The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1907-01-17
300, by 8. R. Crockett.l

maiden. Margaret and Maurice turned
to each other with one pregnant in.
stinct and took hands.
Already" said Margaret family,
going back into the woman; they
might have left us alone little long.
er. How shall we meet this? What
shall we do? bau counted ON this
one day"
Margaret" answered the Sparhawk
fmpulsively, 'this shall not daunt us.
We would have told your brother
Louis one day. We will tell him now.
Duchess Joan is safe out of his reach,
Kernsberg Is revictualed, the Musco-
vite army returned. There is no need
to Keep up the masquerade any longer.
Whatever may come of 1t, let us go
to your brother. That will end it
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 STAY
you for having cheated him OF his
bride-fvan 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 off my bones! But yet the
thought of torture and death for YOU
that cannot abide. We must con-
tlnue to deceive them. Let me Think
let me Think" a
Hastily she barred the door which
LED out upon the corridor. Then talk
ing Maurice's hand once more she led
MIN over to the window, from which
she could see the green ALA cutting
Its way through the city bounds and
presently escaping into the vet green.
er corn lands on it's way to the sea.
1t is for this one days delay that
we must plan. Tonight we will GER
tainly escape. / can trust certain of
those OF my household. have tried
them before. have n
Maurice, you must be taken lille
down on this couch away from the
light. There is rumor of the Black
Death In the city-we must build on
mat. They say an Astrakhan trader
is dead OF 1t already. For one day we
may stave off with this. 1t is the
poor best we can do. Lie down, I will
call Thora. She is staunch and fully
to be trusted"
Inc Princess Margaret went to the
inner door and clapped her hands
sharply.
The fair-haired Swedish maiden
came running to her. She had been
waiting on such a signal.
"Thora," said her mistress in a ouick
whisper, I'VE must put off this mar.
rage. l would sooner die than marry
ivan. You have that drug you spoke
of-that which gives the appearance
OF sickness unto death without the re.
atty. The Lady Joan must be i'll, very
III You understand, we must deceive
even the Princes physicians"
The girl nodded with quick under
standing, and, turning, she sped away
up the inner stairs to her own sleep.
ing chamber, the key of which las
was the custom in Courtland) she car
ried in her pocket.
This will also keep you from being
suspected-as in public places you
would have been," whispered Margaret
10 her young husband. what Thora
thinks or knows does not matter |
can trust Thora with my life-nay,
with what is far more, with yours"
A light tap and the girl re-entered. a
tall phial in her hand. With swift
look at her mistress to obtain permits
sion, she went to the couch upon
which the Sparhawk had lain down.
Then with deft> hand she opened the
bottle, and pouring little of the color
less liquid into cup she gave 1t him
to drink. In few minutes a sickly
pallor overspread Maurice Won Lynar's
brow. His eyes appeared injected,
the lips paled to grey white, beads
of perspiration stood on the forehead,
and his whole countenance took on the
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 dangerous dis
| ease"
you are sure, Thora," said the
Princess Margaret almost fiercely,
laying her hand on the tirewoman' S
wrist, that there is no harm in all
this? Remember, on your life be it,"
The placid, fiaxen-haired woman
turned with the little silver box in her
| hand.
Danger there is, dear mistress, I"
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 liquid,
and Immediately after swallowed one
of the white pelllcles she had given
to Maurice.