Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Seaforth News, 1931-09-03, Page 6PAGE SIX 6; THE SEAFORTII NEWS. JOAN of the SwordHan By S. R. erockett (Continued from Last 'Week) CHAPTER XXVIII, The Red Lion !:lies At Kernsberg And meanwhile right haughtily flew the red lion upon the citadel of.Kerns- berg.Never had the Lady Duchess, Joan of the Sword Hand, approt-en herself so brave and determined. In her forester', dress of green velvet, with the links of chain body -armour glinting beneath its frogs and taches, she went everywhere on foot. At all times of the day she was to be seen at the half-moons wherein the cannon were fixed, or on horseback scouring the defenced posts along the city wall. She seemed to know neither fear nor fatigue, and the noise of cheering fol- lowed her about the little hill city like her shadow. Three only there were who knew the truth—Peter Balta, Alt Pikker, and George the Hussite. And when the guards were set, the 'lamps lit, and the bars drawn, .a stupid faithful Hoh- enateiner set on watch. at the turnpike foot with command to let none :pass upon his life—'then at last the lithe young Sparhawk trould undo his belt rcith hue refres•h'ful gusting of air in- to his ungs, amid the scarcely sub - dated laughter of ,the captains of the host. "Goodness!" Von Lynar would cry, "what it is to unbutton and untrnssl 'Tis very well fo admire it in our pretty Joan, but 'fare the Lord, I would give a thousand crowns if she were not so slender. IIt cuts a man in two to get within such a girdle. 'Only 'Prince Wasp could make a shift to. fit it. Give me a goblet of ale, fellow's." "Nay, lad—mead! \Mead of ten years alone meat thou ,have, and little enough of that! Ale will make thee fat as mast -fed pigs." "Or stay," amen'ded George the Hussite; "mead is not comely drink for a maid—1 will get thee a little canary and water, scented with snille- fleurs and rosemary." "Check your fooling and help to un- lace ate, all of you," quath the Spar - hawk. 'Non- there is but a silken cord betwixt sae and Paradise. But it prisons me like iron bars, Ah, there"—he blew a great breath, fill- ing and emptying his lungs with huge con 'tent—"I wonder why we men breathe with our stomachs and WA.- men o-men with their chests?" "Know you not that much?" cried Alt (Pikker, "'Tis because a man's 'life. is in his stomach; and as for women, most part have neither heart, stomach nor bowels of mercy—and so breathe 'with whatever it liketh .theml" "No ribaldry in a' lady's presence, or in a trice thou shalt have none of these, either!" quoth the false Joan; "help me off with this thrice -accursed e'hain-mail. I ant pocked from head. to heel like a Swiss mercenary late conte from Venice, 'Every ring in this foul devils jerkin is imprinted an inch deep os my hide, and itches worse 'than a hundred beggars at a church d0'cr. 'Ah! better, better, Yet -not well! 1 had thought our Joan of the Sword Hand a strapping wench, but now a hop -pole is an abbot to her when one comes to wear her carapace and Meth corps I "How went smatters to -day on your side?" he went on. epeakiiig to Balta, all the while chafing the calves of his legs and rubbing his pinched feet, hav- ing first enwrapped himself in a great loose" mantle of red and gold which erstwhile had belonged to (Henry the. Liot, "On the v. hole. not ill." stud Peter Batts. "The Muscovites, indeed, drove in our outposts, hitt could not conte nearer than a bowsltat from the northern gate, we galled them so with our ctrlvcrins and bomharcicis,': 'Oaks George's fatnoue Fat Peg herself could not ,have clone better than our little leathern t xene." said Alt Pikker, ref -thing his .grey badger's brush con ten tetl'ly, ''Tf we had only provender and water we might keep It was in the outer chamber of the thein -mit of the city for ever! ,Btit in DuchessJoan, which 'looks to the a week they will certainly have cu't' off our river and sent it doton the new channel, and the wells are not enough for half the citizens, to say nothing of the cattle and horses. 