The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1907-03-19

rapid undertone.
prince Louis to see Princess JoanH
Ivan answered the low-voiced chal- |
lenge from within. The door opened |
slightly and then more widely ISan |
pushed his friend forward and they |
entered, Louis dragging one foot after |
the Other towards the shaded couch |
by which knedt 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 a fine linen cloth, before touch
ing with it the &oam-fecked lips of
the sufferer. Prince Ivan remained
little back, near to where the court
physicians were comforting together in
stage whispers. AS he passed. tall,
grey-skirted, lorg-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 CORTLAND, al
most as pale as Thora herself, his lips
blue, his teeth chattering, his fingers
clammy with perspiration, stood ny
the bedside clutehing the crucifix.
Presently hand was laid upon his
arm. He started violently at the
touch.
'Tt Is true-a bad case" said Ivan
in his ear. let us get away; l must
speak with you at once. The physi-
clans have given their verdict They
can do nothing!"
With a gasp Of relief Prince Louis
faced about, and as he turned he tot
tered.
STEADY, friend Louisl" 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 herl" murmured
the doctors Of healing, still comforting
with their heads together. "WhC
. would have believed it possibleT'
Nay, he is only much afraid" said
J Alexis the Deacon, the Muscovite doc
tor; "and small blame to him, new
: that the Black Death has come tC
: CORTLAND. In half an hour we shall
hear the death-rattlei"
Then there is no need Of us stay
/ ing" said more than one learned doc
J tor, and they moved softly towards
: the door. But Ivan had possessed
: himself Of the key, and even as th'
3 hand of the first was on the latche
/ bar the bolt was shot in his face
And the eyes of Alexis the Deacon
: glowed between his narrow red lid
j like sparks in finder as he glanced a
2 the whitening faces Of the learrre
Y men Of CORTLAND.
Without the door Ivan fixed Primo
4; Louis with his viii.
e Now" he said, speaking in low
Y trenchant tones, ''if this be indeed tn
s Black Death land it is like it,, Their
9 is no safety for us here. We must &c
r without walls. In an hour there wi
(: be such a panic In the city as has nc
v been for centuries. / offer you a wa
4 of escape. My Cossacks stand horse
l. and ready without. Let us go wit
o them. But the Princess Margars
II must come also!"
q 'But-but-but-"L Louis still ol
% jected, "the Princess Joan-she ma
o die. That win reflect upon my hone
IL we all desert her. My sister wi
r. continue to attend her. They al
e friends. l viii go with you :. Ma
d garet can remain and nurse heri"
Is A light like spear point glittere
momentarily under the dark brows
4 the Muscovite.
X Listen, Prince Louis" he sal
'Your honor is your honor. Joan
the Sword Hand and her BlaC
Plaques are your own affair. She
your wife, not mine. / have help,
you to get her back-no more. b
the Princess Margaret is my bushes
have bought her with price. Al
look you, sir, will not ride back
Russia empty-handed, that every pet
boyar and starveling serf may scoff
] me saying, He helped the Prince
CORTLAND to win his wife, but he cou
/. not bring back one himself T.
whole city. the whole country fro
here to Moscow know for what eau
have so long sojourned in your ca
tai. Now. Prince Louis. will you ha
me go as your friend or as your er
my7"
= "Ivan-Iyan. you are my friend.
not speak to me sol Who else is I
friend If you desert met"
Then give me your sisterl"
The prince cast up his hand WI
little gesture of despair.
"Ah." he sighed, ''you do not kn'
Margaret She is not in my gift.
you should have had her long ae
oh. these troubles. these trouble
When will they be at an end?"
am They are at an end now" 81
Prince Ivan consolingly. Call yC
,il- sister out of the chamber on a p
ess text. In ten minutes we shall be
xis the cathedral gates. In another
she and can be welded according
he your Roman custom. In half an hC
a. | mo shah. all he outside the walls