The silver messenger., 1907-03-12

Duchess Joan is safe out of his reach,
Kernsberg is revictualed, the Musco-
vtte army returned. There Is no need
to keep up the masquerade any longer.
Whatever may come of it, let us go
to your brother. That will end 1t
swiftly, at all events" The Princess
put away his restraining clasp and
came closer to him.
"No-no," she cried; you must
not. You do not know my brother.
He is wholly under the influence Of
Ivan of Muscovy. Louis would slay
you for having cheated him Of his
bride-Ivan for having forestalled him
with me-"
But you cannot marry Ivan. That
were an outrage against the laws of
God and Mani"
Marry Ivan!" she cried, to the full
as impulsively as her lover; mot
though they set ravens to pick the live
flesh of my bones! But yet the
thought of torture and death for you
that cannot abide. We must con-
tinue to deceive them. Let me thinkl
let me Lnlnk!"
Hastily she barred the door which
leo out upon the corridor. Then TAX.
ing Maurice's hand once more she led
MIN over to the window, from which
she could see the green ALA emitting
its way through the city bounds and
presently escaping into the yet green.
er corn lands on it's way to the sea.
III Is for this one days DELAY that
we must plan. Tonight we will GER
talnly escape. can trust certain of
those OF my household. / have tried
.nen before. l have it.
Maurice, you must be taken ill-lie
down on this couch away from the
nght. There is rumor of the BLACK
Deatn In the city-we must build on
that. They say an Astrakhan trader
Is dead Of 1t already. For one dav we
may stave off with this. If &c the
poor best we can do. Lie down. will
call Thora. She is staunch and fnllv
to be trusted" '
Ine Princess Margaret went to the
inner door and clapped her hands
sharply. "Hu'
The fair-haired Swedish moiden
cane running to her. She had been
waiting on such signal.
Thora," said her mistress in a ouick
Whisper, I'VE must put off this mar.
rage. | would sooner die than porrv
ivan. You have that drug Won snol,e
ot-that which gives the appearanco
0, sickness unto death without the re.
ality. The Lady Joan must be i'll verv
III You understand, we must deceive
even the Princes physicians"
Inc girl nodded with quick undar.
standing, and, turning, she sped awov
up the inner stairs to her own sleen.
ing chamber, the key of which fos
was the custom in Courtland) she car.
ried in her pocket.
fhls viii also keep you from being
suspected-as in public places vo',
would have been," whispered Marearet
to her young husband. "Wbat Tboro
thinks or knows does not matter
can trust Thora with nv life~nov
with what is far more, with yours .
A light tap and the girl re-entered
tai phial in her hand. With a swirl
look at her mistress to obtain nerrois
sion, she went to the coucb unon
which the Sparhawk had lain down
Then with deft hand she opened tba
bottle, and pouring little of the color.
less liquid into cup she gave II him
TO drink. In few minutes a sicrlv
pallor overspread Maurice Won Lvnar,s
brow. His eyes appeared injected
the lips paled to grey white. heads
OF perspiration stood on the forehead
and his whole countenance took on +be
hue and expression Of mortal sick.
ness.
Now" said Thora, when she had
finished, will the noble lady deign to
swallow one of these pellicles. and IN
ten minutes not leech in the country
will be able to pronounce that she is
not suffering from a dangerous dis.
ease"
"You are sure, Thora," said the
Princess Margaret almost fiercelv
laying her hand on the tirewoman's
wrist, that there is no harm in all
this? Remember, on your life be IT."
The placid, faxen-haired woman
turned with the little silver box in her
hand.
Danger there is, dear mistress .
she said softly, "but not, think. so
great danger as we are already in
But | will prove my honesty"
She took first little of the liou,d
and Immediately after swallowed one
of the white pellicles she had given
to Maurice.
1T will be as WELL" she said. "when
the Princes wiseacre physicians come
that they should find another sicken.
ing of the same disease"
Thora of Bornholm passed about the
couch and took up waiting-maid's
station some way behind.
"All is ready" she said softly.
I'VE will forestall them" answered.
the Princess. "Thora, send and hid
Prince Louis come hither quickly"
And shall | also ask him to send
hither his most Skilled doctors Of heal.