HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Seaforth News, 1931-05-28, Page 6,PAGE SIX
THE 'SEAFORTH NEWS.
TIVIRSDA,Y, -IvMY 28, 1931
JOAN
of .the
wordHand
By S. R. erockett
(Continued from last week.)
"But he is not gaing to kill him. He
has not the death in his eye!" Boris
spoke with judgment, for so it prov-
ed. Werner lifted an eyebrow for the
fraction of a second .towards his mis-
tress. And then at the end of the next
rally his sword just touched his young
adversary on the shoulder and the
blood answered the thrust, staining
the .white doublet of the Dane.
Then \Verner threw down his sword
and held out his hand.
"A well -fought rally," he said; "let
us be friends. We need lads of such
metal to ride the forays from the hills
of Kernsberg. I am sorry I baited
you, Sparhawk1"
"A good fight clears all scores!" re-
plied the youth, smiling in his turn.
"Bring a bandage for his shoulder,
Peter Balta.!" cried Joan. "Mine was
the cleaner stroke which went so near
your great muscle, but Werner's is
somewhat the deeper. You can keep
each other company at the dice -box
these next days. And, as I warrant.
neither of you has a Lubeck guilder
to bless yourself with, you can e'en
play for love till you wear out the pips
with throwing"
"Then I ane not to go back to the.
dungeon ?" said the lad, one reason
of whose wounding had been that he
also lifted his eyes for a moment to
those of his second.
"To prison—no," said Joan; "you
are one of us now. We have blood-
ed you. Do you take service with .me?
"I have no choice—your father left
me none I" the lad replied, quickly
altering his phrase. "Castle Lfynar is
no more. My grandfather, my father,
and my uncles are all dead, and there
is small service in going hack to Den-
mark, where there are more than
enough of hungry gentlemen with no
wealth but their swords and no living
but their gentility. If you will let me
serve in the ranks, Duchess Joan , I
.shall be well content I"
"1 also," said Joan heartily. "We
are all free in Kernsberg, even if we
are not all equal. 'We will try you in
the ranks first. Go to the men's
quarters. George the Hussite, I de-
liver him to you. See that he does.
not get intoaiey more quarrels till his
arm is better, and curb my rascals'
tongues as far as you can. 'Remember
who meddles with the principal must
reckon with the second."
CHA'F.TE'R IV.
The Cozening of the Ambassador.
The next moment Joan had disap-
peared, and when she was seen again
she had assumed the skirt she had,pre-
viously worn over her dress of forest-
er, and was again the sedate lady of
the castle, ready to lead the dance,
grace the banquet, or entertain the
High State's Councillor of Plassen-
burg, Leopold von- Dessauer.
/But when she went upstairs she met
on the middle flight a grey -bearded
man with a skull cap of black velvet
upon his head. His dress also was of
black, of a distinguishing plain rich -
and dignity.
lies . g y
"Whither away, Ambassador?" she
cried gaily at the sight of him.
"To see your principal's 'wound and
that of the other whom your sword
countered in the trial boleti"
"What? You saw?" said the .Duch-
ess, with a quick flush.
"1 am indeed privileged not to be
blind," said Dessauer; "and never did
I see'a sight that contented ire more."
"And you stood at the window say -
in your heart (nay, .do not deny
it) 'unwomanly—bold—not like my
lady the Princess ,of Plassenburg.. She
would not thus ruffle the courtyard
with the men-at-arms!"
"I said no such thing," said the
I-Iigth Councillor. "I am an old man
and have seen many fair women,
many sweet princesses, each perfect
to their lovers, some of them even per-
fect to their lords. But I have never
before seen a Duchess Joan of Holt
enstein,"
"Ambassador, cried the girl, "if
vilege?"
"Nay, I thought not of myself, my
lady," said Dessauer, 'for an old man,
a mere anatomy' 'of hones and parch-
! meat, I take strange pleasure in your
society more than I ought, I tell you
frankly. You are to me more than a
daughter, though 1 am but a poor ba-
ron of Plassenburg and . the faithful
servant, of the Princess Helene. It is
for your sale that 1 say you cannot
come to Wilna' with me. 'Shall the
future Princess of Courtland and W'il-
na ride in.the train of an ambassador
of Plassenburg to the palace in which
she is soon to reign as queen?"
`I said not that I would go as 'the
Duchess," Joan replied, speaking lots.
"You say that you saw me at the fight
in the courtyard out there. If you
will not have the Duchess Joan von
"Hohenstein, what say you to the Spar-
hawk's second, 'Johann the Squire?"
