The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1907-02-26
JOAN 4 3R SWORD HAND
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~ S. cROCkETT. Au1zor az MeRna@cs0c
(cOpyright. ls9s. ZOO. by S. R. crockett.l


There in the fuller light she scanned |
the Sparhawk's features with a kind |
ling eye and paling lips.
God in heaven!" she palpitated, |
holding him at a greater distance,
you are not the Lady Joan; you !
are-you are"
'The man who loves youl" said the
Sparhawk, who was very pale.
"The Count Won Loen. Oh! why did
you risk it?" she easped. They will
kill you, tear yos to pieces without
remorse, when they find 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
life!"
"And a thousand lives!" cried the
Sparhawk, nervously pulling at his
woman's dress as if ashamed that he
must wear it at such a time. Life
without you is naught to Maurice Won
Lynar!"
The Princess held out her hands i'm
pulsively and then retracted them sud
denly.
Now, we must not waste time"
she said; 81 must save you. They
would Stay you on the least suspicion.
But I will match them. Would to
God that Conrad were here. To him
1 could speak. could trust him. He
would help us. Let me see! Let me
seei"
She bent her head 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 it's 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 a
loud, strident tone, "The Prince Louis
to visit his Princessi"
Prince Louis entered, PUSHED and
excited. His eyes had lost their fur
tive meanness and blazed with kind
of reckless fury quite foreign to the
man, for anger affected him as wine
might another man.
He spoke first to the Princess Mar
garet.
"And so, my fair sister," he said,
you concoct conspiracy with my own
married wife. Make ready, madam,
for tomorrow you shall find your mas.
ter. I 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, edo 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
I thought you were wise, and yet 1 see
that you have not the alphabet of love
Here is your lady. Have you ever
said a loving word to her, bent the
knee. kissed her hand-which, being
persisted in, is the true way to kis:
the mouth"
eff he does either" growled the
Sparhawk, my sword will kiss his
; midriff!")
Prince Louis smiled He was no
used to women's batteries, and in his
present state of exaltation the ca
joleries of the Princess suited hi!
{ mood.
, Il know more of women than YOU
t think, sister," he made answer "
have had experiences-in my youth
! that is; I am no puppet princeling
' BY Saint Mark! once on a day hat
strutted with the boldest; and to-day
, well, now that I have humbled thi
proud madam and brought her to m,
own city, why, will show you that
am no Wendish boor. can sue
lady's favor as courteously as an.
man, and, Margaret, if you will prom
Use me to be good girl and get yol
ready to be married tomorrow,
promise you that Louis of Courtlan'
will solicit his lady's favor with al
; grace and observance"
GLADLY will be married to-moI
row." said the Princess, caressing he
brothers. sleeve-"that is, if I canno
be married to-day" she added unde
her breath.
But she paused few moments as
embarrassed. Then she went on.
Brother Louis, l have spoken wit
my sister here-your wife, the Lad
Joan. She hath a scruple concernin
matrimony. She would have it re
solved before she had speech with yo
again. Permit our good Father Gle
ment to advise with her."
Father Clement-our Conrad
u tutor, why he more than another?"
well, do you not understand? H
: is old" pleaded Margaret, "and Their
t. are things one can say but to an oil
man. You understand, brother Louis.
l. The Prince nodded, well pleased
e This was pleasant. His mentor, Prime
It Wasp, did not usually fiatter hin
e Rather he made him chafe on tigh
n rein.