The Elbert County tribune., 1906-04-26

with the sweet gravity which had peeh
characteristic of him as Conrad the
prince. and his eyes shone upon her
with the same affectionate kindness
that had dwelt in them as he looked
upon his sister in the pavilion OF the
rose garden. But after one glance
Joan looked steadily away across the
steel-grey sea. Her feet turned IN
stinctively to walk back towards the
house and the Prince turned with her.
"If we are two fellow-prisoners,"
said Conrad, I'VE ought to see more OIL
each other. Is it not so?'
THAT we may concert plans OF es-
cape?" said Joan. You desire to con-
tinue your pilgrimage. I to return to
my people, who, alas, think them
selves better off without mel"
They paced along together with their
eyes on the ground, the Wordless Man
keeping a uniform distance behind
i them. Then the Prince laughed
strange, grating laugh, like one who
mocks at himself
"The world is i'll arranged" he said
slowly; my brother Louis would have
made a far better Churchman than |.
And strange It is to think that but
year ago the knights and chief coun-
cillors of Courtland came to me TO
propose that. because of his Dodily
weakness, my brother should be de-
posed and that should take over the
government and direction of affairs
He went on without noticing the
color rising in Joan's cheek. smiling
little to himself and talking with
more animation.
"Then, had I assented, my brother
might have been walking here with
tonsured head by your side, while
would doubles have been knocking at
the gates of Kernsberg, seeking at the
spears point for ID runaway bride"
"Nay," cried Joan. with sudden
vehemence; that would you not"
And as suddenly she stopped. strick-
Ell dumb by the sound of her own
words.
The Prince turned his head full
upon her. He saw a face all suffused
with hot bushes. haughtiest pride
struggling with angry tears in eyes
that fairly blazed upon him. and a
slender figure drawn up into an atti-
something took him instantly by the
throat
You mean-you mean" he stam-
mered. and for moment was silent.
For Gods sake. tell me what you
meant"
81 mean nothing at all," said Joan.
stamping her foot in anger.
And turning upon her heel she left
him standing fixed in wonder and
doubt upon the margin of the sea.
Then the wife of Louis. Prince of
house upon the Isle Rugen with her
face set as sterny as for battle, but
her neither lip quivering. while Con-
rad Cardinal and Prince of Holy
Church. paced slowly to the west with
a bitter and downcast look upon his
ordinarily so sunny countenance
For Fate had been exceeding cruel
to these two.
And meanwhile right haughtily flew
the red lion upon the citadel of Kerns-
berg Never had the Lady Duchess,
Joan of the Sword Hand approven
her foresters dress of green velvet,
with the links of chain body-armor
glinting beneath its frogs and taches,
she went everywhere on foot At all
times of the day she was to be seen
at the half-moons wherein the cannon
were fixed, or on horseback securing
the defenced posts along the city wall.
She seemed to know neither fear nor
fatigue. and the noise of cheering fol-
lowed her about the little hill city like
her shadow.
Three there were who knew the
| truth-Peter Balta, Alt Pikker, and
George the Hussite. And when the
| guards were set the lamps lit. and
the bars drawn, stupid Hohensteiner
| set on watch at the turnpike foot with
command to let none pass upon his
| life-then at last the 1.-THE young Spar
hawk would undo his belt with huge
refreshful gusting of air into his lungs,
| amid the scarcely subdued laughter of
the captains of the host.
Nevertheless. in the face of brave
words and braver deeds, provisions
waxed scarce and dear in Castle
Kernsberg. and in the town below
women grew gaurt and hollow
checked. Then the children acquired
eyes that seemed to stand out of hol-
low purple sockets. Last of all, the
stout burghers grew thin. And all
three began to dream of the days
when the good farrnfolk OF the black.
ened country down belo~ them. where
now stood the leafy looses of the Mus
covite and the white tents of the
Courtlanders. used to come into
Kernsberg to market, the great sol
emn-eyed oxen drawing carts full OF
country sausages. and brown meal
fresh from the mill to bake the whole
some bread-or when the stout mar
lSet-women brought in the lapperet
milk and the butter and curds. Sc