'This is a great fuss to make about a graceless young jackanapes of a Jutlauder 'Eike you, Master 'Maurice von Lynar, Count von Loen—wedded wife of his Highne's's Prince Louis of Courtland, H'al'halhal "I wOLIId like you to know, sirrah," cried the Sparhawk, " that if you do not treat me as your liege lady ought to be treated, I will order you to Lite deepest dungeon beneath the castle stoat! Come and kiss my hand this instant, bothof you!" "Promise not to box our ears, and we will," said Alt Pikker and George the Hussite together. "Well, I will let you off this tune," said -Maurice royally, stretching his limbs luxuriously and .putting one hosened foot on the mantel -shelf as high as his head, "Heigh-ho! I 'wander haw- long it will last, and when we exist surrender." "Prince Louis must send ,his Mus- covites back beyond the Alla firt, and then we will speak with him concern- ing giving him up his wife!" quoth !Peter Balta. "I wonder what the craven loon will do with her when he gets her," said Alt Pikker. "You must not surrender lir your girdle -brace and ring -mail, my liege lady, or you will have to sleep with them on. It would not be seemly to have to call up half a dozen lusty men-at-arms to help undruss her lady- ship the Princess of Courtland l" "Perhaps your goodnsan will kiss you upon the threshold of the palace, as a token of reconciliation!" cackled Hussite George. "I'f he does, I will rip him up!", growhed Maurice, aghast at ,the sug- gestion, "But there is no doti'bt that at the best I shall' be between the thins when' they get me once safe in 'Court/land. To ride the wo'od'en horse all day were a pleasure to it!" (But presently 'his face lightekl up and he nttirmered so -me words to him- self— "Yet, after all, there is always the Princess Margaret there. II can con- fide in her when the worst comes. She will help me in my need ---and what is better still, she may even kiss ravel" And, spite of gloomy anticipations, his ears 'tingled with happy expectan- cy, when he thought of opportunities of intimate speech with the lady of his heart, s5 .Nevertheless, in the face of brave words and braver' deeds, provisions waxed scarce and dear in Castle Kernsberg, and in the town below women grew gaunt and hollow -cheek - ed, Then the children acquired eyes that seined to stand out of hoilow purple sockets. 'Last of all, the stout burghers grew thin. IAtd all three began to dream of the days when the good farinfolk of the 'blackened coun- try down Below them, where now stood the leafy lodges of the Mus- covites and the white tents of the Courtlanders, used to crime into Kernsberg to market, the great solemn -eyed oxen drawing cants fall of country sausages, and brown steal fresh ground from the mill to bake the wholesome bread—or better still when the stout market women had butter and curds. So the starving folk dreamed and dreamed and woke, and Cried mit curses on them that had waked then, saying, ",Plague take the hands that pulled Inc back to this .otter -hogs lite( !For iI was just a-. sitting down to dinner with a hunch of venison far company, and such a lordly trout. buttered, with 'green sauce all over him, a loaf of white bread, crisp and crusty, at my elbow, and such a noble flagon of Rihenish,. holding ten pints at the least." About .this time the Sparhawk be- gan' to take counsel with h'iinself, and the issue of his meditation's the his- tan must now relate - T,HURSD'AY, SEPTENl1BER 3, .1931 atort'hj that the three captains usually learn that there had been no Joan rear, carrying plunder and ' a sat—burly Peter Balla, stiff -haired within the city but the one they had th'rottgh the territories of Coit dry -faced keen-eyed—Alt 'Pikker, lean carried back with them to Courtland, itself—treating it, indeed, aa' §o, and leathery, the life hunaou•r within ,Pi'assen1butg; slow to move, would conetnered country, so that men him all gone to fighting juice, his have time to bring lip 'its sten to pro- 'daily deserting his