The Garland globe. [volume] (Garland, Utah) 1906-191?, 1907-01-26
JOAN 4 iii SWORD HAND
:, S.RCROCETr. AMzor ar MeRaaauat
1898. 1900. by 8. r. Crockett.)
CHAPTER xxI.--continusd.

At this point an officer came swift.
ly across the parterre and stood with
uncovered head by the steps of the
terrace, waiting for permission to as
cend. The Prince summoned him
with q movement of his hand.
What news?" he said; have the
ladies' yet left the Summer Palace?"
No, my lord" answered the offis er
earnestly; but Johannes Rode of the
Princess Margaret's household mas
come with message that the plague
has broken out there. and that the
Lady Princess Is the first stricken"
Which Princess?" demanded Ivan
with an instant incision Of tone.
The Lady Joan, Princess of Court.
land, your Highness," replied the man,
without, however. looking at the
Prince Of Muscovy.
The Lady JOAN" cried the Prince
Louis, she is Ill? She has brought
the Black Death with her? She is
stricken with the plague? How for
tunate that. so far, /"
He clapped his hand upon his
brow and shut his eyes as II giving
Manks.
Il see 1t all now!" he cried. "This
the reason the Kernsberg traitors
were SO willing to give her up. It is
all q plot against my life. will not go
near Let the court physicians be
sent! Cause the doors Of the Sum-
mer Palace to be sealed! Set double
guards! Permit none to pass either
way, save the doctors only! And let
4 them change their clothes and perfume
I themselves with the smoke of sulphur
before they come out!"
His voice mounted higher and high.
or as he spoke, and Ivan of Muscovy
watched him without speaking, as
with hands thrust out and distended
nostrils ~ screamed and gesticulated.
Prince Ivan had never seen q thor
ough coward before, and the breed in.
terested him. But when he had let the
Prince run on far enough to shame
him before his officer. he rose quietly
and stood in front of him.
Louis" he said In a low voice,
listen to me-this Is but a report.
It is like enough to be false; It is Ger.
tain to be exaggerated. Let us 60 at
once and find out"
Prince Louis threw out his hands
with a gesture of despair.
mot mot II" he cried. "You may
go II you like, II you do not value your
life. But IL do not feel we'll even
now. Yesterday kissed her hand.
All, would to God that had not! That
Is It. I wondered what allied mo this
morning. Go-stop the court physi-
clans! Do not let them go to the Sum-
mer Palace; bring them here to me
first. Your arm, officer; think I
I'LL go to my room-I am not we'll"
Prince Iyan's countenance grew mot
tied and greyish, and his teeth showed
In the sun like thin line of dazzling
white. He grasped the poltroon by
the wrist with hand of steel.
Listen" he said-''no more of this;
I will not have It! will not waste
my own time and the blood of my
fathers soldiers for naught. This is
but some woman's trick to delay the
marriage know 1t. Hearken! l fear
neither Black Death nor black devil;
I will have the Lady Margaret to-day
IL have to wed her on her deathbed!
Now, I cannot enter your wifes cham.
Der alone. Yet 60 l must, II only to
see what all this means, and you shall
accompany me. Do you hear, Prince
Louis? swear you shall go with me
to the Summer Palace, II have to
draO vOu stan nv etanfv
His grasp lay like tightening cir
Gle OF iron about the wrist OF Prince
Louis; his steady glance dominated
the weaker man. Louis drew In his
breath with choking noise.
II will" he gasped: III I must-I
will 60. But the Death-the Black