The Mercur miner. [volume] (Mercur, Utah) 1895-1913, 1907-03-20
Copyright 1895. l
CHAPTER xxVllI.-continued.

CHAPTER xxVllI.-continued.
How could he" demanded Joan.
the soldiers daughter. sharply, "he
was on duty!"
We'll" answered Margaret. still re.
sentful and unconsoled, "he would not
have done that before we were mar
ried! And it is only the first day we
have been together. too, since
since"
And she buried her head in her kerr
chief.
Then came a knocking at the door.
"Enter!" cried Joan imperiously, yet
not little glad of the interruption.
Werner Won Orseln stood in the por.
tai. my lady" he said, will you bid
the Count Won Loen leave his work
and take some rest and sustenance.
He thinks of nothing but his drill"
"Oh, yes, he does" cried the Prin-
cess Margaret; how dare you say 1t,
fellow7 He thinks of me! Why even
now"
She looked once more out of the
window, a smile upon her face. In.
stantly she drew in her head again
and sprang to her feet.
"Oh, he is gone! | cannot see him
anywhere!" she cried, "and never so
much as heard, them go! Joan, am
going to find him. He should not have
gone away without bidding me good
bye! II was cruel!"
She flashed out OF the room, and
without waiting for firing maid or COW
erture, she ran downstairs, dressed as
she was in her light summer attire.
Joan stood a moment silent looking
after her with eyes in which flashed a
tender light. Werner Won Orseln
smiled broadly-the dry smile of an
ancient war captain who puts no
bounds to the vagaries of women. 1t
was an experienced smile
"'Tis we'll for Kernsberg. my lady"
said Werner grimly, that you are not
the Princess Margaret"
And why?" said Joan a little
haughtily. For she did not like Con-
RAIDS sister to be treated lightly even
by her chief captain.
"Ah, love, love" said Werner, nod
ding his head sententiously ut is
well that ever trained you up to care
for none OF these things. Teach maid
to fence, and her honor needs no cham
pion. Give her sword-cunning and you
keep her from making a fool of her.
self about the first man who crosses
her path. Strengthen her wrist, teach
her to lunge and parry. and you
strengthen her head. But you do
credit to your instructor You have
never troubled about the follies OF
love. Therefore are ye Joan of the
Sword Hand"
Joan sighed another sigh, very soft.
ly this time. and her eyes. being turned
away from Won Orseln, were soft and
Indefinitely hazy.
Yes" she answered. II am Joan OF
the Sword Hand and never think of
these thingsl"
Won Orseln saluted with a face ex-
pressionless as stone. He marched
to the door, turned a third time and
saluted and with heavy footsteps de-
scended the stairs.
At the outer door Prince Conrad was
dismounting. The two men saluted
each other.
us the Duchess Joan withln?" said
Conrad, concealing his eagerness UNI
der the hauteur natural TO a prince.
II have just left her!" answered the
chief captain.
Without a word Conrad sprang up
the steps three at time. Werner
turned about and watched the young
mans firm 1.-THE npure till ~ had die
appeared.
Faith of Saint Anthony" he muir.
INJURED, II am right glad our lady cares
not for love. If she did, and If you
had not been a priest-well, there
might have been trouble"