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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Seaforth News, 1931-10-01, Page 6PAC 2.1x sammoomoisaa=ireear, Ataiianiumbiammuon .rovvrarriagansam-. • of the word Hand. mmusaasee By S. R. erockett (Continued •frOM Last Week). The Princess Margaret went to the inner door and clappecl her hands sharply. The fair haired !Swedish maiden came running to her. She :had been .tkaiting forsuch a signal. "Thora," said her mistress in a quick whisper, "we must put off this marriage. I Would sooner die than marry Ivan. You have that drug you spoke of—that which gives the ap- pearance of sickness unto death with- out the reality. The Lady Joan must be ill, very ill. You understand, we must deceive even the Prince's physi- cians," The girl nodded with quick under- standing, and, turning, she sped away up the inner stair to her own sleeping - chamber, the key of which (as Was the custom in ICoentland) she carried in her 'pocket, "This will keep you from being sus- pected—as in public places you would have been," whispered Margaret to her young husband.i "What 'Mora thinks or knows does not matter. I can trust Thora with my life—nay, what is far more, with yours," A light tap and the girl re-entered, a tall phial in her hand. With a swift look at her mistress to obtain per- mission, she went up to the couch upon which the Sparhawk had lain down. Then with a deft hand she op- ened the 'bottle, and pouring a little of a colourless liquid into a cup she gave it to him to drink, In a few minutes a sickly pallor slowly overspread Itatir- ice von Lynar's 'brow. His eyes ap- peared 'injected, the lips paled to a grey white, beads of perspiration stood in the forehead, and his whole countenance took on the hue and ex- pression of mortal sickness. "New'," said Thora, when she had finished, "will the noble lady deign to swallow one of these pellicles, and in ten minutes not a leech in ;the country will be able to pronounce that she is not suffering from a dangerous dis- ease." "You are sure,. Thora," said the Princess ',Margaret almost fiercely, • laying her hand on her tireavonran's wrist, "that there is no harm in all this? Remember, on your life be it!" The placid, flaxen haired women turned with the Hale silver box .in her hand, "Danger there is, dear mistress," she said softly, "but not, I think,o great danger as we are already in, But I will prove my honesty—" She took a little of the liquid, and immediately after swallowed one of the white pellicles she had given Maurice. "It will he as well," she said, "when the Prince's physicians come, that They should find another sicken- ing of the same disease." Thora of 113or.n.holin passed about the couch and took up a waiting - maid's station some way behind. 'AN is ready," she said softly. "We will forestall them," answered the Princess. "Thora, send and bid Prince 'Louis come hither quickly." And shall I also ask him to send hither his most skilled doctors of healing?" added th•e girl. "I will de- spatch Johannes Rode. He will go quickly and answer as I bid him with discretion—and without asking ques- tions." And with the noiseless tread pecul- iar to most lolo.nde women of large physique, Thora disappeared through the private door by Which she( had entered. The Princess Margaret kneeled down by the couch and looked' into the face of the Sparhawk. Even: she who had seen. the wonder was amazed and almost frightened by the ghastly effect the drug had wrought in, such short spate. "You are sore that you do not feel any ill effects—you are perfectly well?" she said, with trans.:dote anx- iety in her voice, The Sparhawk smiled and nodded .reassuringly up at her. ',Never better," he said "My. nerves are iron, my muscles steel. I feei,as if, THE SEAFORTH NEWS. • for my Margaret's sake, 1 could van- quish an army of .Prince Ivan's single handed!" The Princess rose from her place and unlocked the main ddor. "We will be ready for them," she said. "Ali must appear as though we had no motive for concealment." And, having drawn the curtains somewhat closer, she kneeled dOwn again by the couch. There' was no sound in the coons as the youthful husband and wife thus waited' their fate hand in hand, save only the ,soft continuous sibilance of their whis- pered converse, and from without the deeper note of the Alla sapping the Palace walls. CHAPTER KKZVI The Black DeMb, The Princes of Cour-Sand and Mus- covy, inseparable as the Princesses, were on the pleasant creeper -shaded terrace which looks over the rose garden of the palate of Courtland down upon the sea plain of the Baltic; now