HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Seaforth News, 1931-09-17, Page 6PAC, .._->
THE SEA•FORTH NEWS.
THURSDAY S'EPTEMRER 17, 19W
4f0
JOAN
of the
Swordand
By S. R. erocketi
aelmosnioimenePuinmeo
(Continued from Last 1Veek)
CHAPTER XXX''I
The Royal 'Minx
Prince Louis entered, flushed and
excited. His eye had lost their furtive
meanness and blazed with a kind of
reckless fury quite foreign to his na
ture, for anger affected him as wine
might another man.
He spoke first to the Princess Mar-
garet
"And so, my fair sister," he said,
"you would foment rebellion even in
my pa:ace and concoct conspiracy with
my own married wife. Make ready,
madam, for tomorrow you shall find
your master. I will marry you to the
Prince Ivan of Muscovy. He will car-
ry yon to 'Moscow. where ladies of
your breed are taught to obey. And if
they will not -why their delicate skins
may chance to be caressed with in-
struments less tender than lovers' fin-
gers. Go -make you ready. You shall
'be wed and that immediately. And
cleave me alone with my wife"
"I will not marry the Prince of
Muscay." this sister answered calmly
would rather die by the axe of your
public executioner. I would wed with
the vilest scullion that squabbles with
' the swine for gobbets in the gutters of
Courtland, rather than sit on a throne
with such a man!"
The Prince nodded sagely,
"A pretty spirit -a trde Courtland
spirit," he said mockingly, "I had the
sante within my heart when I was
young. By my faith, Gretchen lass,
you show a very pretty spirit!"
'He wheeled about and looked to-
wards the false Joao, who was stand-
ing gripping nails into palms by the
chimney mantel,
"And you, my lady," the said, "you
.have had your turn of rebellion. But.
once is enough. You are conquered
now. You are a wedded wile. Your
place is with your husband. You sleep
in my palace tonight!'
"If I do," stuttered the Sparhawk,
"I know who will wake up in hell to-
morrow!"
"My brnther Leuis," cried the Prin-
ce,: Margaret, rnnntng up to' hint and
taking this arm coaxingly, "do not be
nohasty withtwo poor women. Nei-
ther o'f us desire aught btit to do your
will. But give us time. Spare us, for
you are strong. 'A •wornan's way is
the wind's way' -you .know our Court
land proverb. You cannot harness the
Northern Lights to your 'chariot -
wheels •Woo us -coax us -aye, even
deceive us; ,but do not force us, Louis,
Louis, I thought you were wise, and
yet .I see that you know not the ,alpha -
het of love. rHere is your lady. IIave
you ever said a loving word to her,
bent the knee, kissed her hand -
which, being persisted in, is the true
way to kiss the mouth?"
("If he does either," growled- the
,Sparhawk, "my sword will kiss his
midriff!")i
Prince 'Louis sm'i'led. He was not
used to women's flatteries, and in his
present state of exaltation the cajol-
cries of the 'Princeas suited his mood.
He swelled with self-importance, puff -
his cheeks and twirling his grey
moustache upwards with the .finger
and thumb of his left !hand.
"I know more of women than you
.think, ster." he made answer, "I
have had experiences -its my youth,
that is; I ant no puppet princeling.
By Saint Mark; once on a day I strut-
ted it with the 'boldest; and today -
well, now that I have humbled this
proud madam and brought her to my
own city why, I will show you that I
am eo iWetedis'h boor. I can sue a
lady's. favour as courteously as any
mean -and, 'Margaret, if you will pre-
mise ane to be a good girl.and get you
ready to be married to -morrow, 'I
promise you that Louis of Courtland
will solicit his lady's favour with all
grace and observance:"
"Gladly will I be ,m.arried to -mor-
row, said the Princess, caressing her
brother's sleeve -"that is, if I cannot
be married to-dayl" she' added' under
her breath..
!But she paused a fewmoinents as if
• embarrassed.
Then she weitt on.
"Brother' Louis, I have .spoken with
my sister her -your wife, the 'Lardy
Jioan. She hath a scruple concerning
enatrineony. She would have it resoly-
ed' before she hath speech with you
again. 'Permit our good Father Cle-
ment to advise with her."