colours' in limbs mere bone and muscle, a cot- tect its borders from, the Muscovite. to go back to protect their Wive, tam acrid and caustic wit keeping the Alt good chances,are possible if only 'daughters droit the Cossacks of corners of his lips 011ate wicker, and, I ant out •of the way. Serreader 415— Don and the !Stoats of Little R a little back from these two - George but by private treaty, and not till Moreover, above all, ,Prince the (Hussite, a smaller num, very sol you have seen thein safe across the wanted that proud wench, his eutn even when. he was making others fords of ,the Alla," Without her as his' prisoner,'Inc laugh, but neventheless ,with a proud 'Nay, God's truth;", cried the three, not. go. back to his capital city. high look, a ,stiff upper hp and a mous- "that we with not dol They would kill had sward' an oafla before the p tache so huge that he could ,tie the you by slow 'torture as soon as they For the rest, Kernsberg itself ends. behind tad bins head on a windy day. found a t that they had d been tricked:" cked waitWithout a head it would These three had been• speaking to "Well," aid the Spar -hawk slowly, fall in, and besides, he flattered gether'at'the wide, low window front "but by that time they would' have self that he would so sway and w'hic'h .one can see the tight little red been tricked." fluence the Duchess, when once 1 'loafed town af'K,erntslbeng and: the'Then Alt Pikker spoke in his' turn. had her safe itt his palace by t'l green Kerngwater hying dike a bright "Men," he said 'this Dane is a .nnoutlt oif,;A'lla, that she would repel many looped ribbon alt the foot of the titan—a better than any of. as. There her folly, and at no distant day , hills, is wisdom in what he says. Ye have -knee by knee with hint .on hi's thra' To them entered the ISparh'aw�k, a heard in church h'ow `priests preach of state an the aaclieirce hall When t settled frown a'f gloom upon his brow, concerning One who died for .the peo suitors came to plead concerning t and the. hunger which he shared equal- ple, Here is ons ready -to die—if no law, ly with the others already shaa•,pening better' may be—for the people!" And even his guest Prince Iv' the falcon hook of this nose and whit- '`And for our Duchess Joan!" said was coutDlaisant, .standing behin ening his thin nostrils, - the 'Sllparhawk,taking ,his hat front his !Louis's chair and sm'ilin'g subtly AAt sight ,,of him the three 'heads head at the name of this mistress:' himself, drew apart, <attd (Alt Pikker ,began to "Our Lady Joan! Aye, that i- '" + Y t o rt Brothel of mine," he would say, speak of the stars that were rising in said the old nasi.. "'We would all glad- canine 10help. you to your wife: It the eastern dusk. 1•y die in 'battle for our lady, We have your own affair how you take her an "The dog star is white," Inc said di- done more—we have risked our own what you d'o'with Inc when you g dactically.. "lir try. schooldays I used honour and her favour in order to her. Far ane, as soon asyou 'Iia to read in the Latin tongue that it convey her away %front these dangers. .her safe v g within the 'summer pa]'ac was red!" Let [-Inc boy be given up; and that he and have given me; ,according to pr !But by ,their interest in such a mat- go not alone without fit 'attendance, fraise, my heart's desire u ter the Sparhawk knew that the had I will your sifo Y go with (tint as his chamber- 'Margaret, s'o'soon will I depart f been speaking of far other things than lain." Moscow. My,father, indeed send stars before he 'burst open the '• door. The other two inen, Peter Bake and daily posts 'pia 'in myinstant For little 'George the HussiteY g st t nde g pulled George the Hussite, did. not answer patch, for Inc only waits my return 1 his pandour .moustaches and muttered for a space, 'but sat ,p'onderin'g Alt launch a host upon his enemy the plague on the dog star and more -clicker's counsel. It was George the King of Polognia," over, you do not see it now, at any (Hussite who took up the .parable. And