The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1907-01-24

Prince Louis to see Princess Joani"
Ivan answered the low-voiced chal-
lenge from within. The door opened
slightly and then more widely. ivan
pushed his friend forward and they
entered, Louis dragging one foot after
the other towards the shaded couch
by which knelt Che Princess Margaret
Thora of Bornhoim, pallid and blue
Tipped, stood beside her, swaying lit
tie but still holding. half unconscious
~, silver basin, into which Margaret
dipped fine linen cloth, before touch
Ing with 1t the foam-fiecked lips Of
the sufferer, Prince Ivan remained a
little back, near to where the court
physicians We're comforting together in
stage whispers. AS he passed, a tall,
grey-sklrted, long-bearded man, girt
about the middle with silver chain,
detachd himself from the Official group
and approached Prince Ivan. After
an instructive cringing movement of
homage and salutation, he bent to the
young mans ear and whispered half
a dozen words. Prince Ivan nodded
very slightly and the man stole away
as he had come. No one in the room
had noticed the incident.
Meanwhile Louis Of CORTLAND, al
most as pale as Thora herself. his lips
blue. his teeth chattering, his fingers
clammy with perspiration, stood by
the bedside clutchlng the crucifix.
Presently hand was laid upon his
arm. He started violently at the
| touch.
1T Is true-a bad CASE" said Ivan
In his ear. let us get away; I must
speak with you at once. The physi-
clans have given their verdict They
can do nothing!"
| With a gasp Of relief Prince Louis
faced about, and as he turned he tot
tered.
STEADY, friend Louis!" said Prince
Ivan in his ear and passed his arm
about his waist.
| He began to fear lest he should have
frightened his dupe too thoroughly.
"See how he loves her!" murmured
the doctors of healing, still comforting
with their heads together. who
would have believed 1t possibleT'
Nay. he Is only much afraid" said
Alexis the Deacon, the Muscovite doc
tor; "and small blame to him, new
that the Black Death has come to
CORTLAND. In half an hour we shall
hear the death-rattle!"
"Then there is no need of us stay.
ing" said more than one learned doc.
tor, and they moved softly towards
the door. But Ivan had possessed
himself Of the key, and even as the
hnHd Of the first was on the latchei
bar the bolt was shot in his face
And the eyes of Alexis the Deacon
glowed between his narrow red lids
like sparks in finder as he glanced a,
the whitening faces of the learned
men of CORTLAND. a.
Without the door Ivan fixed Prince
Louis with his will.
Now" he said, speaking in low
trenchaDt tones, "if this be indeed the
Black Death land 1t is like it,, there
is no safety for us here. We must ge
without walls In an hour there will
be such a panic in the city as has MOI
been for centuries. l offer you a way
of escape. My Cossacks stand horset
and ready without. Let us go will
them. But the Princess Margare
must come also!"
"But-but-but--" Louis still OBJ
jected, "the Princess Joan-she ma,
die. That will reflect upon my homo
If we all desert her. My sister will
continue to attend her. They ar,
friends. I will go with you Mar
garet can remain and nurse her!"
A light like a spear point glitteret
momentarily under the dark brows o
the Muscovite.
Listen, Prince Louis" he said
your honor is your honor. Joan o
the Sword Hand and her Blacl
Plaques are your own affair. She Il
your wife, not mine. have helped
you to get her back--no more. Blu
the Princess Margaret is my business
have bought her with price. Ant
look you. sir. | will not ride back I,
Russia empty-handed that every petit,
boyar and starveling serf may scoff a
me saying, He helped the Prince o
CORTLAND to win his wife, but he coul,
not bring back one himself TIL,
whole city, the whole country from
here to Moscow know for what caus
have so long sojourned in your CAPT
tai. Now, Prince Louis, will you hav
me go as your friend or as your enc
my?"
"Iyan--Ivan, you are my friend. d
not speak to me so! Who else is m
friend II you desert me?"
Then give me your sisterl"
The prince cast up his hand wit
a little gesture of despair.
"Ah." he sighed, "you do not kno,
Margaret! She is not in my gift, O
you should have had her long ago
oh, these troubles. these troubles
When will they be at an end?"
! They are at an end now" sal
Prince Ivan consolingly. Call you
: sister out of the chamber on pre-
$ text. In ten minutes we shall be 9