stretching blue black from verge to verge under the imminent sun of MOIL Prince Louis moved restlessly to and fro, now biting his lip, now frowning and fumbling with his sword -hilt, and anon half drawing .,his jewelled dagger from its sheath and allowing it to slip back again .with the faintly musical click of sperfectly fitting steel. Ivan of Muscovy, on the other hand, lounged listlessly in the angle of an embrasure, alternately contemplating his red pointed toes shod in Cordovan leather, and glanc- ing keenly from tinder his eyelids at his nervous companion as •diten as his back was mimed in the course of his ceaseless perambulations. "You would desert me, Ivan," Prince Louis was saying in• a tone at once appealing and chilIdishIly aggres- sive: "you would leave me in my hour of need. You would take from me my sister Margaret, .who alone has influence with the Princess, my wife!" "But you do not try to court the lady with any proper fervour," ob- jected Ivan, half hurnauring and half irritating his companion; "you ob- serve none of the rules. Speak her soft., praise her ,eyella:shes—surely they are worthy of all praise; give her a pet lamb for a playmate. Feed her with conserves of •honey and spice, •Surely such corn:fits would! mollify even Joan of the Sword 'Handl" "Tushl—you flout me, Ivaitieven you. Every one despises me since— since she flouted ane. The woman is a tigress, 1 tell you. Every time she looks at me her eyes flick across tne like a whip-lashl" "That is but her maiden Modesty, How often is it 'assumed .ta cover lovel" murmured Ivan, demurely smiling at ;his shoe point, Whiels nodd- ed automatically before him. "So doth the glance of my sweet bride of to- day, your own sister 'Margaret. To all seeming she loves ine as .fittle as the Lady jean does you. Yet I am not afraid. I know ,women. Before I have her a month in If:wow she will run that else may be allowed. to pull ,my shoes off and on. She will be oast of breath with hosting to fetch my slip- pers—together withother little do- mestic offices of that sort, all very profitable for wamen's soulsto per- form. Take pattern by me, Lonis, and teach the tigress to bring your shoes and tie your hose •poihrts. In a • little while she will like it and hold up her cheek to be kissed for a sufficient re- ward." At this point an officer catne s.wrift- ly across the parterre and stood with uncovered bead by the steps of the terrac,ewaiting permission to ascend Th e Prin ce stmnsoned him with a movement of his hand. "What news?' he ,said; "have the ladies yet left the Summer 'Palace?" my lord," answered the •ofificer earnestly, "but Johannes Rode df the Princess; Margaret's honselhold has come with a message that the plague his broken out there, and that the 'Lady Princess is the first stricken!" THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1931. r. .imaelammorgeocmamiraterummusonsomeanswor " hich Princess?" cleinancted Ivan, cringing movement of hontage and with au instant incision of tone. saintatiOn, he bent to th,e young .man's "The Lady :loan, Princess of Court- ear and Whispered huff .a dozen wo.rda, land, your Highness," repliedthe Prince Ivan nodded very slightly aad, titan, without; however, looking at the the man stole away as he had came. Prinee Of Muscovy'. No one in the roam heti noticed the "The Lady Joan?" cried the Prince inCident. Louis, "She is ill?" She has br.ought Meanwhile Louis of Court's:rid, al - the 131ack Death with her from most as pale as Thora herself, his lis Kernshergl She is' stricken with the bine, his teeth chattering, his fingers' plague? How fortunate that, so, far, I clammy with perspiration, gaud by' the bedside. Presently a hand was He • clapped MO hand upon. his brow laid upon his arm. He started violent - and 'shut his eyes as if giving thanks, ly at the touch. • 'I see it all now!" he cried. This "Ilt is true—e bad case," said Ivan.. is the reason the ICernsberg traitors ii, his ear. "Let us got away; I must were so ;willing to 'g'ive her trp. It is speak with You at once, The physi- all a plot against my life. I will not clans have given their verdict. They go near. Let the court physicians be can do nothing!" , sent! Cause the doors of the' Summer .with a gasp of 'relief •Prince Louis Palace to be sealed,' Set double faced about, and ds he turood he tot - guards! Permit none to pass either tered. • way, save the doctors only! And let "Steady, friend L;ouis!" said Prince them change their clothes a,nd per- Ivan in his ear, and passed his arm fake themselves with the s.nroke of about his waist. sulphur before they come outl" ff-le began to. fear lest