The Citizen. [volume] (American Fork, Utah) 1903-1912, 1907-03-16

bassador of PlassenUurg.
For almost FIVE minutes they stood
thus without speech; then Joan drew
away her hands.
You forget" she said smiling, that
was forbidden in the bond"
my lady he said was not the
bond for Isle Rugen alone? Here we
are comrades in the strife We must
save our fatherland. have laid aside
my priesthood. II | live, shall appeal
TO the Holy Father TO loose me wholly
from my vows
Smilingly she put his eager argu
ment by
ut was Of another vow | spoke
am not the Holy Father, and for this
| viii not give you absolution. We
are comrades II Is true that and no
more! Tomorrow ride to Kerns.
berg where | will muster every man
call down the shepherds from the hills,
and be back with You by the Ala be
fore The Muscoyite can attack you. !
Joan of the Sword Hand, promise IT,"
She stamped her foot, half in earn.
est and half in mockcry of the sonor.
Gus name by which she was known.
II would rather you were Joan of
the Grange at Isle Rugen, and your
jerkined seryitor, cleaying the wood
that you might bake the bread"
Conrad" said Joan. shaking her
head wistfully. such thoughts are not
wise for You and me 10 harbor. We
must stand to our dignities now when
the enemy threatens and the people
need us. Afterwards, an II like us, we
may step down together"
Joan" said Conrad. very gravely,
do not fear for me. | have turned
once from career | never chose.
Death alone shall turn me back this
time"
81 knew IT," she answered; II never
doubted IT, But what shall We do with
this poor loveslck bride of ours"
And she told him Of her interview
that morning with his sister, Conrad
laughed gently, yet with sympathy.
Leave me Won Orscln. and do you
take the young man. said Conrad;
then Margaret will 20 with YOU will.
lhglN ana gladly.
"But she will want to return-that
is, II Maurice comes. too"
isle Rugcn?" suggested Conrad
Send your ten men who know the
road. If they could carry of Joan of
the Sword Hand, they should have no
difficulty with lille Margaret of Court.
land
0nIH claspcd her hands with pleas.
nInSf. all unconscious that i'm.
md her Margaret had
-giTSrSy 5o1'lS and now stood arrested
by the sound OF her own name.
"Oh. they will have no trouble. will
they not?" she said In her own heart,
and smiled isle Rugcn? Thank you,
my very dear brother and sister. You
would get rid Of me. separate me from
Maurice while he Is fighting for your
precious princedoms What II coun
try in comparison with n husband? !
would not care dot which country
belonged TO. so long as had Maurice
with me-"
A moment or two Conrad and Joan
discussed the details of tho capture,
while more softly than before Mar.
garet retired to the door She would
have slipped out altogether but that
something happened just them which
froze her to the spot
A trumpet blew without-Onco, twice
and thrice, In short and stirring blasts.
Hardly had the echoes died away when
she heard her brother say, "Adieu, best
beloved! II Is the signal which tells
me that Prince Ivan is within n days
march OF CORTLAND. ! bid you good.
bye, and Tiff we should never meet
again, do not forget that ! loved you
loved you as none else could love-"
He held out his hand. Joan stood
rooted to the spot, her lips moving, but
no words coming forth, Then Mar,
garct heard a hOarse cry break from
her who had condemned love
II cannot let you go thus" she cried
II cannot keep the VOW II is too hard
for me! Conrad! ! am but a weak
woman after ALL"
And In a moment the Princess Mar,
garet saw Joan the cold, Joan Of the
- "'Ah Jbhh lfN' ~ ~ W NFlHN'
berg and Hohenstein In the arms OF
her brother.
Whereupon. not being Of set purpose
an eavesdropper, Margaret went out
and shut the door softly, The lovers |
had neither heard her come nor go,
And the wife of Maurice Won Lynar |
was smiling very sweetly AS she went,
but In her eyes lurked mischief
Conrad descended the stair from the |
apartments of the Duchess Joan, d. |
'ided between the certainty that his /
fps had tasted the unutterable JOY and |
he fear lest his soul had sinncd the
objectionable sin.
moment Joan steadicd herself by |
he window, with her hand 10 her |
breast as II to still the flying pulses
If her heart. She took step forward /
hat she might look once more upon
lin ere he went. But, changing her
purpose in the very act she turned
about and found herself face 10 face
With the Princess Margaret who was
milling subtly
You have granted my request?' she
laid softly.
Joan commanded herself with din