Rocky Ford enterprise., 1906-05-18
JOAN fHa 1h SWORD HAND
~ S.RROCkETT.A .Auahor AZ MeRxaac:Go'


, Duchess Joan OF Hohenstcin and
hernsberg. Maurice Won Lynar Is my
name"
And pray. how came you SO like
the Duchess that you can pass mus
ter for herr"
That ] know not. It Is an affair
upon which | was not consulted"
How came the Princess TO love
you.
We'll, for one thing. ! loved her.
For another. ! told her SOL"
THE points are well taken. but OF
themselves insufficient" smiled the
priest. so also have others better
equipped by fortune to win her favor
than you. What cise?"
Then. with certain shamcfaced
and suiky pride. the Sparhawk told
| Father Clement all the tale OF the
mission OF the Duchess Joan OF Court
land. OF the liking the Princess had
taken TO her In her secrctary'a attire.
OF the kiss upon tho dark rivers bank.
tho fragrant memory OF which had
drawn him back to Courtland against
his will.
lit Is n pretty tanvic you have made
|
when Mauric. finished. Il know not
how you could more completely have
twisted the Skein. Every one is some
body else. and the devil iS hard upon
the hIndmost-or Prince Ivan. which
lk the same thing.
The priest now withdrew In his turn
to where h. could watch the ALA
curvlns its hack little In midAircHm
aS the summer floods rushed seward
/ from tn. hills. To true courtland folk
| its very bubbles brought counsel M
they nos,-d down towards the Baltic.
''i.-i me krc' Let me sect" he mut'
INJURED. Ntroking his chin.
Then after u Ion. pause nc turned
asain to tn. Sparhawk.
You are of sufficient fortune to
maintain tho Princess n becomes her
TankT''
Il am not rich man." answered
Won I.ynar. but by the grace Of the
Duchess Joan neither am I poor
one. She hath bestowed on me On"
OF her fathers titles. With lands to
match"
so" said the priest: but will
Prince Louis and the Museoviics give
you leave to crjoy ;hcmT" ....
The estates arc ON the borders OF
PiakEcnhuFE.' said Maurice. "and I
think the Prince OF plaSs-nbufE for
his own security will provide asains;
any MHEcovii" invasion"
Princes are but princes. though
grant the ESccuiioncr'S Son Is good
one" answered tho priest. We'll.
better TO marry than to burn. saycih
Holy Writ. will marry you and
thereafter b.takc mo TO the Abbey of
wolEasi. where dwclis my very good
friend the Abbot Tobias. For old
saL.'a sake he will keep me safe
there till this thing blows over"
with my heart thank you. my
Father" said the Sparhawk. kncciins.
Nay. do not thank me. Rather
thank the pretty insis'cucy Of your
mistress. Yet It II only bringing you
both one step nearer destruction.
Walking upon egg shells IL child's
play to this. but I never could refuse
your sweetheart either a comft or an
| absoIuiion all my days. To my shame
as servant of God say #. will so
cali her In
He went to tho door with a curious
smile on his face. He opened II. and
there. close by the threshold, was the
Princess Margaret. her eyes full of
bright mischief.
Yes. I was listening she cried.
shaking her head dchantly. Il do not
care. You arc going to do what We
wish-i know you are. heard you
say 80 to Maurice. Now begin
I N.., tnnf tN.t s1tt at
have a witness whose head sits on his
shoulders beyond the risk OF Prince
Louis halter or Prince ivSn's Musco.
vitc dagger. What say you TO the
High Councillor of Plassenburg. Won
Dessauer? He is here en- an cmbas-
sy."
The Princess clapped her hands.
Yes. yes. He will do Il. He will
keep our secret. lie also likes pretty
Girls. will go and summon Des-
sauer myself" she went on. II will
run so quick. | cannot bear to walt.
Abide yc-abide yc. my daughter.
said Father Clement: "let us do even
this folly decently and In order. The
day Is far spent Let us wait Till
darkness comes. Then when you are
rested--and Che looked towards the
Srarhawk) the Lady Joan also will
return with High Councillor Dcssaucr.
who. without observance or suspicion.
may pay his respects to the Pr!ncesscs
upon his arrival"
But. Father, I cannot wait" cried
the impetuous bride. Something
might happen long before then. My
| brother might come. Prince Wasp
might find out. The castle itself
might fall. and then should never be
married at all'"
The holy father looked al her
| roment and turned his eyes To Mau-