(Dessauer started,
"Yo.n dare not," he said; "wily,
there is not a woman in the German
land, , fro•ni Bohemia to the Baltic,
that dares do as hutch."
"Ladies," flashed Joan—"I am sick
for ever of hearing that 'a lady must
not do this or that, go' here or there,
because of her so fragile'reputation.
She may do needlework or embroider
altarecloths, but she must'not shoot
with a pistolet or play with a sword.
Well, I ant a' lady; let him counter it
who durst. And 1 cannot embroider
altar -cloths and I will not try -but I
can shoot with any man at the flying
mark. She must have a care for her
honour which (poor reckless wretch!')
will be smirched if she speaks to any
as a man speaks to his fellows. Faith!
For me I would rather die than have
such an egg -shell reputation. I can
care for mine own, I need none to
take up my quarrel. If ar,y have a
word to say upon the repute of Joan
of the ,Sword Hand—wily, let him ,say
it at the point of her rapier."
The girl,stood up, tall a.ld straight,
her head thrown back as it were at
the world, with an exact and striking
counterpart of 'tlie defiance of th-
young Dane in the presence of his en-
emies an hour.before. Dessauer stood
wavering. With quick tact she altered
her tone, sand with a soft accent and
in a melting voice she added, "Ah, let
me conte. I will make such a credit-
able squire all in a suit of blue and
silver, with just a touch of nutty juice
upon my face that my old nurse
knows the secret of." .
Still Dessauer stood silent, weighing
difficulties and chances.
"I tell you what," she cried, pursu-
ing her advantage, "I will see the man
I am to .marry as men see him, 'with-
out trappings and furbelows. And if
you will not take me, by my faith! I
will send 'Werner there, whom you
saw fight the Dane, as my own envoy,
and go with him as a page. On the
honour of Henry the Lion, my father,
I will do it!" '
'Von Dessauer capitulated. "A wil-
ful woman"—he smiled—"a wilful,
wilful woman. Well I am not respon-
sible for aught of this, save for my
own weakness in permitting it. It'is
a madcap freak, and no good will
come of it."
`4But you will like it!" she said.
"Olt, yes; you will like it very much,
For, you see, you are fond of. mad -
caps."
you speak thus and with that flash of
the eye, I shall have to bethink me
whether you come not as an ambas-
sador for your own cause."
"I would that 11 were forty years
younger and a prince in my own Tight.,
instead of a penniless old baron..Why,
then, I would not come on any man's
errand—no, nor 'take a refusal, even
from your fair lips!"
"I declare," said the Deedless )oan
impetuously, "you should have no re-
fusal from
e-fusal.•from me. You are the only man
I have ever met who can speak of love
and yet be tolerable. It is a pity that
my father left me the evil heritage
that I must wed the Prince ,of Court-
land or lose my dominions!"
At the sound of the. name of her
predestined husband a sudden flashing
thought seemed to wake in the girl's
breast. •
"My lord," she said, "is it true that
you go to Courtland after leaving our
poor eagle's nest up here on the
cliffs of the Kernsberg?"
Von Dessauer bowed, smiling at
her, He was not too old to love beau-
ty and frankness in women. "I't is
!rue that I have a mission from my
Prince and Princess to the (Prince of
Courtland and Wilna. But—"
Joan of the Sword clasped hdr
hands and drew a long breath.
"I would not ask it of any man in
the world but yourself," she said, "'but
will you let tee go with you?"
"My dear lady," said Dessauer, with
swift deprecation, "to go with the am-
bassador of another power to the
count and palace of the man you are
to marry—that were a tale indeed,
salt . enough even for the Princes of
Ritterdom. As it is—"
The Duchess looked across at Des-
sauer with great haughtiness. "As it
is, they talk more than enough 'a'bout
me already," she said. "Well—I knows
and care not. I am no puling maid
that waits till she is authorised by a
conclave of the empire before she
dares wipe her nose when she has a
cold in her head. Joan of the Sword
cares not what any prince may say
from yours of Plassenburg, him of the'.
Red Axe, to the fat Margraf George."
"Oh, our Prince, he says naught,,
but does much," said Dessauer. "He
hath been a rough blade in his time,
but Karl the Miller's son mellowed
him, and by now his own Princess
hath fairly civilized him,"
"Well," said Joan of the Sword,
with determination, "then it settled.
I ant coming' with you to Courtland."
