The Elbert County tribune., 1906-05-31

slightly and then more widely. Ivan
pushed his friend forward and they
entered. Louis dragging one foot after
the other towards the shaded couch
by which knelt the Princess Margaret.
Thora Of Bornholm, pallid and blue
Tipped, stood beside her. swaying a lit
tie but still holding, half unconscious
ly, silver basin, into which Margaret
dipped fine linen cloth, before touch
Ing with it the foam-necked lips OF
the sufferer. Prince Ivan remained a
little back, near to where the court
physicians were comforting together in
stage whispers. As he passed. tall,
grey-skirted, long-bearded man, girt
about the middle with silver chain
detachd himself from the official group
and approached Prince Ivan. After
an instructive cringing movement of
homage and salutation. he bent to the
young mans ear and whispered half
dozen words. Prince Ivan nodded
very slightly and the man stole away
as he had come. No one in the room
had noticed the incident.
Meanwhile Louis OF Courtland. al
most as pale as Thora herself, his lips
blue. his teeth chattering. his fingers
clammy with perspiration. stood py
the bedside clutching the crucifx.
Presently hand was laid upon his
arm. He started violently at the
touch.
1T is true-a bad case" said Ivan
in his ear. Let us get away; | must
speak with you at once. The physi-
clans have given their verdict They
can do nothing!"
With gasp Of relief Prince Louis
faced about. and as he turned he tot
tered.
STEADY, friend Louis." said Prince
Ivan in his ear and passed his arm
about his waist
He began to fear lest he should have
frightened his dupe too thoroughly.
See how he loves her!" murmured
the doctors of healing, still comforting
with their heads together. who
would have believed 1t possibleT'
Nay, he is only much afraid" said
Alexis the Deacon, the Muscovite doc
tor; "and small blame to him, now
that tie Black Death has come to
Courtland. In half an hour we shall
hear the death-rattlel"
Heu lhere is no need or us stay
ing" said more than one learned doc
tor, and they moved softly towards
the door. But Ivan had possessed
himself of the key, and even as the
hand of the first was on the latchet
bar the bolt was shot In his face.
And the eyes of Alexis the Deacon
glowed between his narrow red lids
like sparks in tinder as he glanced at
the whitening faces of the learned
men of Courtland.
Without the door Ivan fixed Prince
Louis with his will
Now" he said, speaking in low.
trenchant tones, eff this be indeed the
Black Death (and 1t is like IT'D. there
is no safety for us here. We must get
without walls. In an hour there will
be such panic in the city as has not
been for centuries. l offer you a way
OF escape. My Cossacks stand horsed
and ready without. Let us go with
them, But the Princess Margaret
must come also!"
But-but-but-" Louis still oh
jected. "the Princess Joan-she may
die. That will reflect upon my honor
If we all desert her. My sister will
continue to attend her They are
friends. / will go with you d. Mar
garet can remain and nurse her!"
A light like a spear point glittered
momentarily under the dark brows of
the Muscovite.
Listen, Prince Louis" he said.
Your honor is your honor Joan of
the Sword Hand and her Black
Plaques are your own affair. She is
your wife. not mine. I have helped
you to get her back-no more. But
the Princess Margaret is my business.
| have bought her with price. And
look you, sir. will not ride back to
Russia empty-handed. that every petty
boyar and starveling serf may scoff at
me saying, He helped the Prince of
Courtland to win his wife. but he could
not bring back one himself The
whole city. the whole country from
here to Moscow know for what cause
have so long sojourned in your capi-
tai. Now, Prince Louis, will you have
me go as your friend or as your enc
my?"
"Ivan--Ivan, you are my friend. Do
not speak to me so. Who else is my
friend If you desert me?"
Then give me your sister!"
The prince cast up his hand with
little gesture of despair
"Ah." he sighed. you do not know
Margaret She is not in my gift, or
you should have had her long ago!
Oh, these troubles, these troubles!
When will they be at an end?"
They are at an end now" said
Prince Ivan consolingly. Call your
sister out of the chamber on a pre-
text. In ten minutes we shall be at
the cathedral gates. In another ten
she and can be welded according to
your Roman custom. In half an hour