Rocky Ford enterprise., 1906-05-04
JOAN 4Hh 8G SWORD HAND
~ S.R:ROcETT.A .A1azor AZ MeRx1kcco
Copyright. 1888 1909. by i. II. croess,tb

/ daily deserving mis- eoiors in order to
so back To protect their wives and
daughters from the cossaeks of the
Don and the s,reiirs of Little Russia.
Moreover. he wanted that proud
weneh. his wife. Without her as his
prisoner. he dared not 30 back TO his
capital city. He had sworn an oath
before tho people. For the rest.
Kcrnsbers Itself could wait. without
head II would soon fall In. and. be-
sides. he fattered himself that he
would 30 sway and influence the Ouch
ess. when he once had her safe In his
palace by the mouths OF ALA. that
she would rcpen, her folly. and at no
distant day sit knee by knee with him
on his throne OF state In the audience
hall when the suiiors came to plead
concerning the Law.
And even his guest Prince Ivan WAS
eomplaisant. standing behind i.ouiS's
chair and smiling to himself.
Brother OF mine." h. would say. Il
came to help you 10 your wife. II Is
your own affair how you take her and
what you do with her when you get
her. For me. aS soon as you have her
safe within the summer palace. ani
have given me. according TO promise.
my hearts desire. your sister Mar
Earci. ~ soon will depart for Mos
COW. My father. indeed. sends daily
posts praying my instant despatch. for
h. only waits my return to launch
host upon his enemy the King of Po'
icsnia."
And Prince Louis. reaching over
the arm OF his chair. pa;,cd his
friends small. swcci.sccntcd hand.
thanked him for his most unsclhsh
and generous assistance.
Thus the Lacquer OF Hohcnstein nj.
tanned It's object. Price Louis had
not. II is true. Stormcd the heights OF
KcrnSbcrg ms he had sworn to DO.
He had. In fact. left behind him to
the traitors who delivered their Ouch.
css n large portion Of his stores and
munitions OF war. Nevertheless, ,hc
returned proud In Heart TO his capital
city. For In the midst OF his most
| faithful body OF cavalry rode the
young Duchess Joan. Princess OF
| CORTLAND. on white Neapolitan
barb. with rcins that jingied with sill.
yer bells and roscttes OF ribbon on
the bosses OF her harness.
| No indignity had been offered TO
| her. Indeed. ms great honor vas done
her rs was possible In the circum.
stances. Prince Louis had app cached
and led her by the hand to the s'ecd
which awaited her at the fords Of the
| ALA. The soldiers of Courtland ele-
waited. their spears and the trumpets
brayed salute. Then. without
word spoken her husband had bowed
and withdrawn as gentleman should.
Prince Ivan then approached. and on
one knee begged the privilege Of kiss.
ing her fair hand.
The captive Princess spoke not at
all, as was indeed natural and fitting.
A woman conquered does not easily
forgive those who have humbled her
pride. She talked little even to Alt
Pikker. and then only apart. The
nearest guide. who had been chosen
because of his knowledge of German.
could not hear murmur With
bowed head and eyes that dwelt
steadily on the urdulating name of
her white barb. Joan swayed her
graceful body and compressed her lips
like one captured but in no wise van
quished. And the soldiers OF the army
OF Courtland tthosc Of them who were
married) whispered one to another.
4 noting her demeanor. Our good
Prince is but at the beginning OF his
troubles: for. by Brunhild, did you
| ever see such a wench? They say
she can engage ony two fencers of
her army at one time! f-r -rHI ...9
n q ltEn n ntar fbrnct "
| whispered another. Just now I went
| near her to look. and she arched an
eyebrow at me. no more. and 10!
went cold at my marrow as II felt
the blue steel stand out at my back
bone"
at is the hunger and the anger that
have done it." said another: "and, in
deed. small wonder! She looked not
so pale when I saw her ride along
Courtland Street the day to the Don
the day she was to be married. Her
face was like that Of any saint in
chapel when the sun shines through
the stained glass in the western win
dows. Then her eyes did not pierce
you through. but instead they shone
with their own proper light and were
very gracious"
"a strange wench, most strange
wench." responded the first. 80 soon
to change her mini.'
"Ha!" laughed his companion, "lit-
tie doubt of that! Besides, Is she not
a princess? and wherefore should our
Princes wife not change her mind?"
They entered Courtland, and the
flags flew gaily as on the day of we'd
ding. The drums beat. and the popu-
lace drank from spigots that foamed
red wine. Then the Prince Louis