•'Father: Clement -why he more
than another?"
"Well, do you .not understand? He
is old," pleaded Margaret, "and there
are things one can say easiest to an
old man. You unders'tanid, brother
Louis."
The Prince nodded, well .pleased'.
This was pleasant. His 'mentor,
Prince 'Wasp, did not usually flatter
him. !Rather he made him chafe on a
tight reit.
"And if I send Father 'Clement to
you, chit" he said patting •his sister's
softly rounded cheelt, ".will he both
persuade •you and ease the sonupies of
my Lady :loan I am as delicate and
understanding as any man. I will not
drive a woman when she desires to tete
led, But led or driven she .must •be,
For to my will she must come at fast.
"I knew' it, 'I knew itl' 'she cried
joyously. "Again you are mine own
Louis, my dear sweet ,brother! !When
will Father Clement comer !,
"As soon as he can be sent for,"
the Prince answered. "He will conte
directly here to the Summer 'Palace.
And till then you two fair maids can
abide together. Princess, my wife. I
kiss your noble hand. Margaret, your
cheek. 1111 to -morrow --till toemor-
rawl's
!He went out with an awkward at-
tempt at airy grace curiously grafted
on his usually saturnine 'manners,'
The door closed behind him. Marg-
aret of Courtland listened a moment
with bated breath and !finger on Hp. A
shouted order reached her ear ,from
beneath. Then came the tramp of
disciplined feet, and again they heard
only the swirl of the Alia fretting
about the piles of'the 'Summer Palace.
'Then, quickly dropping her lover's
fingers, Margaret took hold of her
own dress at either side daintily and
circled about the 'Stparh'awk, in a light
trip -ping dance.
"Ah, Louis -we wilt be so good and
bidable-to-morrow. To -morrow 'ynu-
will see me a loving and obedient wife.
Tomorrow I will wed Prince 'Wasp.
Meantime -to -day you and I, Maur-
ice, will consult Father Clement, mine
ancient confessor, who will do any-
thing 'I ask hint. To -day we will
dance -put your arm about •my waist
-fire y-sa There, we will, dance at
a wedding to -day, you and' S. For in
that 'brave velvet robe you sh'al'l he
married!"
"What?" cried the ;Spa.nhawk, stop-
ping sudd'enly. His im,plsi,ve sweet-
heart caught him again into the dance.
as she s'we'pt by in. her impetuous
career•.
"Yes," site nodded, minueting be-
fore 'him. "It is as I say -you are to
be married all aver again.. And when
you ride off I will tide ,with your -no
slipping your marriage enga'ge'ments
this time, good sir. 7 know yoiir
kernsberg manner now. You will not
find me so slack as my
,broth erl"
"Margaret! cried the ,Sparhawk.
And with ane bound he had her
against his breast.
"Ohl" she cried, with a ,shrug ,of her
pretty shoulders, as she submitted to
his embrace, "I 'don't love you kalif as
much in that dteas. W'hy, it is like
kissing another girl. Ugh, the Cats!"
She was not permitted to 'say any
more. The Alla Was heard very clear-
ly in the Summer Palace as it swept
the too swift moments' with it away
towards the sea which is oblivion.
Then after a time, :and a time and half
a tine, the Princess i4.argaret ;s!o,tviy
emerged. '
"No," she said'. retrospeotively, '"it
;s net the same, after all -not a bit."
•
"Affection is ever seemly, especially
between great ladies -also unusual!"
said a 'pass voice, speaking grave and
kindly behind them.
The Sparhavele threeell quickly
4i
rotin d,the crhtsoti rus'tlin'g instant
to his cheek,
"Father - clear Father ,Clenfeut!"
cried Margaret, running to the noble
old man who stood by the iddor and
kneeling •down for his (blessing. He
give it • simply and benignantly, :and
laid his liana a moment ,on the rippl-
ing masses of her fair hair. Then he
turned hiseyes upon the (Spa hawk,
The con'fus'ion of his, beautiful peni
tent, r the Huish which mounted to (her
neck even ars she kneeled, added to a
certain, level -delliance in the glance of
e to I c m tuoti t'
h r 1 ex- a pa told him almost
at a glance that which had been so
Carefully concealed His glance
travelled back and forth, 'from
'the ISiparh'awk to ;Margaret, and from.
