The Elbert County tribune., 1906-01-18
CHAPTER /.
rhe Ham of the Guard.

The Hal OF tne Sudros
Loud rang the laughter in the hall
of the men-at-arms at Castle Kerns-
berg. There had come an embassy
from the hereditary Princess OF Plass-
enburg, recently established upon the
throne of her ancestors. to the Ouch
ess Joan of Hohenstein. ruler OF that
cluster Of hin statelets which is called
collectively Masurenland. and which
includes, besides Hohenstein, the
original Eagles Eyrie. Kernswald
also, and Marienfeld.
Above, in the hall OF audience, the
ambassador. one Leopold Won Des-
isauer. a great lord and most learned
councillor OF state. sat alone with the
young duchess. They were eating of
the baked meats and drinking the
good Rhenish up there. But, after ALL
It was much merrier down below wiz,
Werner Won Orseln, All Pikker, Peter
Balta, and John of Thorn. though
what they ate was mostly but plain
ox-fesh, and their drink the strong
ale native to the hin lands, which is
called Wendish mead.
Get you down. Captains Jorian and
Boris" the young duchess had com
manded, looking very handsome and
naughty in the pride OF her twenty
one years. her eight strong castles.
and her two thousand men ready to
rise at her word; down TO the hall,
where my officers send round the was
sail. II they do not treat you well,
cen come up and tell it to me-"
"Good!" had responded the two sol
diers of the Princess of Plassenburg,
turning them about as IL they had
been hinged on the same stick, and
starting forward with precisely the
shame stiff hitch from the halt. they
made for the door.
"But stay" Joan of Hohenstein had
said, ere they reached it. here are
couple of rings. My father left me
one or two such. Fit them upon your
fingers and when you return give
them to the maidens OF your choice"
And with their rings upon their lit
tie fingers the two burly captains went
down the narrow stair OF Castle
Kernsberg. Being arrived at the hall
beneath they coon found themselves
the center of hospitable circle. Gruff.
bearded Wendish men were these Of
ficers of the young duchess; not
butterfly youngling nor courtly car
pet knight among them. but men tan
ned like shipmen of the Baltic. sol
diers mostly who had served under
her father Henry, foraging upon occa-
sion as far as the Mark in one direc-
tion and into Bor-Russia in the other,
fah n n
the hearts of Jorian and Boris.
1t was small wonder that among
such congenial society the ex-men-at-
arms found themselves presently very
much at home. Scarcely were they
seated when Jorian began to brag
of the gift the duchess had given him
for the maiden of his troth.
"And Boris here. that hulking CO.
bold, that Hans Klapper upon the
housetops. had well-nigh spoiled the
Jest; for when her ladyship asked him
a second time in her sweet voice for
the name OF his 'betrothed.' he must
needs lay his tongue to Gretchen
instead of Katrin, as he had done at
the frst!"
Werner Won Orseln. the eldest and
gravest of all, glanced round the full
circle of his mess. Then he looked
back at the two captains of the en-
bassy guard of Plassenburg with
plying glance.
"And you lied about your sweet
hearts to the Duchess Joan" he said.
"Ha, ha! Yes! l trow yes" quoth
Jorian jovially. Wine may be dear.