Prince ,Lou'is ' rate. For me, 1 would I were , ,back "I" do not seb why reaching pact otos y'ota, Alt Pikker, the arm of his chair, paired his under the'Bo'henai'an pinetrees, where and yoei, Maurice the Dane,'should friend's email sweet scented hand the very wine smacks ,of resin, and hold ,such a pother about what you and thanked (rim for his most tinsel- -where' there isa sheep (-your own or are heady to do for our Lady Joan. fish and generous assistance. another's, it (natters not greatly) tied So are we all every whit as ready and Thus the leaguer of -1•Io'hens.tein at - at every true IHussite's door." willing as you can be; and T think, if twined its .object. Prince Louis had "What is this " cried the'S'parhawk.. any are to be given up, we ought .to not, it is true, stormed the, heights of "Do not deceive tae. You were atone draw lots for who it shall be. You Kernsberg as he had sworn to do. He of you tal'kin'g :of stars -when II came fancy yourselves overmuch, both' of had, in fact, left be'h'ind hint to the up the stairs. Por 'I heard Peter traitors who delivered their Duchess Balta's voice say, 'By Heaven! it must Th S 1 k 1 a large portion come to it, and soon!' And you 'Hus- g p his storesand t un - site 'George, answered 'him, 'Six days ] 'lions war.inNevertheless,ashi he ret city. 'will, settle it,' What 'do you keep from edproudinin heart to his cast fa .citul For in the Midst of 'his snort faith'ful me? Out with it Speak up; -like three body of calvary 'rode the Du - good little mewl" young Du - It was Alt Pikker who first found p chess Joan, Princess •of Courtland, on words 'to answer, J a a white Neapolitan barb, 'with reins We spoke d d f 1 that jingled like silver bells and rosettes of ribbon on the bosses of her harness. The beautiful pris'on'er appeared, as was natural, somewhat wean and aux ions, She was clad in a close ,fitting gown, of pale blue, with inch wide i roidering of gold, laced in front, and with a .train which drooped almost to the ;ground. Over this' a cloak' of deeper blue was worn, with a hood in which the dark, proud head of the Pr'itcess nestled half hidden and half revealed. The folk who crowded to see her go by took this for coquetry. She rode with only the one councillor by her tvho had dared to share ,her captivity -one' Alt Pikker, a favourite veteran of her little army, and the master swordsman- (they said) who lead instructed her in the use of arms. apilre rtland much were order s and Inct ussia. Louis wife. dared. He eo'ple. could. so9n in- it n- ne s'i t u•e he he Iva d to 'I is d et e e, o- 0 or s- o PROFES'SI.ONAL -CARDS 'DIR, H. H'UIGIH 1b0%SIS, Physician and Surgeon. Late of London Hos- pital, London, England, Special attention to diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat. Office and nisi- dence behind Dominion Bank. Office Phone No. 5; Residence Phone 1114. 'DR, F. J. BiJ[BJIZOIWIS, Seafortfs. Office and residence, Goderich street, ear o f the t United Church, urch Coroner for the County of Huron. Telephone No. 46, DR, C. MIACRAY.—.C, Mackay, honor graduate of Trinity University and gold medallist o -f Trinity Medicail College; member of the Codlege'otf Pthysi,cians and Surgeons of Ontario. DR, F. J. R. PaOIRJSTEIR-Eye, Eat Nose wird Throat. Graduate in Medi- cine, University of Toronto 1599 Late Assistant New York Oplhthaf tnic and Aural Institute, Moorefield`s� Eye, and Golden Square throat hospi ta'ls, Loddon, England. At Coaaur ercial Hotel, Seaforth, 3rd Monday $aa each month, from 11 a.ni. to'3 p.n. DR. W. C. SIP1b AOT,—'Graduate aif Faculty of Medicine, University of Western Ontario, London, Member of College. of Physicians and Sur- geons • of Ontario. Office in rear cif Aberhart's' drug store, Seafoct t. Ph -one 90. Hours 1.30-4. p.m.,' 7.36 -9 p.m. Other hours -by-appointment. you!" The Sparhawk laughed. "Great tun'barrelied dolt," Inc said clapping Peter on the back, "how sweet and convincing it would be .to see you, or that canting ale faced knave ,George there, dressed a