Margaret to the ,S'p'erhawl .
"Ah!" he said: at last, ; for all com-
ment.
The Princess rose to her feet and
approached the priest.
"My Father," she said swiftly, "this
is not the Lady Joan, nay broth'er's
wife, but a yo'u'th m'aryeflkansly like
her, who hath ofle'red himself in her.
place that she .aright escape-"
"Nay," said the Sparhawk, 'it Was
to see you once again, Lady Margaret,
that I came to Courtyard!"
"Hush1 you must rat interrupt,"
she went on, putting hien aside with
her hand. "Re is the Count von Lien,
a. land of Kerns'berg. And I love hien.
We want you to marry us now, dear
Father -now, without a moment's 'de-
lay; for if you do n.o't, they will kill
hue, and I shall have to marry. Prince
Wasp!"
= She clasped her hands about his
arm
"W.il'1 you?" she said, looking up
beseechingly at hint,
The !Princess Margaret was a lady
who knew her mind and so 'bent other
minds to her own,
The Father stood smiling a little
dawn upon her, more with his eyes
than with his lips.
"They will kill hint and marry you,
if I do. And, morerer, pray tell nits,
little bre, What will they do to me?"
he said.
"Father, they 'would not dare to
meddle with you. Your o!llfice=your
sanctity would protect you."
"And you, young masquerader,"
said Father Clement, turning to the.
Sparhawk, "what say you -to all this?
Is this yam wish, as well as that of
the Princess Margaret ? I must
know all ^before I consent to put my
ol'd neck into the halter'1"
"I will do whatever the Princess
wishes. ,Her will is ,mine,"
"Do rat make a virtue of that,
young man," sail the priest smiling;
"the will olf the Princess is also that
of anoet people with whom she comes
in contact. Submission is no distinc-
tion where our Lady Margaret is con-
cereed."
72-.-.SE:VE'NiT' YrfIWO
"You have indeed .been so good,"
murmured Margaret of Courtland,
still clasping the Father's arm and.
looking up fondly into his face. "An'd
you will do as I ask this once S will
trot ask for such a long time again."
"Nay, if S do marry you to this
gentleman, I hope it will serve for a
while. I cannot marry Princesses ef•
the Empire • 'to masqueraders more
than once a week!"
LA qui'cic 'frown formed on the brow
of :Maurice von Lynar. He took a
step nearer. The priest pu:t up his
hand, with the palm outspread' in a
sort of counterfeit alarm,.
"Nay, I. know not if it will last even
a week if bride and groom, are both
so much of the same temper. Gently,
good sir, gently and softly. I must
go care'ful'ly myself, I' am bringing
my grey hairs unpleasantly near the
gallows. I must consider ;any duty
and you must respect any office,"
The Sparhawk dropped on: one
knee and bent his head.
* * * *
It was very quiet in the river par-
lour of the Sumner Palace.. A shaded
lamp burned in its niche over the
desk of Prince Conrad. Another'
swung from the ccilipg and filled the
whole room with cline, rich light. PIte,
window was a little open, and the
Alla murmured beneath with a sooth-
ing sound, like a mother hushing a
child to sleep. 'There was 110 one in
theyouth
- .chamber sale
the great c
whose masquerading was now well
nigh over. The Sparhawl. listened in-
tently. 'Footsteps were approaching.
Quick as a thought he threw himself
upon a eouoh, and drew about him a
light cloak or woollen cloth lined with
silk. The footsteps , stopped at his
door. A hand knocked lightly. The
Sp'arlettak did, eat answer, 'T'here was
a long pause, and then footsteps re-
treated, as they had conte. The'Spar-
hawk remained motionless, ,Again the
Alia, outside in the mild autumnal
,gloaming, said, "Hstshl"
Tired with anxiety and the strain'
of the clay, the youth passed from
musing to real sleep and the stream
of unconsciousness, with a long sooth-
ing swirl like that of the .green water
outside among the 'piles of the Sum-
mer Palace, bore hint away. Tae took
longer breaths, sighing in his slum -
bare like a happy tired child.
