Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1907-01-18

| N Mo manu- on the place where
MS sword-hilt should have been.
Never" he cried; "it is impossiblel
The Princess is"
He was about to add, "She is mar
RED already" but with quick gesture
OF warning Margaret stopped him.
VINO told you this?" she queried,
turning again to Thora of Bornholm.
Johannes Rode of the Princes
guard told me moment ago." she an
swered. HE has just returned from
the Muscovite camp"
Il thank you, Thora-I shall not for
get this faithfulness," said Margaret.
NOW, you have my leave to gol"
The Princess spoke calmly, and to the
ear even little coldly.
The door closed upon the Swedish
maiden. Margaret and Maurice turned
TO each other with one pregnant in
stinct and took hands.
Already" said Margaret family.
going back into the woman; "they
might have left us alone little long
er. How shall we meet this? What
shall we do? / had counted on this
one day"
Margaret" answered the Sparhawk
impulsively, "this shall not daunt us.
We would have told your brother
Louis one day. We will tell him now.
Duchess Joan is safe out of his reach,
Kernsberg is revictualed, the Musco-
Vlte army returned. There is no need
to keep up the masquerade any longer.
Whatever may come of it, let us go
to your brother. That will end it
swiftly, at all events" The Princess
put away his restraining clasp and
came closer to him.
"No-no," she cried; you must
not. You do not know my brother.
He is wholly under the influence of
Ivan of Muscovy Louis would STAY
you for having cheated him of his
bride-Ivan for having forestalled him
with me-"
But you cannot marry Ivan. That
were an outrage against the laws of
God and Mani"
Marry Ivani" she cried, to the full
as impulsively as her lover; mot
though they set ravens to pick the live
flesh off my bonesl But yet the
thought of torture and death for you
that I cannot abide. We must con-
tinue to deceive them. Let me think
let me Think"
Hastily she barred the door which
led out upon the corridor Then TAX
ing Maurice's hand once more she led
him over to the window, from which
she could see the green ALA cutting
its way through the city bounds and
presently escaping into the yet green
er corn lands on it's way to the sea.
st is for this one days delay that
we must plan. Tonight we will GER
tainly escape. l can trust certain of
those of my household. l have tried
them before. | have 1t.
Maurice, you must be taken ill-lie
down on this couch away from the
light. There is a rumor of the Black
Death In the city-we must build on
that. They say an Astrakhan trader
is dead of it already. For one day we
may stave off with this. 1t is the
poor best we can do. Lie down, will
call Thora. She is staunch and fully
to be trusted"
The Princess Margaret went to the
inner door and clapped her hands
sharply.
The fair-haired Swedish maiden
came running to her. She had been
waiting on such signal.
"Thora," said her mistress in quick
whisper, 1--WE must put off this mar
rage. I would sooner die than marry
Ivan. You have that drug you spoke
of-that which gives the appearance
of sickness unto death without the re-
atty. The Lady Joan must be i'll, very
i'll You understand, we must deceive
even the PriESs's physicians"
The girl nodded with quick under
standing. and, turning, she sped away
I'D the inner stairs to her own sleep
ing chamber, the key of which (as
was the custom in Courtland) she car
ried in her pocket.
This will also keep you from being
suspected-as in public places you
would have been,' whispered Margaret
to her young husband. What Thora
thinks or knows does not matter.
can trust Thora with my life-nay,
with what is far more, with yours"
A light tap and the girl re-entered,
tall phial in her hand. With swift
-. .>1.f 1tx fc-
sion. she went to the couch upon
which the Sparhawk had lain down.
Then with deft hand she opened the
bottle. and pouring little OF the color
less liquid into cup she gave 1t him
to drink. In a few minutes sickly
nallor overspread Maurice Won Lynar's
brow. His eyes appeared injected,
the lips paled to a grey white, beads
Of perspiration stood on the forehead