The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1906-06-16
CHAPTER xxlil.
Prince Wasp Stings.

Margaret did not answer her tor
mentors taunt. Her arms were about
Maurice's neck. and her lips, salt with
tears. sought his in last kiss. The
officer of the Princes guard touched
her on the shoulder She shook him
haughtily of and then. having com
plsted her farewells. she loosened her
hands and went slowly backward to-
wards the further end of the hall with
her eyes still upon the man she
loved.
$50" cried Prince Louis. in the
curiously uneven voice Of coward
lashing himself into fury, you have
played out your treachery upon a
reigning Prince of Courtland. You
cheated me at Castle kernsberg, you
have made me laughing stock
throughout the empire. You have
\ Ashamed a maiden of my house, my sis
1ter. the daughter of my father. what
have you to say ere order you to be
flung out from the battlements OF the
western tower?"
Gentlemen and Princes Maurice
Won Lynar answered, that which
have cone I have done for the Sake of
my mistress, the Lady Joan. and am
not afraid Prince Louis. il was her
will and intent never to come TO
Courtland as your wife. She would
not have been taken alive. II was
therefore the duty of her servants to
preserve her life, and | offered myself
in her stead. My life was hers al
ready. for she had preserved it. She
had given. II was hers to tf.ise. With
the chief captains of kernsberg |
plotted that she should be seized and
slrried to place of refuge wherein
no foe could ever find her There she
abides with chosen men to guard her.
took her place and was delivered up
that Kernsberg might be cleared cf
its enemies. Gladly | came that
might pay a little of my debt to my
sovran lady and liege mistress, Joan,
Duchess of Kernsberg and Hohen-
stein"
"Nobly perorated." cried Prince
Ivan clapping his hands. Right So
norously ended. But, listen. Sir Mum
mer in all this there is no word OF
the Princess Margaret. How comes it
that you loudly proclaim having given
yourself a noble sacrifice for one fair
lady. when at the same time you are
secretly married to another? Are you
a 6eliverer of ladies by wholesale?
Speak to this point. Let us have an
other noble period-its subject my affi-
A need bride. Already we have heard
= your high devotion to Prince Louis
wife. Well-next."
But 1t was the Princess who spoke
from where she stood behind the
crossed swords of her guards.
THAT I will answer. l am a woman
and weak in your hands, princes both.
You have set the grasp of rude men
alarms upon the wrists of Princess
OF Courtland. But you can never COM
pei her soul. Brother Louis, my father
committed me to you as little child
have | not been a loving and faith
full sister to you? And till this Musco-
yite came between were you not good
to me? Wherefore have you changed?
Why has he made you cruel to your
little Margaret?"
Prince Louis turned towards his
sister, moving his hands uncertainty
and even deprecatingly.
Ivan moved quickly to his side and
whispered something, which rekindled
the light of anger in the weakling's
eyes.
You are no sister of mine" he
said; you have disgraced your family
and yourself. Whether it be true or
not that you are married to this man
matters little.'
1T is true; do not lie!' said Mar
paret recovering herself
1T is the worse, then, and he shall
~ =