The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1907-01-24
JOAN f 4H SWORD HAND
Copyright 1898. 1900. BY s. R. crockettl
CRATER xxI-contlnued.

SHAr En- NNts-Contiuued.
At this point an officer came swift
H 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 a movement of his hand.
What news?" he said; have the
ladies' yet left the Summer Palace"
No. my lord" answered the offis err
earnestly; "but Johannes Rode OF the
Princess Margaret's household mas
come with a 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, T."
He clapped his hand upon his
brow and shut his eyes as II giving
Manks.
II see It all now!" he cried. "This
a the reason the Kernsberg traitors
were so willing to give her up. It is
all q plot against my life. will not 60
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
them change their clothes and perfume
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 he screamed and gesticulated.
Prince Ivan had never seen 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 low voice,
'1isten to me-this is but a report.
II is like enough to be false; It Is Ger.
tain to be exaggerated. Let us go at
once and find out"
Prince Louis threw out his hands
with gesture of despair.
mot I-not II" he cried. "You may
go IL you like, II you do not value your
life. But IL do not feel well even
now. Yesterday I kissed her hand
All, would to God that had not! Thai
is 1t. ! wondered what allied me this
clans! Do not let them go to the Sum
mer Palace; bring them here to me
first. Your arm, officer; l think
will go to my room-I am not WELL"
| Prince Ivan's countenance grew mot
tied and greyish, and his teeth showed
in the sun like thin line of dazzling
white. He grasped the poltroon b.
the wrist with hand of steel.
Listen" he said---"no more of this
will not have it! will not vast,
my own time and the blood of m!
fathers soldiers for naught. This Il
but some wOman's trick to delay tn,
marriage know it. Hearken! I fea
neither Black Death nor black devil
I will have the Lady Margaret to-da!
IL have to wed her on her deathbed
Now, cannot enter your wife's cham
Der alone. Yet go must, il only Il
see what all this means, and you shall
accompany me. Do you hear, Primo,
Louis? ! swear you shall go with m,
to the Summer Palace, If have I,
drag you step by step!"
His grasp lay like tightening cir
Gle of iron about the wrist of Primo,
Louis; his steady glance dominate,
the weaker man. Louis drew in hi
breath with choking noise.
81 WILL" he gasped: "if must
will go. But the Death-the' Blacl