A shade of anxiety passed over
Dessauer's countenance. "My lady,"
he answered, "you let nee use many
freedoms of .speech with you. It is the
privilege of age and frailty. But let
me tell you that the thing is plainly
foolish. Hardly under the escort of
the Empress herself would it be pos-
sible for you to visit, without scandal,
the court of the Prince of Courtland
and Wilna. But in .the train of an en-
voy of Plassenburg, even if that am
bassador be poor old Leopold von
Dessauer, the thing, 1 tell you, is
frankly impossible."
"Well, I aria coming at any rate!"
said Joan, as usual rejecting .argument
and falling back on assertion "Make
your count with that, friend of mine,
whether you are shocked or no. It is
the penalty a respectable diplomatist
has to pay for cultivating the friend-
ship of lone females like Joan of Ho-
henstein."
Von 'Dessauer held up his hands in.
horror that was more than half affect-
ed.
"My girl," he said, "I might be
your grandfather, it is true, but do
not remind me of ittoo often. But if
I were your great -great-grandfather
the thing you propose is still imposs-
ible. Think of whet the Margraf
George and his chattering train would
say!"
"Think of what every fathead
princeling and beecswilling ,titter from.
here to Basel would say!" cried Joan
with her pretty nose in t'he air. "Let
them sayl They will not say anything
that I care the snap of my finger for.
And in their hearts they will envy you
the experience -shall we say the pri-
"1 thank you for your _diligence, all combatants wore p a n rmour 1 —a,...._
good master architect," he said; "1 jousted unkn'own, for that time being
shall. peruse these at my leisure, and,' the Ambassador should accept other
so dou'bt,,calil upon you frequently for( escort and excuse him,coming to, re-'
explanations." ceive him in person: They would meet
The young, man rode on at his side, ab dinner ou the morrow, in the great
moclestly waiting to be questioned. hall of the palace.
"What is your name, sir?" asked ,The city was arrayed in flaming
Dessauer, so that all the escort might banners,isonne streaming high' . from
and, retail merchlants, Copies can be the lofty towers of the cathedral,
Bear, while others (in streets into ,which the
"T ant called Johann Pyrimont,". said wind came 'only in puffs) more lam -
the youth promptly, and with engag guid•ly and luxuriously unfolded them -
Mg frankness; "my father is a Ham- selves, as the Black' -Eagle on its
burg merchant, trading to the Span ground of white everywhere took the
fol- but 1 alar of
for oil and.cit a
hports iAll over the galaxy isair. Y
wine,
low hint not. I had ever,a turn for lighter silk. and bunting, pennons,
drawing and the art of design!" bannerettes, particolo:ured streamers
"A'lso for your own+way, as is coin' of the national colours danced beck -
mon with the ycung," said the Aruba- ing and bowing froth window and
ssador, smiling shrewdly, "So, against roof -tree.
your father's will, you apprenticed Yet there was a curious silence too
yourself to an architect?" es, 'in the ' streets, as they rode tow'ar'ds
The young man bowed. the disks of ,the ,Black Eagle, and when
"Nay, sir," he said, "but my good at last they: came within hearing of the
father could deny me nothing on' hum of the thousands gathered there,
which I had set my mind.",they understood why the city had
"Not he," muttered Dessaer under seemed so unwontedly deserted. The
his breath; "trio, nor any one -else ei- Courtlanders surrounded the great ,ov-
thee!" al space 'of the lists in clustered my -
So, bridle by 'jingling bridle, they riads, and theireyes were bent in -
rode on over the interminable plain, wards. It was the crisis of the great
till Kernsberg„ with its noble crown melee. Scarcely ,an eye in all that as
of towers, became .first grey and af- sent'bly was turned towards the stran-
terwards pale blue in the utmost dis- gee es, who passed quite unobserved to
Mace, Then, like a tall ship at sea, their reserved places in the 'Prince's
it sank altogether out of sight. And empty box. Only his sister Margaret,
still they rode on through the marshy throned on high as Queen of Beauty,
hollows, round innumerable little looked down with interest,' seeing that
wildfowl -haunted lakelets, and so over they were men who came, and that
the sandy, rolling dunes to the city of one at least was young.
Courtland, where was abiding the It was a gay and changeful scene.
Prince of that rich and noble princip- en the brilliant daylight of the lists
CHAPTER V.
Johann The Secretary.
Ten utiles outside the boundary of
the little hill state of Kernsberg, the
embassage of Plassenberg was !net by
another cavalcade bearing additional
instructions from the Princess Helene.
The leader was a slender youth of
middle height, the accuracy of whose
form gave evidence of much agility.
He was dark-skinned, of as olive
complexion, and with closely cropped
black hair which curled crisply about
his small head. tl'-Ids eyes were dark
and fine, -looking straightly and boldly
upon all corners.
