The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1907-03-19
JOAN 4 iii SWORD HAND
Ea@
(copyright. lsas. 1900. BIZ g R. Crockettl
chAPTER XxI.-contInued.

MINT Ell NNts-(OULtU1Sus
At this point an officer came swift
iy across the parterre and stood with
uncovered head by the steps Of the
terrace, waiting for permission to as
cend. The Prince summoned him
with movement of his hand.
What news?" he said; have the
ladies' yet left the Summer Palace?'
No. my lord" answered the offis or
earnestly; but Johannes Rode of The
Princess Margarets household mas
come with a message that the plague
has broken out there, and that the
Lady Princess is the first stricken"
Which Princess?" demanded Ivan,
with an instant incision Of tone.
THE Lady Joan, Princess Of Court
land, your Highness," replied the man,
without, however, looking at the
Prince of Muscovy.
"The Lady JOAN" cried the Prince
Louis, "she is I'll? She has brought
the Black Death with her? She is
stricken with the plague? How for
tunate that, so far, +"
He clapped his hand upon his
brow and shut his eyes as II giving
Taanks.
81 see It all nowl" he cried. "This
- the reason the Kernsberg traitors
we're so willing to give her up. It is
all plot against my life. will not go
near. Let the court physicians be
sent! Cause the doors of the Sum
mer Palace to be sealed Set double
guardsl Permit none to pass either
way, save the doctors onlyl And let
them change their clothes and perfume
themselves with the smoke Of sulphur
before they come outi"
His voice mounted higher and high
er as he spoke, and Ivan Of Muscovy
watched him without speaking, al
with hands thrust out and distendeC
nostrils he screamed and gesticulated
Prince Ivan had never seen thor
ough coward before, and the breed in
terested him. But when he had let thu
Prince run on far enough to sham'
him before his officer, he rose quietl,
and stood in front Of him.
Louis" he said in a low voice
"listen to me-this is but a report
It is like enough to be false; 1t is Gel
tain to be exaggerated. Let US go a
once and find out"
Prince Louis threw out his hand
with a gesture of despair.
mot rot T." he cried. you ma
go II you like, II you do not value you
life. But II do not feel well eve
now. Yesterday l kissed her hand
No. l,,N 7 hnI 70
is 1t. I wondered what allied me thi
morning. Go-stop the court phys
clans! Do not let them go to the Sun
mer Palace; bring them here to m
first. Your arm, officer; l think
win go to my room-I am not well.
Prince VANS countenance grew mo
tied and greyish, and his teeth Shove
In the sun like a thin line of dazzlin
white. He grasped the poltroon b
the wrist with hand Of steel.
Listen" he said-''no more of this
will not have it, | will not was
my own time and the blood of N
fathers soldiers for naught This
but some woman's trick to delay Il
marriage know it. Hearken! fe;
ne1tner Black DedtH MOI ptaSh uO''
I will have the Lady Margaret to-ds
IL have to wed her on her deathbet
Now, I cannot enter your wife's char
Der alone. Yet go l must. If only
see what all this means, and you shs
accompany me. Do you hear, Prin
Louis7 swear you shall go with n
to the Summer Palace, IL have
drag you step by step!"
His grasp lay like a Tightening c
Gle of iron about the wrist of Prin
Louis: his steady glance dominate
the weaker man. Louis drew In B
breath with a choking noise.
IT WILL" he gasped: "if I must
will go. But the Death-the Bla