The Seaforth News, 1931-07-09, Page 6PAGE SIX
THE SEAFORTH NEWS.
THURSDAY, JULY 9, 1931.
JOAN
of the
Swordand
By S. R. Crockett
(Continued from last week.)
But the young man's gaze passed
over her shoulder, Behind Margaret
of Courtland he saw a man standing
at the door with his hand still on the
latch. A dark frown overspread his
face. The Princess, instantly con-
scious that the interest had gone out
of the situation, followed the direc-
tion of Von Lynar's eyes, She rose
to her feet as the young Dane also
had done a moment before.
Maurice recognised the man who
stood by the door as the same whom
he had seen on the ground in the
yew -tree walk when he and Joan of
the Sword Hand had faced the howl-
ing mob of the city. For the second
time Prince Wasp had interfered with
the amusements of the Princess
Margaret.
The lady looked haughtily at the
intruder.
"To what," she said, "ant I so
fortunate as to owe the unexpected
honour of this visit?"
"I came to pay my respects to your
Highness," said Prince Wasp, bowing
law, "I did not know that the Prin-
cess was amusing herself. It is my
ill -fortune,. not my fault, that I in-
terruptell 'at'a' point so full of -in-
terest."
It was the truth. The point was de-
cidedly interesting, and therein lay
the sting of the situation, as probably
the Wasp knew full well.
"You are at liberty to leave me
now," said the Princess, falling back
on a certain haughty dignity which
she kept in reserve behind her head-
long impulsiveness.
"I obey, madam," he replied; "but
first I have a message from the
Prince your brother. He asks you to
be goad enough to accompany his
bride to the minster to -morrow. He
has been it all day with his oId
trouble, and so cannot wait in person
upon his betrothed. He must abide
in solitude for this day at least.
Your Highness is apparently more.
fortunate!"
The purpose of the insult was
plain; hut the Princess Margaret re-
strained herself, not, however, hating
the insulter less,
"I pray you, Prince Ivan," she
said, "return to my brother and tell
him that his commands are ever an
honour, and shall be obeyed to the
letter,"
She bowed in dignified dismissal.
Prince Wasp swept his plumed 'hat
along the floor with the profundity
of his retiring salutation, and in the
same moment he flashed out his
sting.
"I leave your I3ighenss with less
regret because 1 perceive that soli-
tude has its. compensations 1" he said,
The pair were left alone, but all
things seemed altered now. Margaret
-of Courtiand was silent and distrait.
Von Lynar had a frown uponhis
brow, and his eyes were very dark
and angry.
"Next time I roust kill the fellow!
he muttered, He took the hand of the
Princess and respectfully kissed it.
"I am your servant," he said; "I
will do your bidding in all things, in
life or in death. If I h,"
forgotten
anything, in aught been remiss, be-
lieve me that it was fate and not I
I will never presume, never count on
your friendship past your desire,
recall your ancient goodness; I air
hilt a poor soldier, yet at !east I can
faithfully keep my word."
The Princess withdrew her hand as
if she had been somewhat fatigued.
"Do not be afraid," she said a little
bitterly, "I shall not forget. I have
not been wounded in the head! Only
in the heard" she added, as she turn-
ed away.
CHAPTER XIV
At The High. Altar
When Maurice von Lynar reached
the open air he stood far full five
minutes, light-headed in the rush of
the oity traffic. The loud iteration of
rejoicing sounded heartless 'and even
impertinent in his ear. The world
had changed for the young - Ding
since the Count von Loen had been
summoned by the Princess Margaret.
He cast his mind back over the
interview, but failed to disentangle
anything definite. It was a maze of
impressions out of which grew the
certainty that, safely to play his dif-
ficult part, he must obtain the whole
confidence of the Duchess Joan.
He looked about for the Prince of
Muscovy, but failed to see him,
Though not anxious about the re -
suit, he was rather glad, for he did
not want another quarrel on his
hands till after the wedding. He
would see the Princess Margaret
there. If he played his cards well
with the bride, he night even he
sent for to escort her.
So he made his way to the niagni.
ficent suite of apartments where the
Duchess was lodged. The Prince
had ordered everything with great
consideration. Her own horsemen
patrolled the front of the palace, and
the Courtland guards were for the
time being wholly withdrawn.
It seemed strange that Joan of "the
Sword Hand, who not so long ago
had led many a dashing foray and
been the foremost in many a brisk
encounter, should be a bride! It
could not be that once he had imag-
ined her the fairest woman under the
sung and himself, for her sake, the
most miserable of men. Thus do
lovers deceive themselves when the
new has come to obliterate the old.