he 'should fHis•.voice mounted higher and, high, have frightened his dupe too 'thor- er as, he spoke, and I'van of Muscovy °tightly, watched hins without speaking, as 'See how he loves herr murmured with liantls ,thrust out:and dis:tended the doctors of healing, still .conferring nostrils he screamed an,d gesticulated. with their heads together, "Who PrinibtiNin had nee.er seen a thor- would have believed 'it possible?" ough posvard,:before, and the breed in- terestdarlthfi. ‘l'ut when he had let the ,Prince run on far •enough to shame him before -his own officer, he rose quietly 'and stood in front of him. land. In hall an hour we shall hear "Louis,"' he said, in a loav voice,' the death -rattler "listen :la,nstst_ehis is but a report, It "Then these is no need of us stay - is Itke 'enough to be false; it is certain ing," said more than one learned doe - to be ele;13ggelra$0, Let us go ,at once tor, and they moved softly towards and 6ncloht7. 'Prince' Iliffifsr" threw out his hands with a gesture ofclespair. "Not I—not 1,1'4:be •cried. "You may go if you like, if pits do not value your life. !But do not .feel well even "Nay, he is Only mach afraid," said Alexis tile Deacon, the Muscovite; "and small :blame to him; now that the Black Death has come to Court- the door, But Ivan hatlp.osseseed himself of the key, and even as the hand of the first was on the latchet bar the bolt was shot in Isis face. And the eyes of Alexis glowed between his narrOw red eyelids like the sparks now. Yesterday I kissed her hand. Alit in tinder as he glanced at the whiten - would to iG.ocl that If had not! That is ing faces of the learned men of it. I wondered what ailed inc this Courtland, morning. GO—stop ;the court physi- Without the door Ivan fixed Prince clans! Do not let them go.to the Sum- Louis with his will. • . mer Palace;bring them to me first. Your arm, officer; I think 1 will go to my room—I am not well." Prince ' Ivan's countenance grew mottled and greyish, and' his teeth showed in the sun like a elsiss lime of dazzling white. He grasped the pol- treen by the wrist. ivith a hand of "Now," he said, speaking in loNv trenchant tones, "if this be indeed the Black Death (and it is like it), there is no safety for us here. We must ge't without the walls. In am hour there will he such a panic in the city as has not been gor centuries. I offer you a way of escape, lehiy Cossacks stand steel. horsed and ready without.' Let us go with Elem. But the Princess Mara- aret must come also!" "She cannot --she cannot. I will not permit it. Slhe may already be in- fected!" gasped Prince Louis. "There is no infection till tlse crisis of the disease is passed," said Prince Ivan firmly. "We have had: massy Now, cannot enter your wife's sPylamgptlieosmins.,Holy Russie, and know the chamber alone. ,Yet go I must, if only to see what all this means, and you shall ..accomlpany me. Do you hear, Prince Lonis? t swear you shall go with me to the Summer Palace if 1 have to drag yoti there step by step!" His grasp layl like a tightening circle of iron about the wrist of Prince Louis; his steady glance dom- inated the weaker man. Lotsis drew in his breath with a ,chalcing noise. "1 will," Ise gasped; "11 I must—I momentarily under the dark brows will go. But the Death—the Black of tile Muscovite. Death! I am sick—truly, Ivan, I .ain "Listen, Prince Louis," he said, very sick!" "Your honour is your honour. Joan • "So am I!" said Prince Ivan, smil- of the Savord Hand •and her Black ing griosiy. "But bring his Highness Plagues are your own affair. :She is a cup df wine, and send hither, Alexis your wife, not mine. I have helped the Deacon, my own physician." you get her back—no more.',But the The officer went out cursing the Princess Margaret is my business, I Muscovite ears that had listened to have bought her with a price, And such things, and also high Heaven for look you, sir, I will 'not ride back to giving such a Prince to his true Ger- ,Russia, empty handed,' that every pet - man fatherland. ty boyar and sitanveling serf may "Listen," he skicl—"no more of this; I will not have it! I will not waste my own time and the blood of my father's soldierS for naught. This is but some woman's trick to delay the marriage—II know it. Hearken! I fear neither Bla'cic Death nor black devil; I will have the Lady .Margaret to -day if I have to wed her on her death -bed! ("Indeed," he added to' himself, "my physician, Alexis, can produce them!") "But—but—but—" Louis still ob- jected, "the -Princess Jbam—she may die. It will reflect upon my honour if we all desert her. My sister must continue to attend . her. They are friend's. I will go with you...Marg- aret can remain and nurse her!" A light like a .spear paint glittered * * * stare at me, saying, 'He helped the Princes Ivan ,and .Prin,ce Louis stood Prince of .Courtland to win his wife, at the door of the river parlour. The but he could not bring tack one him - peculiar moving hush and tepidly self.' The whole city, the whole coon - stagnant air of a sick -room penetrated try from here to Moscow know for even through the panels. Ivan still what cause I have so long sojourned kept hold of his friend, but now; 'bV in your capital. No, Prince Louis, will the hand, not 'compulsively, but rather. you have MC go as your friend or as, like one who in time of trouble cons- your enemy?" fort's another's sorrow. "Ivan—Ivan, you are illy' friend. At either .end orf the corridor could Do not speak to me so! 'Who else is be seen a guard of Cossacks keeping my friend if you desert me?" it against all intrusion from without "Then give Isle your sister!" or exodus from within. So Prince The Prince cast u.p his hand with, a Ivan had ordered it. Hits fellows were little gesture of despair. used to the plague, he said., "All," Ise sighed, "y,ou do not know At the Princess's door Prince Ivan Miargaret! She is not in any gift, OT tapped gently and inclined Isis ear to you should have had her tong ago! listen. ,011, these troubles, these troubles! "The Prince Louis to see the Prin- When will they be at an end?" cess Jroalll" Ivan answered 1:11;e' low- "They are at an end nosv," said voiced ohallenge front within, The prince Ivan consolingly. "Call your door opened slightly and then more sister out of the chamber on a pre - widely. Ivan putshed his friend for- text. In ten minutes we shall be at ward and they entered, Louis drag- the cathedral gates. In another ten ging one foot after the other towards she and 1 can*he wedded according to the shaded couch by which knel.t the your cs' P,riticess Margaret. Thora of Porn- shall alulbt'emdinih mitsice thealf anhourwalls.ffwe you holm, pallid and blue -lipped, stood be- fear the infection you need not once side her, swaying a little, but still come near her. I will do all that is holding, half uncoil sci ous y , as' it necessary. And what more niaturai? seemed, a silver basin, into which We will be gone before the 'panic Margaret dipped a fine linen, cloth, breaks—you to one df your hill before touching with 'it thq foam- castles—if you do Hot tviin to come flecked, lips of the sufferer. Prince wi,th us to mos,cow,,, Ivan remained a little back, near to "And the ,Princess Joarr—?" falter - where the ,court physicians were con- ed the coward. ,ferring together M stage whispers. As "She is in good hands," said the he passed, a tail grey skirted long- Prince, truthfully for once, "I pledge bearded than, giri about the muddle you my word of honour she is in no with a silver chain, detached himself danger. Call your sieterl" from the official group and approach- Even as he spoke he tapped lightly,, ed Prince Ivan, Arftpr an instinctive turned the key in the lotIc and Wins- . perecl,' 'Now," to the Prince, of PROFESSIONAL CARD,g• Courtin-IA"'Tell the l?rinces's Margaret 1 Mechipah tk,,oiild speak with her!" said Prince Ilanis, "For e moment only!" he add- ed,-fAring that otherwise she might not Come. 1There'was 3 stir) in the sick &haul- ber quick steps were heard coming lightly across the floor. The face of ••.the Princes* aPPeared at the , DR. H. HUGH ROSS, Physician. and Surgeon. Late of London Hos- pital, London, England. Special attention to diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat. Office and resi- dence behind Dominion Dank. Office Phone No, 5; Residence Phone 104 - "Well?" she said haughtily to her brother, Prince Ivan she •clid not see for he had stepped' back sito the disk of the corridor. Louis secleoned bes sister without, "I must speak awlord with you," 'he said. "I wou,Ild not have these fel lows hear us!" she stepped out un- suspectingler. Instantly the door was rcloeed behind her, A 'dark figure slid between.' Prince Ivan turned the key and laid his.rhand upon her arm, DIR. F. J. R. FlOIRSITEIR—Eye, Ear '"Haipl" she oried, struggling; "help •Nose and Th'roat. Graduate in Medi - me' For God's grace, let me go!" cine, University of Toronto 1€97. But from behind came four Cos- Late Assistant New York Ophtfral- sacks of the Prince's retinue . who mic and Aural Institute, Moorefield's half-capsiecl, half forced her along to- Eye, and Golden Square throat hospi- wards, the gates at which the 1\11.us- MU, London, England. At Gomm- covite horses stood ready