,Again there lcane footsteps, gtticker
and lighter this, time; then the crisp
rH4.05ser,:
rustle of silken skirts, a warm 'breath
of scented air, and the door was clos-
ed again, No knocking this time. It
was some one who enter ed'as of right.
Then. the Priuicess Margaret, with
clasped han'ds and parted 'lips, stood
still and watched the sl'umiber of the
in -an ,she loved. Though she knew it
not, it was one of the crucial moments
in the chronicle of love. if a .woman's
heart melts from tale'cant friendship
to a kind of motherhood at the sight
of a man asleep; if something draws
tight about her heart like the strings
of an.ld fashioned nfir e• if there is a
0 1 a e
pulse beating where no pule should
be, a pleasurable lump in the throat
theta it is conte -the aiot,to-be-decried
fie long long -expected,, the inevitable,
It is a simple teat,'altd one not always
tce be ap'plie,d (as it were) without a
d'octor's prescription; but when fairly.
tried, it is infall.i'bin, 11 a woman is
happier 1'istening to a •m'an's quiet
breathing than she has ever been
hearkening to any other's flattery, it
is no longer an affair -it IS a passion,
The Princess Margaret sat d'own
the eolith of Maurice von Lyarar,i and,
after this manner of which I have
told, her heart' was_,moved -within her,
As she bent over .the youth, and look-
ed into his sleeping face, the likeness
to Joan the Duchess 'came out more
strongly than : ever, emerging almost
startlingly, as a race stamp :stands out
on the features of the dead. Site bent
her head still nearer the .slightly part-
ed ,lips, 'Then she drew back,
"No," she murmured, smiling at .her
intent, "I will not -at least, not now.
I will wait till I hear t'hent coming."
She stole her hand under the cloak
which covered the sleeper till her cool
fingers rested en \faurice's hand. He
stirred .a little, and his lips moved.
Then his eyelid's ,quivered to ,the lift-
ing, But they did not rise. The ear of
the Princes's Margaret was very near
them on:w.
'Margaret," she heard Bim say, crit
as the low whisper reached her she
sat erect in her chair with a happy
sigh. So ,wonderful is lave and so ut-
terly indifferent to time or 'place, to
circucnstan'cal or reason,
The 'Attic also sighed a sigh to think
that their hour would pass so swiftly:
So Margaret of 'Courtland, princess.
and lover, sat contentedly by the pil-
low of 'hint who had once 'been a pris-
oner in the dung -eon 'af Castle Kerns -
berg.
But in th'e palace df the Prince of
Courtland time ran even more swiftly
than the Alla beneath it's walls.
Margaret caught a faint sound far
awa>s-:footsteps, firm footfalls of men
who paced slowly together. -And' as
these came nearer, she could distin-
guish, mixed with them, the sharp,
tapping of one who leans upon a stuff.
She did not hesitate a mo'men't now.
She bent 'drown upon the sleeper. Her
arm glided under his neck. Her lips
met his.
"Maurice," she wchis'pered, "wake,
dearest. . They are coming."
"Margaret!" he would have ans-
wered' but could not.
The greetings were soon over. The
tale had 'been told to Von Deesauer.
The pair stood up under the golden
glow of the .swinging silver lamps. It
was a strange scene. For surely never
was ,marriage more wonderfully cele-
brated an earth than this of two fair
maidens (for so they atilt appeared)
taking hands at the 'bidding of th'e
padre and vowing the soiernn vows,
in the presence of a prince's chancel-
lor, to live only for each other in all
the world.
Maurice, ,tall and dark, a red mantle
thrown back front his shoulders, con
finied at the waist and falling again to
the feet, stood .holding Margaret's
hand, while she, younger and slighter,
her skin creamily white, her clieel:
rose -flushed, her eyes .brilliant as with
fever, watched with a lively interest.