Some can even persuade themselves
that the old never had any existence,
The young Dane found the Duch-
ess walking up and down on the noble
promenade which faces the river to
the west. For the water curved in a
spacious elbow about the city of
Courtland, and the summer palace
was placed in the angle.
Maurice von Lynar stood awhile
respectfully waiting for the Duchess
to recognise him, Werner, John of
Thorn, or any of her Kernaberg cap-
tains would have gone directly up to
her. But this youth had been train-
ed 110 another school.
Joan of Hohenstein stood a while
without moving, looking out upon
the river. She thought with a kind.
of troubled shyness of the morrow,
oft dreamed of, long expected. She
saw the man whom she was not
known to have seen—the noble young
man of the tournament, the precious
Prince of the sunnier parlour, court-
eous and dignified alike to the poor
secretary of embassy and to his sis-
ter the Princess Margaret of Court-
land. Surely there never was any
one like him—proudly thought this
girl, as she looked across the river
at the rich plain studded with far -
smiling faros and fields just waking
to life after their long winter sleep,
"Ah, Von Lynar, my brave Dane,
what good wind blows you here?"
she cried, "I declare I was longing
for some one to talk to." A con-
sciousness of need which had only
just come to her.
"I have seen the Princess Marg-
aret," said the youth slowly, "and I
think that she must mistake me for
some other person. She spoke things
most strange n
t metohear.Btt fear-
ing
t f ar
ing I might meddle with affairs
wherewith I had no concern, I fore -
bore to correct her."
The eyes of the Duchess danced. A
load seemed soddenly lifted off her
mind.
"Was she very angry?" she quer-
ied.
"Very!" returned. Von Lynar, smil-
ing in recognition of her smile.
What said the Princess?"
"First she would have it that niy
name and style were those of the
Count Von Loen. Then she reproach-
ed inc fiercely because I denied it.
After that she spoke of certain for-
eign customs she had been taught.
recalled walks 'through corridors and
rose gardens with rue, all my head
swam. and I knew not what to an-
swer!'
Joan of the Sworn Rand laughed a
merry peal,
"The Count von Leen, did' .she,
say?' she 'Meditateld. "Well, so you
are Count von Loen I create you
the Count von Loen now, f g:ve you
the title. Lt is mine to give. By to-
morrow I shall have done'' with all
Mese things. And since as the Count
von Loen I drank the wine, it is fair
that you, who have to pay, the reek
cuing, should be the Count von LOC 11
also,"
"My family is noble, and I am sole
heir—that is, alive," said Matirice
a little drily, To his"inittd the grand-
son of Count von Lynar, of the order
of the D.annebrog, had no need of any
other dt t nchon.
.But I give you also therewith the
estates which pertain to the titleThey
are situated on the borders of Reich-
encu. I am so happy to -night that
would like to malice all the world.
happy. I am sorry for all the - folk I
have injured!"
"Love changes all things," said the
Dane sententiously.
The Duchess looked at liim quick-
lx.
"You are in love—with the Prin-
cess ;Margaret?" she said,
The youth blushed a deep crimson,
which flooded his neck and his dusky
skin.
"Poor Maurice!" she said, touching
his bowed head with her hand, "your
troubles will not be to seek."
"My lady," said the youth, "I fear
no trouble, I have promised to serve,
the Princess in all things. She has
been very kind to me. She has for-
given nie all."
"So—you are anxious to change
your allegiance," said the Duchess,
"It is as well that 1 have already,,
made .you Count von. Loen, and so in
a manner bound you to nie, or you
would be going off into another's ser-
vice with all my secrets in your keep-
ing. Not that it will matter very
much—alter to -morrow!" she added,
with a glance at the wing of the pal-
ace which held the summer parlour.
"But how did you manage to appease
her? That is no mean feat, She is an
imperious lady and quick of under-
standing."
Then Maurice von Lynar told hes
mistress of his mast allowable of
falsehoods, and begged her not to un-
deceive the Princess, for that he
would rattier bear all that she might.
put upon him than that she should
know he had .lied to her.
Do not be afraid," said the Duchess
laughing. "it was I who tangled the
skein. So far you have unravelled it
very well. The least I can do is to
leave you to unwind it to the end, my
brave Count von Loen."
'So they parted, the Duchess to her
apartment and the young pian to pace
up and down the stone flagged pro-
menade all eight, thinking of the dis-
tracting w'hininfes of the Princess
:Margaret, of the hopelessness of his
love, and, most of all, of how daintily
exquisite and altogether desirable
was her beauty of face, of figure, of
temper, of everything!
For the Sparhawk was not a lover
to make reservations.
