Rocky Ford enterprise., 1906-05-11
JOAN III: 1H SWORD HAND
~ S.RROdETT. .AuN1or AZ <MeAxa9,wSo


Difference. The Prince Louis sent
me to beg OF his noble spouse. the
Princess Joan. that she would deisn
to receive him"
Tell Louis that the Princess will
receive him at her own time. And
you. Prince Ivan. you have our leave
to go!"
He only bowed defercntlally and
withdrew. Margaret and the Spar.
hawk were left once more alone.
The two stood thus while the brisk
footsteps OF Prince Wasp thinncd out
down the corridor. Then Margaret
turned swiftly upon her tall compan.
lon. and. still keeping her hand. she
pulled Maurice over to the window.
There In the fuller light she scanned
the Sparhawk'S features with kind
ling eye and paling lips.
God In hcaycn." she paip!tatcd.
holding him Al greater distance.
you are not the Lady Joan: you
grc-you are"
The man who loves yon:" said the
Sparhawk. who was very pale.
The Count von Lo"n. Oh. Why did
you risk IL" sh" sasped. They will
XIII you. tear you to pieces without
f-morsc. when they hrd out. And II
II thing that cannot b" kept
secret. Why did you do it,
For your sake. beloved" said the
SpaFhawk. coming nearer to her: TO
look once more on your fae--io be-
hold once. II no more. I'll. lips that
kissed inc In the dark by the river
brink"
''But-bu,-you may foFfc!, your
ilfc!"
And n thousand iiscE." cried the
Sparha~k. n.frously pulling at his
woman's dress as, IL ashamed tina; he
must wear II AT such a time. Life
without you Ia nausht to Maurice Son
Lynar:"
The Princess held out her hands i'm
puisi,-iy and then FrtFaricd them sud
denly.
Now. Wc must no, waste time.
sh" said: Il must save you Th"y
would siay you on tn" least suspicion
Hut will match them. Would tn
/ God that Conrad acre herr. To him
/ I could speak. could tEus; him. Hc
would help Us, Let me see: Let me
sect
She ben; her head aud walked slow
y to the window. Like every Court
lander she thought best vhCn she
could watch the swirl of the green
Nila against its hanks. The whit"
inam.ncck which Margaret Was fol.
lowing with her eyes had no; vanish
-d from her sight. when tn" door Of
the Summer Palace was rId-iY thrown
open ard an Officer announced in a
loud. stridcnt tone. The Prince Louis
to visit his priaccss'''
Prince Louis entered. flushed and
excited. His cycs had lost their fur.
tive mcannrss and biasrd with Kind
of reckless fury quite foreign to the
man. for anger affected him as wire
might another man.
He spoke first tn the Princess Mar
rArct.
And so. my fair sister h" said.
you cnuCoct conspiracy with my own
married wife. Make ready. t-aiam
for tomorrow you shalt find your mas.
/ ter. will marry you tn tic Prince
ivan of Muscovy. He will carry run
to Moscow. where ladies' Of your breed
are taught TO obey. You shall he wed
and that Immediately. And leave me
alone with my wife"
"My brother Louis cried the prin.
cess Margaret. running up to him and
! taking his arm CoaSinEly. do not be
so hasty with two poor women. Scith.
pr of us desire aueht but tp do your
will. But give iis time. Louis. Louis.
I thought you we're wise. and yet ! see
that you have not the alphabet Of love.
Here is your lady. Have you ever
said a loving word to her. bent the
knee. kissed her hsnd-which. being
persisted in. is the true way TO Kiss
the mouth"
t''1f he does either" Erovled the
Srarhavk. my sword will Kiss his
midriT!'D
Prince Louis smiled. He was not
used to womcn's batteries. and in his
present, state Of cSaltatIon the ca.
joIeries of the Princess suited his
mood.
Il know more Of women than you
think, sister" he made answer. Il
have had eNpericnces-in my youth
that is: I am no puppet prinCelinE
IIy Saint Mark. once on a day | had
strtitted with the boliest. and to-day
well. now that have humbled this
proud madam and brought her to my
own city. why. will show you that I
! am no wendish boor. can sue a
| Iady's favor as courteously as any
nan. and. Margaret. II you will prom.
isc me to he a good girl and get you
ready to be married tomorrow. I
promise you that Louis of Courtland
will solicit his lady's favor with all
grace, and observance"
Gladly will be married to
row" said the Princess. caressing her
brothers sleeve-"that is. II cannot
| he married today" she added under