The Elbert County tribune., 1906-05-17

| Then, with certain shamefaced
and sulky pride. the Sparhawk told
Father Clement all the tale of the
mission of the Duchess Joan of Court
land, of the liking the Princess had
| taken to her in her secretary's attire.
of the kiss upon the dark rivers bank.
the fragrant memory of which had
drawn him back to Courtland against
his will.
1T Is pretty tangle you have made
between you" said Father Clement
when Maurice finished. Il know not
how you could more completely have
twisted the skein. Every one Is some
body else, and the devil is hard upon
the hindmost-or Prince Ivan. which
is the same thing"
The priest now withdrew in his turn
to where he could watch the ALA
curving its back little in midstream
as the summer floods rushed seaward
from the hills. To true Courtland folk
its very bubbles brought counsel as
they fioated down towards the Baltic.
Let me see, Let me see." he muir
INJURED. stroking his chin.
Then after long pause he turned
again TO the Sparhawk
You are of sufficient fortune to
maintain the Princess as becomes her
rank?"
Il am not a rich man." answered
Won Lynar. but by the grace of the
Duchess Joan neither am ! poor
one. She hath bestowed on me one
of her fathers titles, with lands to
match"
So said the priest; "but will
Prince Louis and the Muscoyites give
you leave to enjoy them?"
The estates are on the borders of
Plassenburg,- said Maurice. land l
think the Prince of Plassenburg for
his own security will provide against
any Muscovite invasion"
Princes are but princes, though
grant the Executioner's Son is good
one,' answered the priest. ''Well,
better to marry than to burn. sayeth
Holy Writ. | will marry you and
thereafter betake me to the Abbey of
Wolgast, where dwells my very good
friend the Abbot Tobias. For old
sake's sake he will keep me safe
there till this thing blows over"
with my heart l thank you, my
Father" said the Sparhawk. kneeling.
Nay. do not thank me- Rather
thank the pretty insistency of your
mistress. Yet it is only bringing you
both one step nearer destruction.
Walking upon egg shells is child's
play to this. But never could refuse
your sweetheart either comfit or an
absolution all my days. To my shame
as servant of God say it. will go
call her in"
He went to the door with a curious
smile on his face. He opened it, and
there, close by the threshold, was the
Princess Margaret, her eyes full of
bright mischief.
"Yes, l was listening she cried,
shaking her head defiantly. Il do not
care. You are going to do what we
wish-I know you are. l heard you
say so to Maurice. Now begin"
Nay, madcap. be patient. We must
have witness whose head sits on his
shoulders beyond the risk of Prince
Louis halter or Prince Ivan's Musco-
vite dagger. What say you to the
High Councillor of Plassenburg, Won
Dessauer? He is here on an embas-
sy."
The Princess clapped her hands.
"Yes, yes. He will do 1t. He will
keep our secret He also likes pretty
girls. l will go and summon Des-
sauer myself" she went on. 81 will
run SO quick. cannot bear to wait"
abide ye-abide ye. my daughter"
said Father Clement; ''let us do even
fr11 L., rrl.<
day is far spent. Let us wait till
darkness comes. Then when you are
rested-and Che looked towards the
Sparhawl) the Lady Joan also-I will
return with High Councillor Dessauer,
who, without observance or suspicion,
may pay his respects to the Princesses
upon his arrival"
But, Father, / cannot wait" cried
the impetuous bride. Something
might happen long before then. My
brother might come. Prince Wasp
might find out. The castle itself
might fall. and then should never be
married at all"
The holy father looked at her a
moment and turned his eyes to Mau-
rice Won Lynar. Then he shook his
head gravely at that proximate bride
groom as one who would say, IF you
be neither hanged nor yet burnt here
in Courtland--if you get safely out Of
this with your bride-why. then,
Heaven have mercy on your soul,"
1t was very quiet in the river parlor
of the Summer Palace. A shaded
lamp burned in its niche over the desk
of Prince Conrad. There was no one
in the great room save the youth
whose masquerading was now we'll
nigh over. The Sparhawk listened in
tently. Footsteps were approaching.