The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1907-04-02

e. NC 9aloy ! snail be salts
ned with twaining your bodies In
noiy Russia We are plain men. We
nave saying, No one hath ever seen
a soul Let the body content voui,
"hen this gentleman is-what shan
make him, he Is welcome to any com.
munion Of spirits to which he can Al.
IAN with you l promise you that. "
lar as he Is concerned, you shall find
husband" @''us
And the Prince Of Muscovy laughed
loud and long. But Prince Louis die
not laugh. His eyes glared upon the
prisoner like those Of a wild beast
caught In a corner when It wishes 10
nee but cannot.
He shall die-this day shall be his
last. l swear it," he cried. "He hath
Knocked me, and will slay him with
my hand"
He drew the dagger from his belt
But in the center of the hall the
sparhawk stood so still and quiet that
Prince Louis hesitated. Ivan laid a
sott hand upon his wrist and as gentl,
Grew the dagger out Of his grasp.
Nay, my Prince, he will give him
a worthier passing than that. So no
bic knight-errant must die no com
mon death. What say you to the
Ukraine Cross. the Cross Of Steeds? /
have here four horses, all wild from
the steppes. This squire of DANES
this Woman-mummer, hath, as now we
know, four several limbs. BY a strange
coincidence have a wild horse for
each OF these. Let limbs and steeds
be seVerally attached, my Cossacks
know how. Upon each flank let the
lash be laid-and-well, the Princess
Margaret is welcome to her Hege lords
soul warrant she will not desire his
body any more"
At this Margaret tottered. her knees
giving way beneath her, so that her
guards stood nearer to catch her If
she should fall.
"Louis-my brother" she cried, do
not listen to the monster. Kill my
husband if you will-because 1 love
him. But do not torture him. BY the
last words Of our mother, by the
memory Of our father. by your faith
in the Most Pitiful Son of God, /
charge you-do not this devilry."
Prince Ivan did not give Louis Of
CORTLAND time to reply to his sisters
appeal.
''The most noble Princess mistakes, -
he murmured, suavely. Death by
the Cross of Steeds is no torture. It
is the easiest Of death. I have wit
messed it often. In my country It is
reserved for the greatest and most dis
tinguished. No common felon dies by
the Cross Of Steeds, but men whose
pride it is TO die greatly. We will
show you tomorrow on the plain
across the river that I speak the truth.
It is a noble sight and all CORTLAND
shall be there What say you, Louis
Shall this springald seat himself in
your prineely chair, or-shsll we try
the Cross Of the Ukraine?"
Have It your own way, Prince
Ivan," said Louis. and went out with
out another word. The Muscovite
stood a moment looking from Maurice
to Margaret and back again. He
was smiling his inscrutable Oriental
smile.
'Iet the Princess pass" he cried
The guards dropped their swords tC
their sides.
Instantly the Princess Margaret raI
forward with eager appeal on her face
She dropped on her knees before the
Prince Of Muscoyy and clasped hei
hands in supplieation.
prince Ivan" she said, Il pray yoJ
for the love of God to spare him, t.
let him go. l promise never to SCI
him more. will go to nunnery.
will look no more upon the face o
day"
THAT, above ali things, cannot al
low" said the Prince. $50 fair a face
must see many suns-soOn, 1 trust, il
Moscow and by my side.
Margaret" said the Sparhawk. ii
is useless to plead. Do not abase your
self in the presence of our enemy. YoI
cannot touch mans heart when hi
breast covers a stone. Bid me good
by and be brave, The time win no
be long"
Like a child after its bedside praye
she lifted up her face to be kissed.
Goodnight, Maurice" she said
simply. wait for me; I shall not b
long afterl'
She laid her brow moment on nj
breast. Then she lifted her head AM
walked slowly and proudly out of tn
hall The guard fell in behind her
and Maurice Won Lynar was left alon
with the Prince of Muscovy.
As the door closed upon the Prin
csss a sudden devilish grimace of fur,
distorted the countenanee of tn
prince Ivan. Hitherto he had bee
studiously and even caressingly cour
teous. But now he strobe swiftly u
70 his captive and smote him acros
the mouth with the back Of his gaun'
leted hand.
chat" he said furiously, that 10
the Inns which have kissed hers. To
morrow will pay the rest OF my deb
Yes. will pay it 9Th usury there
toll"
A thin thread of scarlet shove.