saddled, ercial Hotel, Seaforth, 3rd Monday in And as Margaret was carried down each month, from 11 a.m. to 3.p.m. the passage the alarmed' servitors stood aloof froN her cries, seeing thalt Prince Louis himself was with her. Yet she cried out unceasingly in her anger and fear, "To me, men of Courtland! The COSSVOICS carry Inc off—I will not go!: 0 God, that Con- rad were here! I will not be silent. Maurice, save me!" • iBut the people only shfugged their shoulders even when . they heard—as ` did also the guards and the gentle- men-in-uvaiting, the underlings and the very porters at the Palace gates. ;For they said, "They are strange folk, these Courtland princes and prin- cesses of ours, with their marriages and their givings in marriage. They can neither wed nor bed like other people, but must make all this fuss about it. Well—iiappily it is no busi- ness of ours!" Then at the stair foot she Sank suddenly down by the sundial, almost feinting with the sudden alarm and fear (crying for the last time and yet more piercingly, ".Mauricel :Aeuri.ce I Come to me, )sfaurice!" Then above them in the Palace there began a mightly elandor, the noise of blows stricken and the roar of many voices. 13ut Ivan of Muscovy was neitehr to be hurried nth flurried. IMpassive and determined, he swung himself into the saddle.' His black charger changed himself to take his weight and looked about to welcome him—for he, too, 'knew his master. "Give the Princess to me," he commanded. "Now assist Prince 'Louis into his sadtile. To the cathed- ral, all of y.otil" QIIAPTIEIR XX XVII. 11.1,R. F. J. •Bitl1R1ROIWIS, Seaforth. Office and residence,. Goderich street, east of the United Church. Coroner for the County of Huron. Telephone No, 46, ' • Dike C MIACKIAY.—C. Mackay, honer graduate of Trinity University and gold medallist of Trinity Medical College; member of ,the College of Physicians and/ Surgeons of Ontario. DIR, W. C. SIPIROAT.--Graduate cif Faculty of Medicine, University df Western Ontario, London. Member of College of 'Physicians and Sur- geons of Ontario. Office in rear af Aberhart's drug store, Seaforth. Phone 90. Hours 1.30-4 p.ris., 7.38 -9 'P.m, Other hours by appointment. The Dropping of a Cloak, •And so, with the moulted guard of his own •Cossacks before him •and be- hind, Prince Ivan carried his bride to church through the streets of her na- tiv,e city. And the folk thronged and marvelilecl at this n new custom of mar- rying. But none interfered by word or sign, and the obsequious rabble shouted, "Long live Prince Ivan!" 'EV= some of the better disposed, who had no liking for the Muscovite alliance said, within their hearts looking at the calm set face of Prince Ivan, "He is a man! Would to God that our own Prince were more like Also many women nodded their heads and ran to • find their dearest gossips. "You will see," they said, "this one will have no ridings away. He takes his wife with him upon his saddsle-bow as a man should. And she will pretend that One dioes net like it. But secretly—ah, we know!" (To Be Continued) Let us have the names of your visitors Dental Dat j. A. MLTNIN, Successor to Dr. R. R. Ross, graduate of North- western University, Chicago, LIL Li- centiate Royal College of Dental Sur- geons, Toronto. Office over Si1147 hardware, Main St., .Seaforth. Phone 151. DR. F. J. BIECHELY, graduate Royal College of Dental Sargeous, Toronto. Office over W. R. Stnifa's grocery, Main St., Seaforth. Phones. office 185W, residence 1851j. Auctioneer. GEORGE ELLIOTT, Licensed Auctioneer for the County of litdou. Arrangements' can be made for Sale Date at The Seaforth News. Chargee moderate and satisfaction guranteed. WATSON, , AND REJD'$ REAL ESTATE AND INSURANCE AGENCY (Succssors to James 'Watson) MAIN ST., SEiA.FORITH, ONT. All kinds of Insurance risks effect ed at lowest rates in First -Clam 'Companies. THE McKILLOP, Mutual Fire Insurance Go. FARM AND ISOLATED TOtirld PEOPERITY, 0 N L Y, INSURM Officers—James Connolly, Goder- ich, Pres.; James Evans, Beechwdad, Vice President; D. F. McGregor. Seaforth, Sec. -Treasurer. . Directors --Wen. Rinn, *No. 2, Sea - forth; John Bennewies, Bronhagee; James Evans, Beeehwood; M. Ewen, Clinton; Clinton; James Connolly, God- eric.h; Alex. Broadfoot, N. 3, Sea - forth; J. M. Sholdice, No. 4, Walton.; Robert Ferris, Harlock; George Mc- Cartney, No. 3, Seaforth; Murray Gibson, Bracelfield. Agens--james Watt, Blyth r.r. No. 1, E. Hinchley, Seafortit; J. Murray, r.r. No. 3, Seaforth; Yeo, lialmesville; R. G. Yarmouth, Bornholm, James Kerr and John Go- venlock,, Seaforth, auditors. 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