The morning of the great day
dawned cool and grey. A sunshade
of misty cloud overspread the city
and tenhpered the heat. It had come
up with the morning wind from the
Baltic, and by eight the ships at the
quays, and the tall beflagged festal
masts in the streets through which
the procession was to pass, ran clear
up into it and were lost, so that the
standards and pennons on their tops
could not be seen any more than if
they had been amongst the stars.
The streets were completely lined
with the folk of the city of Courtland
as the Princess Margaret, with .the
Sparha-v-k and his company of lances
clattering behind her, rode to the en-
trance of the palace where abode the
bride -elect,
"Who is that youth?" asked 'Mar-
garet of Courtland of Joan, as they
came out together; she looked at the
Dane- "he at the head of your first
troops? He looks like your brother,"
"He has often been taken for such"
said the bride, ".He is called the
Count von Loen l"
The .Princess did not reply, and as
the two fair women came out arm in
arni, a sudden glint of sunlight broke
through the leaden clouds and fell up-
on then
,glorifying th
e white tress
of
the one, and the blue and geld appar-
el of the other,
The bells of the monster clanged a
changeful thunder of brazen acclaim
as the bride set cut for the first time
(so they told each other on the
streets) to see her promised hus-
band.
"'P; -as well we did not sa manage
our affairs, Hans," said a fishmonger's
wife, touching her husband's arms
archly.
Yea, wife," returned the seller of
fish; whatever thou heist, at least
I cannot deny that I took thee with
iny' eyes open!"
They reached the Rathhaus, and.
the clamour grew louder than ever.
Presently they were at the cathedral
and making them ready to disinount.
The beds in the towers above burst
into yet more frantic jubilation, The
cannons soared from the ramparts.
The Princess Margaret had delay-
ed a little, either taking longer to her
the bride. So that when the shouts
in the wide Minster Place annot nce'd
their arrival, all was in readine'ss with-
in the crowded church, and the bride-
groom had ,gone in well-nigh half an.
hour before them. But that was in
accord with the best traditions.
Very like a Princess and a great
lady looked Jioan of Ho'hanetein as
she went tip the aisle; with Margaret
of Courtland by her side.' She kept
Iter eyes on the' ground, for she amean!t
to look at no one and behold nothing
till she should see—that which she
longed to look upon. i
Sndenly she was conscious that
they had stopped in the middle of a
vast silence. The candles upon the
great altar threw down a golden
lustre, (Joan sawthe irregular shin-
ing of thein an her white bridal dress,
and wondered tha't it should be so
bright.
There was a lius'h over all the
assembly, the silence of a great mul-
titude all intent upon one tiring,
"My brother, the Prince of Coiurt-
land!" said the voice of the Princess
Margaret.
'Slowly Joan raised her eyes—pride
and happiness' at war with a kind of.
glorious shame upon her face.
il3ut that one look altered ell things.,
;She stood fixed, turned to stone as
she gazed. :She could neither speak
nor think, T -hat which she saw al-
most struck her dead with horror.
The 'man whom his sister intro-
duced as the Prince of Courtland was
not the knight of the tournament. He
was not the young prince of the
smuttier palace. He was a man much
older, more meagre of body, grey -
headed, with an odd sidelong expres-
sion in hes eyes. His shoulders were
bent, and he carried himself like a
man prematurely old,
And there, behind the altar -railing,
clad in the scarlet of a prince -of the
Church, and wearing the mitre of a
bishop, stood the husband of her
heart's deepest thoughts, the man
who had never been out of her mind
all these weary months. He held a
service book in his. hand, and stood
ready to marry Joan of Iiohenstein
to another.
The man who was called Prince of
Courtland came forward to take her
hand but Joan stood with her arms
firmly at her sides- The terrible
nature of her mistake flashed upon
her and grew in horror with every
moment, Fate seemed to laugh sud-
denly and mockingly in her face.
Destiny shut her in,
"Are you the Prince of Courtland?"
she asked; and at the sound of her
voice, unwontedly clear in the great
church, even the organ appeared to
still itself. ;All listened intently,
though only a few heard the comver-
sation,
"'I have that honour," bowed the
man with the bent shoulders.
"Then, as 'God lives, I will never
marry you!" cried Joan, all her soul
111 the disgust of her voice.
"Be not disdainful, my lady," said
said the bridegroom mildly; "I will
be your humble slave. You shall
have a palace and establishment of
your own, an it like you. .The marri-
age was your father's desire, and hath
tho sanction of the Emperor. It is as
necessary for your State as for mine."
Then, while the people waited in a
kind of palpitating uncertainty, the
Princess Margaret whispered to the
bride, who stood with a face ashen
pale as her own white dress.
Sometimes she looked at the Prince
of Courtland, and then immediately
averted her eyes. But never , after
the first glance, did Joan permit them
to stray to the face of him who stood
behind the altar railings with his ser-
vice book in his hand.
