The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1907-05-28
S.RCROCKETT. AuMar@ MeRnaast
Copyright. 1898. 1900. by s. R. crockett)

her. Then she gave them their in
s~tructions.
you will conduct me past the city
guards, out through the gates, and
take me towards the camp of the
Prince of Muscovy. There you will
leave me, and | shall be met by one
who in like manner will lead me
through the enemy's posts"
and when shall you return, my
Lady Theresa? We will wait for you!"
THANK you, gentlemen. You need
not wait. l shall not returnl"
mot return?" cried Jorian and Boris
together, greatly astonished.
NO." said Theresa, very slowly and
quietly, her eyes set on the darkness.
Hear ye, Captains of Plassenburg. |
will give you my mind. You are trusty
men, and can, as l have proved, hold
your own counsel"
Boris and Jorian nodded. There vas
no difficulty about that.
"Goodi" they said together as of old.
Listen, then" Theresa went on.
"You know, and | know, that unless
quick succor come, the city is doomed.
You are men and soldiers, and whether
We make an end amid the din Of battle,
or escape for this time, is a matter
wherewith We do not trouble your
minds till the time comes. Blu for me,
be it known to you that / am the wild
ow of Henry the Lion of Kernsberg.
My son Maurice is the true heir to the
Dukedom. Yet, being bound by an oath
sworn to the man who made me his
wife, | have never claimed the throne
for him. But now Joan his sister
knows, and out of her great heart she
swears that she will give up the
Duchy to him. If, therefore, the city is
taken, the Muscovite will Stay my son,
Stay him by their hellish tortures. as
they have sworn to do for the despite
| he put upon Prince Ivan. And his wife,
the Princess Margaret, will die of grief
when they carry her to Moscow to
make a bride of a widow. Joan will be
a prisoner, Conrad either dead or a
priest, and Kernsberg, the heritage of
Henry the Lion, a fief of the Gar.
There is no help in any. Your Prince
would succor, but it takes time to raise
the country, and long ere he can cross
the frontier the Russian will have
worked his will in CORTLAND. Now l
see a way-a woman's way. And If l
fall in the doing of it, well-I but go
to meet him for the sake of whose
children l freely give my life. In this
bear me witness"
Madam" said Boris, gravely. I'VE
are but plain soldiers. We pretend not
to understand the great matters Of
state of which you speak. But rest as
sured that we will serve you with our
lives, bear true witness, and in all
things obey your word implicitly"
Without difficulty they passed
through the streets and warded gates.
They plunged into the darkness of the
outer night. At first in the swirl Of
the storm the three could see nothing;
but gradually the watchfres of the
Muscovite came out thick-sown like
stars on the rising grounds on both
sides of the ALA. Presently they began
to descend into the valley, the iron.
shod feet of the men blinking upon the
stones. Theresa walked silently
stepped in thought, laying a hand on
arm or shoulder as she had occasion
Suddenly tall Boris stopped dead and
with a sweep of his arm halted the
others.
"There!" he whispered, pointing up
, ward.
And against the glow thrown from
| behind a ridge they could see a pair o.
Cossacks riding to and fro ceaselessly
: dark against the rudy sky.
: Captains Boris and Jorian," Their
I, esa was speaking with quietness, rails
: ing her voice just enough to make her
self heard over the roar of the wine
J overhead, for the nook in which the,
I presently found themselves was shell
tered, 81 bid you adieu-it may b.
4 farewell. You nave done nobly an
! like two valiant captains who were fl
to war with Henry the Lion. l thanl
you. You will bear me faithful wit
ness in the things of which | have spC
ken to YOU. Take this ring from me
not in recompense, but in memory. l
is a. bauble worth any lady's accept
snce. And you this dagger" Sh
took two from within her mantle, an
gave One to Jorian. ut is rood stee
and will not fail you. The fellow 0
it 1 will keep"
"as you have commanded, so will W
dol"
And as they had been hidden the
withdrew into a clump of willow an
alder.
"Yonder woman is Drawer than 20
or /, Jorian," said Boris, as crouchin
! they watched her climb the ridge
/ (Which of us would do as much fo
any on the eartL?
after all, it is for her son. If 70
had children, who can say"
Whether l may have children or n
concerns you not" returned Bori'
who seemed -unaccountably ruffied.
r. only know that l would not thro'
away my life for a bakers dozen {
lie them!"
r. Upon the skyline Theresa o Lyns
is stood a moment looking backward
t. She motioned them backward wit
her hand.
lie abide there among bushes till yo