With him, as chiefs of his escort,
were those twosilent naen J•orian ,and
Boris, who had, as it was reported,
ridden to .Plassenlberg for instructions..
None of those who followed Dessauer
had ever before set eyes upon this
youth, who carie with fresh despatch-
es, and, in consequence, great was the
consternation and many the surmises
as to who he night be who stood so
high in favour with the Prince and
Princess.
But his very first words made the
matter clear.
"Your Excellency," he said to the
Ambassador, I bring you the most
recent instructions from their High-
nesses Hugo and Helene of Plassen-
burg. They sojourn for the time be-
ing in the city of Thorn, where they
build a new palace for themselves. I
was brought from Hamburg to be one
of the master -builders. '.I have skill in
plans, and I bring you these for yob,-
approval
ourapproval and in order to go over the
rates 'of cost with you, as Treasurer
of Plassenburg and the \'Volfsmark,"
:Dessauer took, with every token of
deference, the sheaf of papers so care-
fully .env'rapt and sealed with the seal
of Plassenburg.
alit,.a hundred knights charged and re -
'It had been a favourite scheme of „barged.
Those who had been un
dead. princes of Courtland to unite to hbrsed drew their swords and attack -
their fat acres and populous inercan- ed with fury others of the enemy ,in
tile cities the hardy mountaineers ,end like case. The air resounded with
pastorial uplands of Kernsberg. But the clashing of steel on steel.
though Wiina and Courtland were iii II iffy .knights with white plumes on
finitely more populous, the Eagle's their helmets had charged fifty wear -
Nest was still to pull down and ,hither- iang black, and the combat still raged.
to the best laid plans for their union The shouts of the people rang in the
had invariably fallen through. But ears of the ,ambassador of Plassenburg.
there had come to Joan's father, Hen -
themselves
his secretary, as they seated
ry, called the ,Lion, and the late Prince themselves and looked down upon the
Michael of Courtland a better thought.
tide of combat over the flower -draped
One had a daughter, the other a son, balustrades of their box.
Neither was burdened with any law "The blacks have it!" said Dessauer
of succession, Salic or other. They after regarding the melee with inter -
held their do'ni•ains by the free tenure est. "We have come in time to see
of the sword. They could leave their t:he'end of'the fray. Would that we
powers to whomsoever they would, lead also seen the shock!"
not even the Emperor having the right And indeed the Blacks seemed to
to say, "W'hal doest thou?" So 'with have carried, all before them. They
that frank carelessness of private feel: were mostly 'bigger and stronger bul't
ings of the individual which has ever men, knights of the landward provin-
distinguished ,great politicians, they ces, and their horses, great solid -
decreed that, as a condition of susses- boned :Saxon chargers, had by sheer
sion, their male and female heirs Weight borne their way through the
should marry each other. lighter ranks of the Baltic knights on
This bond of (Heritage -brotherhood, the white horses.
as it was called, had received the Banc- Not mare than half a dozen of these
tion of the Emperor in full Diet, and were now in saddle, and all over the
now it wanted only that the Duchess field were to be seen black knights
Joan of Ho'henstein should be of age, receiving the submission of knights
in order that the provinces might at whose broken spears and 'tarnished
last be united and the long wars of 'plumes showed that they had sec-
highland make an end.
The scheme had taken everything
into consideration except the private
character of the persons principally
affected, Prince Louis of Courtland
and the young Duchess Joan.
As they ;came nearer to the ancient
city of Courtland, it spread like a me-
tropolis before the eyes of the emb-
assy of the Prince and Princess of
Plassenburg. The city stretcher from
the rock 'whereon the fortress -palace
was built, along a windy, irregular
ridge. Innumerable crow -stepped
gables were set at right angles to the
street. 'The towers of the minster
rose against the sky at the Meyer end
and far to the southward the palace
of the 'Cardinal Archbishop . cast
peaked shadows from its many tow-
ers, walled and cinctured like a city
within a city.
It was a far -seen town this of Court-
land,- populous, prosperous, defeated.
Its clear and abroad river was navig-
able for any craft of the time, and al-
ready it threatened to equal if not out-
strip in importance the free cities of
the Hanseatic League—so far, at
least, as the trade of the Baltic was
concerned.
Courtland had long been considered:
too strong to be attacked, save from
while
.he Polish border, the adhesion
of Kernsberg, and the drafting of the
Duchess's hardy fighting mountain-
eers into the lowland armies would
render the princedom safe for many
generations.
