The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1907-04-16
JOAN f SH SWORD HAND
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b. S.RCROCFETT.l Au1Sor o< ZeRnaaeoc
CHAPTER XVI.
Theresa Keeps Troth.


But they had reckoned without The
resa Won Lynar Conrad and Joan
came back from the ruined fortifca-
ton, silent mostly, but thrilled with
the thoughts of that which their eyes
had seen, their ears heard. Each had
listened to the beating of the others
heart. Both knew they were beloved.
Nothing could alter that any more
forever AS they had gone out with
Theresa watching them from the dusk
of the garden arcades, their hands
had drawn together. Eyes had sought
answering eyes at each dip Of the
path. They had listened for the finest
shades of meaning in one another's
voices, and taken courage or lost
hope from the droop of an eyelid or
the culver of syllable.
Now all was changed. They knew
that which they knew
And now Theresa Won Lynar, the
woman who had given her beauty and
her life like a little Valentines gift
into the hand of the man she loved,
content that he should take or throw
Won Lynar met these two, who in
their new glory Of remuneration
thought that they had plumbed the
abysses of love, when as yet they
had taken no more than a single
sounding in the narrow seas. She
stood looking at them as they came
toward her. with a sympathy that was
MONA than y,oro frtarapro
you have faced the sunshine!"
Thus she greeted them as they came.
"Sit awhile with me in the shade. l
have here a bower where Maurice
loved to play-befOre he left me.
None save hath entered it since that
day"
It was a small rustic. eight-sided
lodge, matched with heather, its lat
ticed windows wide open and ereeper-
grown, to which Theresa led them. 1t
had been we'll kept; and when Joan
found herself within, sudden access
of tenderness for this lonely mother,
who had offered herself like a sacri-
fee upon an altar, took possession of
her.
dead child's pitiful armoury. Home
made swords of lath. arrows winged
with the cast feathers of the wood
land, crooked bows. the broken crock
cry of hundred imagined banquets-
these, and many more. were carefully
kept in place with immediate and low
ing care. Maurice would be back
again presently, they seemed to say,
and would take up his play just where
he left it.
There was silence in the arbor for
a space, a silence which no one Of the
three was anxious to break. For Joan
thought of her promise, Conrad OF
Joan, and Theresa of her son. 1t was
the last who spoke.
Somehow to-day it is borne in upon
me that Kernsberg has fallen and that
my son is in his enemy's hands!"
Joan started to her feet, and thrust
her hands a little out in front of her
as If to ward off a blow.
How can you know that?" she
cried. "Who-No; it cannot be
Kernsberg was victualled for year
1t was filed with brave men. Ny
captains are staunch. The thing is
impossible"
Theresa Won Lynar, with her eyes
on the waving foliage which alter
nately revealed and eclipsed the rudy
globes of the apples on the orchard
trees, slowly shook her heard.
II cannot tell you how know" she
said, nevertheless 1 know. Here is
something which tells me-" She laid
her hand upon her heart. Those who
are long alone beside the sea hear
voices and see visions"
'But it is impossible" urged Joan
''or, If 1t be true, why am kept here
will go and die with my people!"
''It is my sons will" said Theresa