in the girdle brace and steel corset of o' n of the ;Sword Hand! And how would you do as to your ]beard? Are you smooth as an -egg on both cheeks as I am? It would be rare to have a Du- chess Joan ,with an inch of blue black stubble on her chin- by the -time she neared the gates of Conir;tland! Ney, lads, whoever stays -I must go.'In this matter of brides I have qualities (,how I -gat then S kn'o'w not) that the best df you cannot lay claim -to, 'Do you draw lots with Alt Pikker there, an you will, as to who shall accont- paniy'me, but leave this pre'sen't Joan of the ''Sosord'Hand to settle her own 'little differences -with hint who is her husband." :And .he threw up his heels upon the table and plaited his knees one above. the other. 'Then it was Alt Pikker's time, "Peter Balza, and you, George the Heretic, listen," he cried, vehemently em'p'has'izing'the .points .oath -e palm ,of his hand. "You, Peter, have a wife that loves you --so, at least, we under- stand�—an'd your Manion, thaw would she fare in this hard world without you? Have you laid by a stocking foot full of gold? Does it' hang inside your chimney? I trove• nat. Well, you at least must bide and earn your pay, for 'Marion's sake. I have neither kith nor kin, neither sweetheart nor wife, covenanted or uncoveeted." ' "And as to what you said concern- ing 'Marion," nodded Peter Balta tru- culently, "she is a soldier's wife and would cut her pretty throat rather than stand in the way of a man's ad - van centen t I" "Specially knowing that so pretty a wench as she is could get a better bus - band toluonrowr an it liked her!" com- mented Alt Pikker drily, "Well," cried ,the Sparhawk, "etrll your quarrel, gentlemen. ;At all events. the thing is settled. The only question is when? How many .days' water is there in the wells?" Said Peter ,Balta, "I will go• and see." p e ie ee. o the stars, ancI said it was six days till the anoon should lbe 'gone, and that the time would :then be ripe for a sally by the -by the—lPlassenlburg 'Gate!" Pshaw!" cried the 'Sparhawk, 'lie not to Inc. 'I am not a purblind. fool. I have .ears, long enough, 'it is true, but at least they answer to hear withal. You spoke of the welds, d tell you;'I saw your heads move apart as '1 entered; and then, forsooth; that dotard Alt Pikker must need's furbish up same scraps of /Latin and ,begin to prate about dog stars red and, lag stars white. :Faugh! Open your mouths like men, set truthful hearts 'behind them, and het ane hear the worst I" (Nevertheless the three captains of T(ern s'berg were ;silent awhile, for heaviness was upon their souls. Then Peter ,Balta blunted out, "God help usl 'There is but ten days more pro- vender in the city, the river is turned, and the wells are almost dried up!" After this the 'S;parhawk sat awhile on the low window seat, watching the twinkling three of the hfuscovites and listening to the hunt of ,the town be- neath the Castle—all now sullen and subdued, no merry ,hucksters chaffer- ing about the church ,porches, no loit- ering lads and lasses linking arms and bartering kisses in the dusky corners of the linen market, 110 clattering of hammers in the armourers' bazaar—a snuffled buzzing only, as of men talk- ing low to themselves of bitter mem- ories and yet dismalter'expectations. "I have itl" said the ,Sparh'awlc at last, his eyes on the misty plain of night, with its twinkling pin point of fire which were the watch fires of the enemy, The three men stirred a little to in- dicate attention, but did not speak: "Listen," he said, "and do not inter- rupt. You snust deliver me up, I ars the cause of w-ar—I, the Duchess Joan ? J Hear you? , zh Y tinea husband who make, war upon me because I contenn, his bed and board. 