Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1907-01-25
MeRauAoGo

Muscoyite ears that had listened to
such things. and also high Heaven
for giving such Prince to his father
land.
At the Princess door Prince Ivan
tapped gently and inclined his ear to
lister Louis fumbled with his golden
crucifix, and as the Muscovite turned
away his head he pressed 1t furtively
] to his lips. Ever since he set foot in
the Summer Palace he had been NUT
tering the prayers of the Church in a
( rapid undertone.
Prince l outs to see Princess Joani"
Ivan answered the low-voiced chal-
4 lenge from within. The door opened
slightly and hen more widely. Ivan
pushed his friend forward and they
entered, Louis dragging one foot after
the other towards the shaded couch
by which knelt tie Princess Margaret.
Thora of Bornholm, pallid and blue
Tipped, stood beside her, swaying a lit
tie but still holding, half unconscious
ly, a silver basin. into which Margaret
dipped fine linen cloth, before touch
ing with 1t the foam-fecked lips of
the sufferer. Prince Ivan remained a
little back, near to where the court
physicians were comforting together in
stage whispers. AS he passed, tall
grey-skirted, 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
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 chatterirg, his fingers
clammy with perspiration, stood ny
the bedside clutching the crucifix.
Presently hand was laid upon his
arm. He started violently at the
touch.
ut is true-a bad case" said Ivan
in his ear. ''Let us get away; 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 herl" murmured |
the doctors of healing, still comforting |
with their heads together. who |
would have believed it possibleH'
NAY, he is only much afraid" said |
Alexis the Deacon, the Muscovite doc |
tor; "and small blame to him, now
that the Black Death has come to |
CORTLAND. In half an hour we shall |
hear the deathrattle!"
Then there is no need of us stay |
ing" said more than one learned doc
tor, and they moved softly tow ards
the door. But Ivan had possessed |
himself Of the key, and even as the
hand of the first was on the latchet |
And the eyes of Alexis the Deacon
glowed between his narrow red lids
like sparks in finder as he glanced at
the whitening faces of the learned
men of CORTLAND.
Without the door Ivan fixed Prince
Louis with his will.
Now" he said, speaking in low,
ID L |
Black Death land 1t is like it,, there
g no safety for us here. We mus get
without walls. In an hour there will
De such panic in the city as hal; not
been for centuries. | offer you a way
If escape Ny Cossacks stand htrsed
Ind ready without. I ct us go with
hem. But the Princess Margaret
must come alsoi"
But-but-but-" Louis still OBJ
ected, "the Princess Joap-she may
lie. That will reflect upon my honor
we all desert her, My sister will
-crtinue to attend her. They are
nends. l will go with you D.. Mar
,aret can remain and nurse heri"
A light like spear point glittered
under the dark BROS of
he Nuscovite.
Listen, Prince ouis," he said
Your honor Is your honor. Joan of
he Sword Hand and her Black
'lagues are your own affair. She is
our wife, not mine | have helped
on to get her back-no more. But
he Princess Margaret is my business.
have bought her with price. Ard
,ok you. sir, I will not ride back to
.ussia empty-handed, that every petty
oyar and starveling serf NAV SCOT
le saying, He helped the Prince of [
ourtland to win his wife, but he could :
10 al h Inc h. i