Pity it was that plans so far-reach-
ing and purposes so politic should he
dependent upon the whims ,of a girl!
But then it is just such whims that
make the world interesting.
* ,a *
It was the last dayof the famous
tournament of the Black Eagle in the
princely city of Courtland, Prince
Louis had sent out an escort to bring
in the travellers and conduct them
with honour to the seats reserved for
them. The Ambassador and High.
Councillor of Plassenbu.rg. must'be re-
ceived with all observance. He had,
he gave notice, brought a secretary
with him. For so the young architect
was now styled, in order to give hint
an official position in the mission.
The Prince had also sent a request
that, as this was the day upon which
combed in the charge to superior
weight of metal. For, as soon as a
knight yielded, his steed became the
property of his victorious foe, and he
himself was either carried or limped
as best he could to the pavilion .of his
party, there to remove his armour
and send it the victor -to whom, in
literal fact, belonged the spoils.
Of the •half-dozen white knights
Who still kept up in the struggle, one
shone pre-eminent for das'hin'g valour.
His ,charger surged hither and thither
through the crowd, his spear was vic-
torious and unbroken, and the boldest
opponent thought it politic to turn
aside out of his 'path. Set upon by
more than a score of riders, he still
managed to evade them, and even
when all his side had submitted and
he alone remained—at the end of the
lists to which he had been driven, he
made him ready for .a ,final charge into
the scarce broken array of his foes,
of whom more than twenty remained
still on horseback in the field.
(To 'Be Continued.)
1Here and There
Annual value et forests' products
In Canada is pl2ced around- $500,-
090.009
500;090.009 by the Canadian Govern-
ment Forestry Service, and over
200,000 persons are employed in
this. work.
Total value of crude bullion gold
in Ontario for the first two months
of 1931 is placed at $9,517,254 as
compared with 35,3.22,399 for the
saltie period of 193Q, an increase
of nearly 22%. It this continues,
all previous records of gold output
d
•
are likely to be exceeded this year.
Position of president of the Boir
Scouts Association of Canada has
been. offered to and accepted by E.
W. Beatty, chairman and president
of the Canadian Pacific Railway,
whose interest in boy welfare has
long been recognized ,all over the
Dominion.
John Minard, 'section hand with
the Canadian Pacific Railway for
many years and pensioned at the
age of 73, celebrated . his, 10511
birthday April 2. He does not use
glasses, eats well, sleeps well and
enjoys- life. • He has no presarti0
tions for exceeding the century
marl:.
Sponsored by the Alberta Motor
cycle A.seociation, the Western
Canada Motcr cycle hill -climbing
championships will be decided at
Banff in the Canadian Rockies on
May 24 and will be followed the
same day by the Banff annual re-
gatta.
A shipment of 800,000 salmon
eggs has recently been 'forwarded
to the Dominion Fish =hatchery at
Flat Lands, Restigouche County to
receive treatment prior to' being
deposited in the Nipisigult River as
a part of the 1931 programme for
restocking New Brunswick fishing
waters.
Canadians, from coast 'to coast,
heard the voices of His Excellency
the Governor-;ieneral and Rt. Hon.
R. B. Bennett, prime Minister of the
Dominion, May 11, in endorsatton
of the work of the Canadian Red •
Cross through stations linked by
the radio broadcast transmission. `.
system of the Canadian Pacific
Railway Company's Telegraphs.
in the last analysis the railroad
safety movement's success is trace-
able largely to teamwork. Each:
railroad worker is constantly re-
minded that safety is paramount. '
Safety practices have become habi
tual, therefore they do not lessen
efficiency.Railroad passenger ser-
vice is now more efficient as well
as safer than -ever before, says a
prominent United States news-
paper.
The new 61A, hour service be-
tween montreal and Toronto, both
ways, which came into operation
OD Canadian Pacific lines end of
April, has proved highly popular
with travellers, and heavy traffic
on these trsA!ts is reported. Otta-
wa has also been brought half an
hour closer to Montreal and pas-
sengers for Quebec have had 15
minutes clipped from the time of
the journey.
Popularity of the reduced week
end fares which went into effect
May 1 on all Canadian Pacific lines
was assured from the start, accord-
ing to reports from traffic officials
of the railway. They represent a
saving of approximately 33% to the
travelling publfe with reduced fares.
available from noon Friday to noon.
Sunday and return portions up to
midnight of the Monday following.
'740)
It is reported that a baritone -sing-
er broke his larynx in trying to get
A flat. It would have paid him bet-
ter to have gone in for a cottage.
A. lecturer says that cannibals know
only one side of life. The homicide.
•
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