Volt Dessauer, High Councillor of
Plessenburg, stood le'aning . on, the
head of his staff and watching with a
certain gravity of sympathy, mixed
with apprehen!siott, the simple. cere-
monial.
ere-monial.
at was concluded and Leopold Vatn
Dessauer carte forwiard with his usual
courtly grace to salute the newly
made Countess vo•ti Loen.
He Would have kissed her hand, but
are she offered her
with a swift gest
cheelt
Not. hands to -day, good friend,"'
she said. "I am no more a princess,
but any husband's wife, 'Tihcy cannot
Part us now, can they, Hi'git Council
tor? I have gotten my. wish!"
"Dear lady," said the Chancellor of
Plassenburg gently. "1 am an old mann
and 1 have observed that Hymen is
the most tricksente of rile divinities.
(lis omens go mostly by contraries.
Where much is expected, little is ob-
tamed. When all men speak well of a
wedding, and all the prophets proph
soy smooth things-ny fear is great.
Therefore 'be of good cheer. Though
you have chosen the rough road, ,the
perilous venture, the dark night, the
deep and !untried ford, you will yet
come out upon a' p'l'ain of gladness,
into a day of sunshine, and at the ev-
entide reach a home of content.
"So good a fortune from so etise a.
soothsayer deserves-thisl"
!And she kissed the Chancellor
franticly on the anouth.
The padre held out. his hand be-
nignantly and they sank on their
klte'es. :
"God being you well through. be-
lovedsl" he 'Sa'id, May He send His
angels to succour' the, faithful and
perish elle guilty!"
"I hid you fair 'goad -night!" said
Leopold vont 1De'ssauer at the t'hresh-
ol'd. But he added in his 'heart, "But
alas for the morrow that nuts't come
to you'twinl"
"1 care fornto'thing now -4 have
gotten my illl,,
:
wsaid the Pri'n'cess
Margaret, nodding her head to tete
Chancellor as he went. out.
She was standing ,on the threshold.
wi'tli her husband's hand in hers, and.
her eyes were full of that which no
words can express.
"May that which is sweet in' the
nitoufh now, never prove Bitter it" the,
b el ly I"
That was the paclre's last prayer
for them.
IBut neither • Mar:garet nor Maurice
von Lynar so touch as heard him, for
they had turfed bo one another,
For the golden lamp was burning
itself out, and without in the dark the
Alla still said, ,'Hush!" like a mother
who soothes her children to sleep.
(To Be Continued)
HISTORY OF SUGAR.
The demand for sugar increased
from 1850 to 1900 to such an extent
that nearly nine tines as mach w'as re-
quired in 1900 as was used fifty years
before. With such a tremendous in-
crease in .consumption it might be ex
;pe:c'ted that supply would tag behind,
causingscarcity and high prices, This
might have happened but for the ac-
tion on the part of the European gov-
ernments in paying bounties on the
exports of sugar by their hone pro-
ducers. The most outstanding ex-
ample among bounty -paying countries
was Germany, the bounty to the beet
sugar industry during the years 1870
to 1903 reaching the astounding total
of nearly 340 millions of dollars, The
output increased accordingly so that
in 1902 the production of sugar in
Germany alone was in excess of iso
and, a half million tons, or more than
ten times t'h'e production of 1870. Dur-
ing this period all the European sugar
growing countries paid bounties, eith-
er directly or indirectly, on the export
-of beet sugar.
'The motives which led to these
heavy 'bounties are not far to seek,
!)ren in the early days of beet culture
it had been !to'te'd that cereal crops fol-
lowing beets produced a greater yield
than where no beets were grown. The
result was th'at the old three -field sys-
tem. Of crop, fallow land and pasture
.gradually gave way, wherever beets
were grown, to a system of crop rota-
tion with a four year cycle.
'Eventually a haft was called in the
,European system of bounty paying.
