Rocky Ford enterprise., 1906-07-20

ing each others hands. II ~as the
hrst time they had been alone together
sine. the day on which they had
walked along the sand dunes of Ru'
sen.
s,nee then they seemed To have
srown incxpiieabiy close together. To
Joan, Conrad now seemed mush NOR.
her oWn-lhe man who loved her.
whom she ioycd-than he had been
on the island. To watch day by day
for his passing In martial attn.
brought back the knight of th. tournn'
nionI whose white plume sh. had seen
storm through the lists when. u slim
secretary. 81. had stood with beating
heart and shining eyes behind the
chair OF Leopold Won DcSsauer. Am.
bassatior Of PiasscnbuTE.
For almost Ave minutes they stood
thus without speech: then loan drew
away her hands.
You forget" she said smiling. that
Was forbidden In tho bond"
My lady" he said. was not tn.
bond for Isle Rngcn alone: Here we
ar, comrades In the strife. ". must
save our tathcLland. have laid asid.
my priesthood. II ! live. l shall appeal
to the Holy Father To loose me wholly
from my vows
SmIiingiy she pu, his eager argu'
mcnt by.
'It' was OF another vow spoke. |
am not the Holy Father. and for this
l. wiil not give you abSoiuiIon. We
, arr comrades. Il ia 'ruc-ihai and no
more. Tomorrow rid" TO kcrpS'
| berg. where | will muster every man.
! call down the shepherds from the hills.
and bc back with you by the ALA be-
fnr- tho Muscoviic can attack you. J..
Joan o. the Sword Hand. promise IL
She stamped her foot. half In earn
est and half In mockery OF the sonof'
Gus ram- by which she was known.
II would rather you were Joan OF
the Grange ai Isle Rugcn. and I your
jcTkincd E-ryiior. clcayinE the wool
thin: you might bake the bread.
Conrad" said Joan. shaking her
head wistfully. such thoughts are not
| wise for you and me to harbor. We
must stand TO our dl.nl,I.S now when
the enemy threatens and the people
| need Ills. Afterwards. nn II like us. We
may step down together"
Joan" said Conrad. very Eravcly.
do not fear for me. ! have turned
once from n career | never chose.
Death alone shall turn me back this
time
81 knew It," she answered: II never
doubted II. hut what shall We do with
this POOR lovcsIck bride OF ours-'
And she told him OF her interview
that morning with his sister. Conrad
laughed gently. yet with sympathy.
Leave mo Won Orscln. and do You
take the young man." said Conrad:
then Margaret will go with you will
inGly and gladly"
hut she will want to return-thai
Is. u Maurice comes. too
Isle Rugen?" suggested Conrad.
Send your ten men who know the
road. II they could carry on Joan OF
the Sword Hand. they should have no
difficulty with lIi,le Margaret of Court
land"
Joan clasred her hands with pleas
urc and relief. all unconscious that i'm
mcdiaiely behind her Margaret had
entered softly and now stood arrested
by tho sound OF her own name.
oh. they will have no trouble. will
they not?" she said In her own heart.
and smiled. Isle Rugon? Thank you.
my very dear brother and sister. You
would get rid of me. separate me from
Maurice while he is fighting for your
precious princedoms. What Is a coun-
try in comparison with husband? !
would not care u doit which country |
belonged to. so long as | had Maurice
with me-"
A moment or two Conrad and Joan
discussed the details of the capture.
while more softly than before Mar
garet retired to the door. She would
have slipped ont altogether. but that
something happened just them which
froze her to the spot.
A trumpet blew without-once. twice
and thrice. in short and stirring blasts.
Hardly had the echoes died away when
she heard her brother say. "Adicu. best
beloved, 1t is the signal which tells
me that Prince Ivan is within a days
march of Courtland. | bid you good
bye, and if-f we should never meet
again. do not forget that loved you
loved you as none else could love"
He held out his hand. Joan stood
rooted to the spot. her lips moving. but
no words coming forth. Then Mar
garet heard n hoarsc cry break from
her who had contemned love.
81 cannot let you go thus" she cried.
81 cannot keep the vow! 1t is too hard
for me. Conrad. am but a weak
woman after ALL"
And in moment the Princess Mar
garet saw Joan the cold, Joan of the
Sword Hand. Joan Duchess of Kerns-
berg and Hohenstein in the arms of
her brother.