Rocky Ford enterprise., 1906-06-29

1
Joan looked ut this woman and un.
derstood for the first time that she
was the strongest spirit OF ali-great.
er than her father. better than her.
self. And perhaps because of this.
nobility and sacrifice stirred cmulous-
ly In her own breast.
Madam. she said. looking directly
nj Theresa Won Lynar. lit is time that
you and ] understood each other. I
hold myself no true Duchess OF Hohcn.
stein 80 long as your son lives. My
fathers compact and condition are
Of no effect. The Diet Of the Empire
would cancel them In moment. I
Will therefore take no rest until this
thing II mad. clear. swear that
your son shall he Duke Maurice and
II, In his fathers place. as Is right
and htilng. For me. I ask nothing but
the daughters portion-a grange such
as this. as solitary and rs peaceful. II
garden to dclvc and beach TO wan.
der upon at cvc."
AZ she spoke Thcrcsn's eyes sudden
ly frightened. a proud high look "a,
on the fnlncss Of her lips. which grad.
uaiiy faded AZ some other thoughr
asserted Its supremacy. She rose. and
go!rg straight to loan. for the hrst
time Sh" kissed her on the brow.
Now do ! know" she said. that
you are Henry the Lions daughter.
| That is spoken as h. would have spo.
ken II. II II greatly thought. Yet
IL cannot be-
1T shall be-" cried Joan InpcrlouS.
iy.
Nay" returned Theresa won lynaT
! Ono" ON a time I would have given
ms right hand that for half day. for
one hour. men might have said Of me-
that ! was Henry the Lions wife. and
my son his Eon' Il would have been
! right sweet. All. God. how sweet II
would have becn!' She paused mo.
. E:crt ~ n consulting some uns-rn
presence. No. have vowed my VOW
Here was hidden to stay aud here
! will I abide
Maurice OF tiohcnstoin shall sit In
his fathers seat said Joan hrmiy
II have sworn II. II live I will see
, him settled there with my captains
, about him. Werner won Orscin IN an
honest man. lie will do him Justice.
Won DcSsaucr shall get him rrcognig.
cd. and Hugo Of Piasscnburg shall
stand his sponsor before the Die, OF
tho Empire
Il would |, could he so.' said The.
rcsa wisifniiy. III my death could
cause this thing rightcotsly Ia come
to pass. how gladly would I end life.
But I am bound by an oath. and my
spu IL bnund h,rnua., I a,,, hnunt Th.
tribunal is no, the Diet OF Raiisbon.
but the faithfulncss of womans
heart. Have I been loyal to my prince
these many years 10 that now shame
sits on my brow rs gladly ms n crown
Of bay. that I should fail him now?
Low he lies. and I may never stand
bCsid" his sepulchrc. No son OF mine
shall sit In his high chair. hut IL In
any sphere of sinful or imperfect
spirits. be IL he'll or purgatory. he
and shall encounter. think you for
an emJirc would meet him Ehamcd.
Ard Wdcn he says. Woman of my
love. hast thou kept thy iroih?' shall
| he compelled TO answer No.
But" urged Joan. this thing is
your sons birthr!ghi. My father. for
ness 10 man I loathod. have cast
that bond to the winds. The fathers
canno; bind the children: no more can
you disinherit your SON
Theresa Won I.ynar smiled sad.
Use smile. infinitely patient. infinite.
ly remote.
"Ah" she said you think so? You
are young. You have never loved
You are his daughter. not his wife
One day you shall krow. II God Is
good to yOu!"
AT this Joan smiled in her turn. She
knew what she knew.
You may think you krow." return.
ed ThercEa, her calm eyes on the
girls face. but what | mean by lov.
ing Ia another matter. The hand you
broke you did not make. keep the
vow made with clear eye. undulled
brain. willing hand I made it-becausc
he willed 1t. Let my son Maurice
break II. II he can. II he villas you
have broken yours. Only let him
rever mere call Theresa Won Lynar
mother."
Joan rose to depart. Her intent
had not been shaken. though she was
impressed by the noble heart of the
woman who had been her fathers
wife But she also had vowed a vow.
and that vow she would keep. The
Sparhawk should yet be the Eagle of
Kernsberg. and she. Joan. a home
keeping housewife nested In quiet.
moss. barn. door fowl about the or.
chards OF Isle Rugen.
'ii.adam.". she said. your word is
your word. But so is that OF Joan Of
kernsbers. It may be that out OF
the u.seen there may leap q chAacs