"Well," she said finally, "I will
marry this man, since it is my fate.
Let the ceremony proceed!"
" I thank you, gracious lady," said
the Prince,' taking her hand and lead-
ing his bride to the altar, "You will
never regret it,"
" No, but you wild!" muttered his
groomsman,. the Prince Ivan of .flus
covy.
The full rich tones of the orince
bishop rose and fell through the
crowded minster as Joan of lriohen-
stein was married to his elder brother
and with
t the closing n
g word s of the.
episcopal benediction an awe fell up-
on the multitude. They felt that they
were in the presence of great un-
known forces, the action and inter-
action of which might lead no man
knew whither.
At the close of the service, Joan
now Princess of Courtland, leaned
over and whispered a word to her
chosen captain, Maurice von Lynar,.
an action noticed by few, The young
man started and gazed into her face;
but, immediately cotnmanding his
emotion, he nodded and disappeared
by a side door.
The great organ swelled out, The
marriage procession was re-formed.
The prilrce-bishop had retired to his
sacristy to change his robes. The.
The new Princess of Courtland came
etlows the aisle on the arm of her hus-
band.
ff1hen the bells almost turned over
in their fury of jubilation, and every'.
attiring, or, perhaps, gossiping with cannon in the city 'bellowed out, The
people shouted 'themselves hoarse,
and the line of Courtland troops Who
kept the people back had great 'dif-
ficulty in restraining the enthusiasm
which threatened- to break all bound's
and involve the married pair in. 0
whirling tuntul't of acclaim.
In the centre of the Minster Place
the foto- hundred lance's of the Kerns
berg escort had 'forme,d up, a serried
mass of beautiful - well-grooh1aed
horses, . stalwart men, and shining
spears, from each of which the pen-
non of their mistress fluttered in the
li i giwi d. t vn
Hal there they come at last! See
them on the steps!" The shouts rang
out, and the people flung; their head-
gear wildly- into the air. The Bee of
Courtiand foot saluted, bat no. cheer
carne from the array of K_ernsberg
lances,
"They are sorry to lose her -and
small wonder. Well, she is ours
now 1" the people cried, congratulat-
ing one another as thoy shook hands
and the wine gurgled out of the pig-
skins
ig-
skins into innumerable thirsty
mouths,
On the steps of the minter, after
they had descended more than half-
way, the new .Princess of Courtland
turned upon her lord, Her hand ship-
ped from his arm, which hong,s mo-
ment crooked .and empty before it
dropped to ihs side. His mouth was
a little open with surprise, Prince
Louis knew that he was wedding a
wilful dame, but lie had not been pre-
pared for this.
"N'o t, my lard," said the Princess
Joan, loud and clear. "I have married
you, The hoed of heritage brother-
hood is fulfilled. I have obeyed my
father to the letter. I have obeyed
the Emperor: I have done all. Now
be, ft known to you and to all 01611 that
I will neither live with you nor yet
in your city. I am your wife in
name. You shall never be my hus-
band in aught else. I bid you fare-
well, Prince of Courtland. Joan. of
Hohenstein may marry where she is
hidden, but she loves where she will."
The horse upon which she had
come to the minster stood waiting
There was the Sparhawk ready to
help her into the saddle.
Ere one of the wedding guests
could move to prevent her, before the
Prince of Courtland could cry an or-
der or decide What to do, Joan of the
Sword Hand had placed 'herself at
the head of four hundreZ lances, and
was riding through the shouting
streets towards the Plasscnbung gate,
The people •cheered ds she went by,
clearing the way that she might not
be annoyed. They thought it part of,
the day's sho'w, and voted the
Kernsbergers a gallant band, well set
up and right bravely arrayed.
So they passed through the gate in
safety. The noble portal was all a-
flutter with colour, the arms of Ho-
henstein and Courtland being quar-
tered together on a great . wooden.
plaque over the main entrance.
As sdon as they were clear the
Princess Jaan turned in her saddle
and spoke to the four Hundred be-
hind her.
"We ride hack to Kernaberg," she
cried. "Joan of the Sword Hand is
wed, but not yet won, I,f they would
keep her they must first catch her.
Are you with me, lads of the hills?"
Then carie back a unanimous shout
of "Aye—to the death!" from four
hundred throats,
"Then give me a sword and put the
horses to their speed. We ride for
home. Let them catch us who can!"
(To Be Continued.)
D. H. McInnes
Chiropractor
Of Wingham, will be at the
Commercial Hotel, Seaforth
Monday, Wednesday and
Friday . Afternoons
Diseases of all kinds success-
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PROFESSIONAL 'CARDS
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