Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1906-09-14
JOAN lie RH SWORD HAND
By S.RCROCFETT. .4u1zo~ AZ MeR au6ssoc
(copyright, lsss. Zoo. by 5. 3. crockettl


many a beaker. The Rhenlsh shall
flow. And Peg and MoIl and Eisabet
snal be there-yes. and many a good
fellow"
smut the door," quoth Werner. the
chief captain. at this point. "Sit down.
gentlemen, Captains Jorian and
BORIS. you do not seem to know that
you are no longer in Plassenburg.
Here are no tables Of Karl the Mil
lers Son to hamper our liege mis-
tress. Do you know that you have
lied to her and made Jest OF it2"
he spoke very slowly, leaning to-
ward them and punctuating his mean
ing upon the palm OF his left hand
with the fingers of his right. IF T..
Werner Of Orseln, were now to walk
upstairs, and in so many words tell
my lady, the sweet, easy princess,
as you name her, Joan Of the Sword.
as we are proud"
Joan Of the Sword, Hochi"
/ The men-at-arms at the lower table,
the bearded captains at the high
board, the very page boys lounging in
the inches. rose to their feet at the
very name, pronounced in a voice of
thunder-pride by Chief Captain Wer-
ner.
Il thank you, gentlemen, on behalf
OF my lady, IN whose name I COM
mand here said Werner, bowling cere-
moniously to all around, while the
others settled themselves to listen.
Now, worthy soldiers of Plassen-
burg" he went on, "be it known to
you that If Ito suppose a case which
will not happen) I were to tell our
Lady Joan what you have confessed
to US here and boosted of-that you
lied and double lied to her-I lay my
life and the lives of these good fel-
lows that the pair OF you would be
aswing from the corner gallery of the
Lions Tower in something under FIVE
minutes"
Jorian rose TO his feet. up, Borisl"
he cried; or-Russian, no kern Of
Hohenstein that ever lived, shall over
crow captain of the armies OF Plas-
senburg and soldier of the Princess
Helene-Heayen bless her. Take your
ring in your hand. Boris. for we will
go up straightway, you and l. And
We will tell the Lady Duchess Joan
that having no sweetheart of legal
standing, and no desire for any, we
choused her into the belief that we
would bestow her rings upon our be
trothed in the rose gardens Of Plas-
senburg. Then we viii see if indeed
We shall be aswing in five minutes. |
Ready, Boris?"
Aye, thrice ready, Jorianl"
About theni Quick march,"
A great noise of clapping rose all |
round the hall as the two stout sol
diers set themselves to march up the |
staircase by which they had just des-
cended.
Stand to the doors,~ cried Werner, |
the chief captain, do not let them
pass Stand up and drink deep cup
to them. rather, To Captains Jorian
and Boris of Plassenburg, brave fell
lows both,"
The toast was drunk amid multi
tudinous shoutings and handshakings.
The two men had stopped perforce.
for the doors were in the hands of /
the soldiers of the guard. and the pike
points clustered thick in their paths
he high table from which they had
risen.
sit down, gentlemen, and | also
will sit. Now hearken we'll" said
these good fellows of mine
will bear me out that l lie not You
lave done bravely and spoken up like
rood men taken in a fault. But we
viii not permit you to go to your
Ieaths. For our Lady Joan-God bless
not take a false word
rom any-no. not if it were on
twelfth Night or after Christmas
She would not forgive
from your old Longbeard upstairs,
whose business it is-that is, If she
ound it out. To the gallowsi' she
,ould say, and we-why, we should
orrow for having to hasten the
tretchings of two good men. Keep
our rings, lads. and keep also your
its about you when the duchess
uestions you again. Nay, when you :
eturn TO Plassenburg, be wise, seek !
ut Gretchen and Katrin and be-
tow the rings upon them-that is, If :
yer you mean again to stand within {
he danger OF Joan of the Sword In !
IFS her castle Of Kernsberg"
"Gretchens are none so scarce in {
muttered Jorian. Il
link we can satisfy her-but at a {
leaper price than ring Of rubies
It In gold" a
rIADTER m a