7Ie has summoned the Muscovite to help hitt to woo ile. Well, if 'I ant to he given up, it is for us to stipulate that the armies he withdrawn, :first 'beyond the 'Alla, and then as far as Courtland. T will go with them; they will not find me out—at least, not till they are back in their o'wn !and." "What matter?" cried Balta. "They would return as soon as they discov- ered the cheat." Let us sink or swim together," said Hussite ,George, "We want no tallc of surrender!" But grey dry Mt Pikker said noth- ing, weighing all with a judicial imind. "No, they would not conte back,,, said the Sparhawk; "or, at worst,. we would have time—thaw is, You would have tune—to ,revictnal Kernsberg, to fill the tanks altd reservoirs, to sunt- ±ton in the hilimen. They would soon CHAPTER XX.IX. The Greeting of Princess Margaret. 'They were making terms Concern- ing treaty of delivering thus:-- "'When hus:—"When the last Mifuscovite has cross- ed the Alla, '(ten`the men of Court- lancl stand ready to follow—then, and. not sooner, we will deliver up our Lpdy 'Joan. For this we shall receive front you, Louis, Prince of 'Courtland, fifty hogsheads of wane, sir hundred wagonloads of good wheat, and the four great iron cannon now standing before the Stralsund 'Gate; This all to he completed before we of 'Kernsberg hand our Lady aver." "It its a thing agreed!" answeredl Loris of Courtland, who longed to be gone, and, above all, to get his 'Mus- covite allies out of his country. For not only did they take all the best of everything in the field, but, like lo- custs, they spread themselves over the (To .Be Continued) 'Barber's Itch and Ringworm are relieved by the use of Douglas' Egyp- tion Liniment; quick, certain results. Relieves the .most obstinate cases. 'Want and For Sale Ads, l time 25c. D. H, McInnes Chiropractor Of Wingham, will be at the Commercial Hotel, Seaforth Monday, Wednesday and Friday Afternoons Diseases of all , kinds success- fully treated Electricity used. Imo. J. A. MUNN, Successor to Dr. R. R. Ross, graduate of North- western " University, Chicago, IIL Li- centiate Royal College of Dental Sus- geons, Toronto. Office over Misr hardware, Main Si,, Seaforth. Phone 151. ' DR. F. J. BIECFLELY, graduate Royal College of Dental Surgeons, Toronto. Office over W. R. Smitfa'•s grocery, Main St., Seaforth. Phones, office 1&5W, residence 185J. Auctioneer. 'GEORGE ELLIOTT, Licensed Auctioneer kr the County of Huron. Arrangementscan be made for Sale Date at The Seaforth News. Charges moderate and satisfaction guranteed- WATSON AND REID% REAL ESTATE AND INSURANCE AGENCY (Succssors to James Watson) MAUN ST., SE-A,FORTH, ONT All kinds of Insurance risks effect- ed at lowest , rates in First-Cfasc Conmpanies, THE McKILLOP Mutual Fire l nsarance Cc FIAIRM AND I'SOLATE'D TOWN PJRi01PIE'RIT, Y, 0 NL Y, INS'URI Officers --James Connolly, Godea- ich, Pres,; James Evans, Beechwood, Vice President; D. F. McGregor, Seaforth, Sec. -Treasurer. Directors—Wm . Rinn, No. 2, Sea--' forth; John Beuncwies, B.rodhageia; James Evans, Beechwood; M. Ire- Ewen, .LeEwen, Clinton; James Connolly, Gad erich; Alex, Broadfoot, No. 3, Sea - forth; J. M. Shold'ice, No, 4, Walton; Robert Ferris, Harlock George Mc- Cartney, No, 3, Seaforth; Murray, 'Gibson, Bruce'fieid, ' Agens—James Watt, :Blyth rat. No. 1, E. Hinch'ley, Seaforth; 3. A. Murray, r;r, No, 3, Seaforth; J. V Yeo, Holl tesville; R. G. Jarmout.'ln, Bornholm, James Kerr and John .Go- venlock, Seaforth, auditors, Parties desirous to effect insurance ortran- sact ether business, will be promptly attended to by application to say 04 the above named officers addressed to their respective postoffices.. High Class Printing We can give you prompt and satisfacto;y service at a moderate price in the following lines of printing; Letterheads Cards Envelopes Statements. Sale Tickets Bill-heads, , Dodgers Private Cheques Menus Circulars Factory Forms ery Stationery Invitations The .News has an up-to-date commercial printing plant and we. are .equipped to turn out all classes of job work, Give us a call,.c We have a new autdmatic ' press with great speed rece jr installed to produce printing, well done, with speed, and a ntl erate cost, t mad - Blotters Booklets Business Cards Visiting Cards Wedding Station - THE Eiwo TN DEWS ! „t;9;".0,91,nil,