our swords
as free fighting men and good Teuts.
| The Muscovites are over yonder. Lord
to think that | have lived to forty
eight and never yet killed even one
bearded Russ!"
You may mend that record shortly.
to all appearance. if you have luck!"
said Won Orseln grimly.
Now this is the report which Cap.
tains Boris and Jorian. envoys (very)
extraordinary from the Prince and
Princess of Plassenburg to the reign
ing Duchess of Hohenstein, made,
upon their return from the fords of
the Ala, to their home government.
Jorian, being Of the rotund and com.
PLEASANT faction. acquiesced in the pro,
posal that he should do the writing
But as he never got beyond, ITO our
honored Lord and Lady Hugo and
Helene, these" there needs not to
be any particularly as to his manner
of acting the scribe.
Then he remembered that he knew
where a secretary was in waiting He
would go and borrow him Jorian re
entered their bedroom with a beam
ing smile. and the secretary held BY