The payments were a heavy drain on
the Government treasuries ,attd the
-production ofsugar was increasing,
faster than consunip tion, The sug'ar
producing countries got together at
(Brussels °Belgium) in the notable itt-
`ternationa4 convention of 1902 and
agreed to abolish all export bounties
on sugar from and after September,
1903. Had this step not been taken it
is impossible to shy what might have
happened in the great sugar race,
Let us have the names of your visitors
D. H. McInnes
Chiropractor
Of Wingham, will be at the
Commercial Hotel, Seaforti,
Monday, Wednesday and
Friday Afternoons
Diseases of all kinds success.
Wily treated.
Electricity used.
PROFESSIONAL 'CARDS
Medical
DR, H. H'(3GIII ROSS, Physi"bs
and Surgeon. Late of Landon' Eosr
pitai, London, England, Spueiail.
attention to diseases of the eye, earn,
nose and throat. Office and cess'- .
dance behind Dominion Batik, Office
Phone No, 5 Residence Phone let'
DR. F. J. B'URROW'S, Seafeetis.
Office and residence, Gaderioh etsee8
east of the' United Church, -:cornier
for the County of Huron. Telephone:
No. 46.
'DR, C, MtA 01C1AY,- C. Mackay,
honor graduate of Trinity Uttivessisry
and gold medallist of Trinity ,3detds
College; member of the college 'cif
Physicians and Surgeons' of. Osetarnat„
DDR. F. J. R. Fi0'R'SITE1R-Eye, Esc
Nose and Throat,. Graduate in Medi-
cine, University
ledcine,'University' of Toronto 1897.
Late Assistant New York O•pIthal
uric and. Aural Institute, MoorefieId'c
Eye, and Golden Square throat Ieasp.
tats,- London, "England. At Comm-
ercial
ercial Hotel, Seaforth, 3i'd-Monday fel
each month, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
DiR W. C. SiBROAT.-+Graders:@e a�
Faculty of Medicine, Univereitg +x
Western Ontario, London. Ileafem-
of College of Physicians and Sur-
geons of Ontario, Office in rear ad
Aberhart's drug store, Scafimk-
Phone 90. Hours 1.30-4 par:., 7.,
-9 p.m. Other hours by appointment.
Dental
DR. J. A. MUNN, Successor ho
Dr, R. R. Ross, graduate of 1i7atrtfs-
western University, Chicago, 111.. li-
centiate Royal College of Dental Sae-
geons, Toronto. Office over Sal
hardware, Main St., Seaforth- Phase
1.51.
DR. F. J. B'ECHELY, graduate
Royal College of Dental Surgeons,
Toronto, Office- over W. R, Smit &
grocery, Main St., Seaforth. Phones.,
office 185W, residence 185'J.
Auctioneer,
iGEOIRIGE ELLIOTT, Lined
Auctioneer for the County of Huron
Arraugenteists can be made for Sale
Date at The Seaforth News, Charge::
moderate and satisfaction gurantx&
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REAL ESTATE
AND IN'SU'RANCE AGENCY'
(Succssors to James Watson)
MAIN ST., SERF ORTH, 'GIJT
Ail kinds of Insurance risks effect-
ed at lowest rates in First -Clam
Companies.
THE McKILLOP.
Mutual Firen
I snrance Ga.
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Vice President; D. F. McGre
Seaforth, Sec, -Treasurer.
Directors -Win. Rinn, No. 2, Sea-
forth;
erforth; John. Bennewies, Brodbageei
James Evans, Beechwood; M. Me -
Ewen, Clinton; James Connolly, God-
erich; Alex, Broadfoot, No. 3, Sea-
forth;
eaforth; J. M. Sholdice, No. 4, Walton;
Robert Ferris, Harlock; George Mc-
Cartney, No. 3, Seaforth; Murray
Gibson, Brucefield.
Agens-James Watt, Blyth r.e.
No. '1, E. Hinehley, Seaforth; J. A.
Murray, r,r, No. 3, Seaforth; J- V
Yeo, Holtnesville; R. G. Jarman*.
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venlock, Seaforth, auditors. Faction
desirous to effect insurance or tram-
sact other business, will be prnmpt.Iy
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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
We Have a new automatic press with; great speed, recently
installed to produce printing, well done, with speed, and at 'mod-
erate cost,
THE $EAFORTH DEWS
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