Rocky Ford enterprise., 1906-08-10
JOAN S& % SWORD HAND
~ S.RCROdETT.A .Au1za~ o< McRmalwGo
lcopyright. 1913. lsO9 b 5, n cToekettJ

hood pulled low over her face. Their
esa Won Iynar Was waiting for Boris
and Jorian al the door OF the market
hospital.
i thank you for your fidelity" she
said quickly. u have great need of
you. ! put great secret In your
hands. could not ask one OF the fol
lowers Of Prince Conrad. nor yet a sol
dier Of the Duchess Joan. lest when
that is done which shall be done to-
night. the Prince or the Duchess
should be held blamcwoFthy. having
most to gain or lose. Hut you are of
Plassenburs and will bear mo wit
ness."
, Boris and Jorian silently sisnihcd
their obsdicnc. and readiness TO serve
her. Then she gave them their In
| structions.
You will conduct me past tho city
guards. out through tn. gates, and
take me towards tn. camp of the
Prince OF Muscoyy. Thor. you will
leave me. and shall b. met by one
who In like manner will lead me
through the cncmy'S posts"
And when shall you return. my
Lady Theresa We will wait for you!"
Thank you. gentlemen. You need
not walt. shall not rciurn!"
Not rcturn?" cried Jorian and Boris
together. greatly nStoninhcd.
NO" said Theresa. very slowly and
quietly. her eyes set ON the darkness.
Hear yc. Captains of PiaEHcnburE. I
will give you my mind. You nrc trnS'y
men. and can. as have proved. hold
your own counsel
Boris and Jorlan nodded. There was
no difficulty about that.
Good" they said together aE Of old.
Listen. then Theresa went on.
You know. and I know. that unless
quick succor come. the city IL doomed.
You are men and soldiers. and whether
yc make nm end amid tho din Of battle.
or escape for this time. Is n matter
whcrcwith yc do not trouble your
minds till the time comes. But for me.
belt known to you that am the Wild.
ow OF Henry the Lion OF Kcrnsbcrg.
My son Maurice IL the true heir to the
Dukcdom. Yet. being bound by an oath
sworn to the man who made me his
wife. I have never claimed the throne
for him. But now Joan his sister
knows. and out OF her great heart she
swenrs that she will give up the
Duchy to him. II. therefore. the city Is
taken. the MuscovItc will slay my son.
slay him by their hcllish torturcs. as
they have sworn to do for the despite
he put upon Prince Ivan. And his wife.
the Princess Margaret. will die OF grief
when they carry her to Moscow 10
make bride OF widow. Joan will be
n prisoner. Conrad either dead or
priest. and Kernsberg. the heritage of
Henry the Lion. fief OF the Car.
There is no help In any. Your Prince
would succor. but It lakes time to raise
the country. and long ere he can cross
the frontier the Russian will have
worked his will In Courtland. Now
see way-a woman's way. And II I
fall in the doing of It. WE'LL but go
to meet him for the sake of whose
children freely give my life. In this
bear me witness"
Madam" said Boris. gravely. I'VE
are but plain soldiers. We pretend not
to understand the great matters OF
state of which you speak. But rest as.
sured that we will serve you with our
lives. bear true witness. and in all
things obey your word implicitly"
without difficulty they passed
through the streets and wardcd gates.
They plunged into the darkness of the
outer night. At first in the swirl of
the storm the three could see nothing;
bur gradually the watchfires of the
Muscovite came out thick.sown like
stars on the rising grounds on both
sides of the ALA. Presently they began
to descend into the valley. the iron
shod feet of the men clinking upon the
stones. Theresa walked silently,
stepped in thought, laying hand on
arm or shoulder as she had occasion.
Suddenly tall Boris stopped dead and
with a sweep of his arm halted the
others.
"There!" he whispered, pointing up
ward
And against the glow thrown from
behind ridge they could see pair of
Cossacks riding to and fro ceaselessly,
dark against the ruddy sky.
Captains Boris and Jorian," Thcr-
esa was speaking with quietness. rails
ing her voice just enough to make her.
self heard over the roar of the wind
overhead. for the nook in which they
presently found themselves was shell
tered, 81 bid you adieu-it may be
farewell. You have done nobly and
like two valiant captains who were fit
to war with Henry the Lion. thank
you. You will bear me faithful wit
ness in the things Of which have spo-
ken to you. Take this ring from me.
not in recompense. but in memory. 1t
is n bGublc worth cny lady's accent
ancc And you this dagger" She
took two from within her mantle. End
gave one to JOrian. at Ia go,h steel
f,f1 yCn Tho fr'iSw Of