The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1907-02-12

cape.
Conrad the prisoner greeted loan
with the sweet gravity which had been
characteristic Of him as Conrad the
prince, and his eyes shone upon her
with the same affectlonate kindness
that had dwelt in them as he looked
upon his sister in the pavilion of the
rose-garden. But after one glance
Joan looked steadily away across the
steel-grey sea. Her feet turned in
stinctiyely to walk back towards the
house and the Prince turned with her.
II we are two fellow-prisoners,
said Conrad, I'VE ought to see more of
each other Is It not so?"
Ihat we may concert plans of es-
cape? said Joan. you desire to con-
unue your pilgrimage, I to return to
my people, VINO. alas, think them
selves better off without mel"
They paced along together with their
eyes on the ground, the voorhees, Man
keeping a uniform distance behind
them. Then the Prince laughed
strange, grating laugh, like one who
mocks at himself.
"The world is i'll arranged" he said
slowly; my brother Louis would have
made a far better Churchman than l.
And strange it is to think that but
year ago the knights and chief coun-
cillors Of CORTLAND came to me to
propose that, because of his bodily
weakness, my brother should be de-
posed and that I should take over the
government and direction of affairs"
He went on without noticing the
color rising in Joan's cheek, smiling
little to himself and talking with
more animation.
Then, had I assented. my brother
might have been walking here with
tonsured head by your side, while I
would doubles have been knocking at
the gates of Kernsberg. seeking at the
spears point for a runaway bride"
"Nay!' cried Joan. with sudden
vehemence; that would you not"
And as suddenly she stopped, strick-
en- dumb by the sound of her own
words.
The Prince turned his head full
upon her He sew a face all suffused
with hot bushes. haughtiest pride
struggling with angry tears in eyes
that fairly blazed upon him, and a
slender figure drawn up into an atti-
tude OF defiance. at sight of which
something took him instantly by the
throat.
you mean-you mean" he SIAM
mered. and for a moment was silent.
For Gods sake, tell me what you
meant
81 mean nothing at ALL" said Joan,
stamping her foot in anger.
And turning upon her heel she left
him standing fixed in wonder and
doubt upon the margin of the sea.
Then the wife of Louis. Prince of
CORTLAND, walked eastward to the
house upon the Isle Rugen with her
face set as sternly as for battle, but
her neither lip quivering, while Con-
rad. Cardinal and Prince of Holy
| Church. raced slowly to the west with
a bitter and downcast look upon his
ordinarily so sunny countenance.
For Fate had been exceeding cruel
to these two.
And meanwhile right haughtily few
the red lion upon the citadel of Kerns,
berg. Never had the Lady Duchess
Joan OF the Sword Hand, approven
herself so brave and determined. In
her foresters' dress of green velvet
with the links of chain body-armor
glinting beneath its frogs and taches
she went everywhere on foot. At all
times of the day she was to be seen
at the half-moons wherein the cannon
were fixed. or on horseback securing
the defenced posts along the city wall
She seemed to know neither fear mol
fatigue. and the noise of cheering fol
lowed her about the little hill city like
her shadow.
Three there were who knew the
truth-Peter Balta, Alt Picker, and
George the Hustle. And when the
guards we're set the lamps lit. anc
| the bars drawn. a stupid Hohensteinel
set on watch at the turnpike foot witt
command to let none pass upon his
ufe-theu at last the 1.-THE young Spar
hawk would undo his belt with huge
refreshful gushing Of air into his lungs
amid the scarcely subdued laughter o.
the captains OF the host.
Nevertheless, in the face OF brave
words and drawer deeds. provisions
waved scarce and dear in Castle
Kernsberg. and in the town below
women grew gaunt and hollow
checked. Then the children acquired
ewes that seemed to stand out Of hol
low purple sockets. Last OF all, thu
stout burghers grew thin. And al
three began to dream of the day
when the good farmfolk Of the black
ened country down below them, wher'
now stood the leafy lodges OF the Mus
covite and the white tents OF tn
Courtlanders. used to come int
Kernsberg to market, the great sol
emn.eved oxen drawing carts full o
country sausages. and brown mea
fresh from the mill to bake the whole
come bread-or when the stout mar
kat-women brought in the lappere'
milk and the butter and curds' .
I