The Elbert County tribune., 1906-05-10

HciuiHS ulm at greater distance,
you are not the Lady Joan; you
aro-you are"
The man who loves you!" said the
Sparhawk, who was very pale.
The Count Won Loen. Oh! why did
you risk it?" she gasped. They will
Kill you, tear you to pieces without
remorse, when they ind out. And it
is a thing that cannot be kept
secret. Why did you do it?''
For your sake, beloved" said the
Sparhawk. coming nearer to her; ''to
look once more on your face-to be-
hold once, if no more, the lips that
kissed me in the dark by the river
brink"
"But-but--you may forfeit your
lifet'
And a thousand lives." cried the
Sparhawk, nevously pulling at his
woman's dress as il ashamed that he
must wear it at such a time. Life
without you is naught to Maurice Won
Lynari"
The Princess held out her hands i'm
pulsively and then retracted them sud-
denly.
Now. we must not waste time"
she said Il must save you. They
would slay you on the least suspicion.
But l will match them. Would to
God that Conrad were here. To him
| could speak. could trust him. He
would help us. Let inc SEE! Let me
seel"
She bent her mead and walked slow
ly to the window. Like every Court
lander she thought best when she
could watch the swirl of the green
ALA against its banks. The white
foam-feck which Margaret was fol-
lowing with her eyes had not vanish
ed from her sight, when the door of
the Summer Palace was rudely thrown
open and an officer announced in
loud. strident tone, THE Prince Louis
10 visit his Princessl"
Prince Louis entered. flushed and
excited. His eyes had lost their fur
tive meanness and blazed with a kind
of reckless fury quite foreign to the
man. for anger affected him as wire
might another man.
He spoke first to the Princess Mar
garet.
And so. my fair sister," he said,
you concoot conspiracy with my own
married wife. Make ready, madam
for tomorrow you shall find your mas.
ter. will marry you to the Prince
Ivan of Muscovy. He will carry you
to Moscow. where ladies of your breed
are taught to obey. You shall be wed
and that Immediately. And leave me
alone with my wife
MY brother Louis" cried the Prin-
cess Margaret, running up to him and
taking his arm coaxingly. do not be
SO hasty with two poor women. Meth
er of us desire aught but to do your
will. But give us time Louis, Louis,
| thought you were WISE and yet ! see
that you have not the alphabet of love.
Here is your lady Have you ever
said loving word to her bent the
knee. kissed her hand-which. being
persisted in,s is the true way to kiss
the mouth"
cTf he does either" growled the
/ Sparhawk, my sword will kiss his
midriff!')
Prince Louis smiled. He was not
used to women's batteries, and in his
| present state of exaltation the ca
joleries of the Princess suited his
mood.
II know more of women than you
think, sister, he made answer. Il
have had experiences-in my youth,
that is; l am no puppet princeling.
By Saint Mark! once on a day l had
strutted with the boldest; and to-day
well, now that have humbled this
proud madam ard brought her to my
own city, why, will show yon that /
am no Wendish boor. | can sue a
lady's favor as courteously as any
man, and, Margaret. If you will prom
Use me to be good girl and get you
ready to be married tomorrow.
promise you that Louis of Courtland
will solicit his lady's favor with all
grace and observance
Gladly will l be married to-mor.
row." said the Princess, caressing her
brothers sleeve-"that is If | cannot
be married today" she added under
her breath.
But she paused few moments as If
embarrassed. Then she went on.
Brother Louis, l have spoken with
my sister here-your wife, the Lady
Joan. She hath a scruple concerning
matrimony. She would have 1t re-
solved before she had speech with you
again. Permit our good Father Gle
ment to advise with her."
Father Clement-our Conrad's
tutor. why he more than another?''
well, do you not understand? He
is old" pleaded Margaret, "and there
are things one can say but to an old
man. You understand, brother Louis"
The Prince nodded well pleased.
This was pleasant His mentor. Prince
Wasp, did not usually flatter him
Rather he made him chafe on tight
rein.