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The Seaforth News, 1931-08-06, Page 6PAGE SIX THE SEAFORTH NEWS. THURSDAY, AUGUST 6; 1933. of the wordHand By S. R. erockett (Continued from Last Week)' Joan and her chief captain rode on ahead, Von Orseln glancingkeenly about him, and Joan riding free and careless, as in the old days when she overpassed the hills to drive a prey from the lands of her father's enemies. It was grey morning when they came to a goat -herd's hut at the top of the green valley. Already they had passed the bounds of Hohenstein by half a dozen miles, The goatherd had led his light -skipping train to the hills for the day, and the rude and chaotic remains of his breakfast were still on the table. Boris and .Jorian cleared these away, and, with the alacrity of seasoned Hien-at-arms, they placed before the party a breakfast prepared with speed out of what they had brought with them and those things which they had found to their hand by foraging in the 'larder of the goat- herd—to wi't, sliced' neat's-tongue dried in the smoke, and bread of fine wheat which Jorian had carried all the way in a net at his saddle bow. Boris had charge of the wine skins, and upon a shelf above the door they found a. great butter -pot full of freshly made curled goats' milk, very delici- ous both to' taste and smell. 01 these things they ate and drank largely, Joan and Von Orseln being together at the upper end of the table. Boris and Jorian had tosit with them, though much against their wills, being (spite of their sweethearts) more ac- customed to the company of honest men-at-arms than to the practice of dainty eating in ladies' society. Joan undertook to rally them upon their 'loves, for whose fair fingers, as it has been related in an earlier chap- ter, she had given them rings. "And how took your Katrin the ring, Boris?" she said, looking- at him past the side of her glass. 'For Jorian had bethought him to bring one for the Duchess, the which he cleansed and cooled at the spring without. As for the others, they all drank out of one wooden whey -cog, as was most fittin g. ''Why, she took it rarely," said honest Boris, "and swore to love are more than ever for it. \Ve are to be married upon my first return to Plan- senburg." "Which, perhaps, is the reason that you are in no hurry to return thither, seeing that you stopped short at the frontier last week?" said the Duchess shrewdly. "Nay, my lady, that grieved ane sore—for, indeed, we love each other dearly, Katrin and I," persisted Cap- tain Boris, thinking. as was his cus- tom, to lie himself out of it by dint of the mere avoirdupois of • t overation. "That is the greater marvel," 'return- ed the lady, smiling upas him, "be- cause when I last spoke with you con- cerning the matter, her name was not Katrin, but Gretchen!" Boris was silent, as well ile night be, for even as he 4ied he had had some lurking. suspicion of this. him- self, He felt that he could get no fur- ther but this avenue, T.he lady now turned to Jorian, who, having digested the defeat and shame of Boris was ready to be very indig- nant at his companion for Avian claimed his sweetheart. "And yoti, Captain Jorian." she said, "how went it with you? Was your ring well received " "Aye, unary," said that gallant cap- tain, '/better than well. Much better! Never did fI sec woman so grateful. Katrin, whom this long, wire -drawn splenetic fool hath lyingly claimed as his by some trick of tongue horn of his tarrying the malmsey at his sad- dlebow)---Katrin, I say, did kiss and clip me so that my very, soul fainted within ire. She could ant make enough of the giver of such a precious thing as your Highnesses ring!" Jorian in his awn estimation was doing "very well, He thought h.e could tetter it yet. "Her eyes •sparl"led with joy. Her hand's twitched—she could not 'keep them frdm turning the pretty jewel about upon her finger. She swore ne- 1.1 ver to part with it while life lasted—" "Then," said Joan, smiling, "have, no more to do with her. She is a fatse wench and manswnnr. +For do not I see it upon the little finger of your left hand at this moment? Nay, do not turn the ,stone within. I know my gift, and will own it even if your Katrin (was it not?) hath despised U. What say you now to that, Jorian?" "My lady," faltered Jorian, striving manfully to recover himself, "when I came again in the honourable guise of an ambassador to kernsberg, Katrin gave it back again to are, saying. 'You have no signet ring. Take this, so that you be not ashamed among those others. Keep it for me. I my- self trill place it on your finger with a loving kiss."' "Well done, Captain Jorian, you are somewhat better liar than your friend. But stilt your exeuaes should accord better. The ring I gave you is not a signet ring. That Katrin of yours murtt have been ignorant indeed." 'With these wards of Joan of the Sword Hand rose to her feet, for the ex -men-at-arms had not so much as a word to say. "Let tas, now mount and ride home- ward," she said; "there are no enemy to be found on this northerly road. We shall be more fortunate upon another occasion." Then Werner Von Orseln nerved himaelf for a .battle more serious than any he had ever fought at the elbow _,f Henry the Lion of Hohcnstein. "My lady," he said, standing up and bowing gravely before her, "you see here eleven men who love you far above their lives, of whom II ani the chief, Two others also there are. who, though not of um- station, .are in heart joined with us, especially in this thing that we have done. With all re- spect, your Highness cannot go back, We have come out, not to make a reconnaiasance, but to part your Grace in a place of safety till the storm blows over." The Duchess had aloe*ly ,risen to her feet, with her hand on the sword which swung at her belt. "Von have suddenly gone mad, Werner! she said; "let us have no more of this. I bid you mount and rine. 'Back Co Kerisherg, I rayl Ye are not such fools and traitors as to deliver the maiden castle, the Eagle's Nest of 'Hohens'tein, into the 'hands of our enemies?" "Nay," said Von Orseln, looking steadily upon the ground, "that will we not do. Kernsberg is in good hands, and •wink fight 'bravely. But we cannot hold out with our few folk and scanty provender against the leaguer of thirty thousand. Neverthe- less we will not permit you to sacri- fice yourself for our sakes or for the sake of the women and children of the city." , Joan drew her sword. Werner von Orseln, will you Obey' tae, or must I slay you with my hand " she cried. The chief captain yet further bow- ed his heal and abased his eyes. "\Ve have thought also of this," he made answer. "lie you may kill, but these that are with me will defend ncnr e.vus, thongh they will not strike one they love more than their lives, But manby man we have sworn to do this thing. At all hazards you must abide in our hands till the datrger fs overpast. For me (this he added in a deeper tone), am your immediate officer. There as none to come between us. It is your right to slay are if you will. Mine 'is the ne- sponsibility for this deed, though the design was not mine. Here is my sword. Slay your chief captain with it if you will. He has faithfully served your house for five -and -thirty years. "Tis perhaps titre he resited now." And with these words Werner. von Orseln took his sword by the point and offered the hilt to his mistress. Joan of the Sword Hand shook with mingled passion and helplessness,' and her eyes were dark and Itroublous. "Put up your !blade," sine said, strik- ing aside 'the hilt with her' hand; "if youhave not deserved death, no more 'halve i deserved his Btityou said that the design was not yours. Who, th'en,has dared to plot against the liberty of Joan of IHohensteih?" "I would' ,I could claim the 'honour;" said Wermer the chief captain; "but truly the matter Game from Maurice' von ILynar the Dare. It is to his ,mother, who after the sleuth of her brother, the Count von Lynar, con- tinued to dwell in a secret strength on the Baltic shore, that we are con- ducting your !Grace!' "Maurice you Lynas?" exclaimed Joan, aston'is'hed. "He remains in Casale Keinsber then?" t ? 'Aye said Werner, relieved by her tone he will take your place when danger comes. In morning twilight or at dusk he drakes none so 111 a Lady Duchess, and, i' faith, his 'sword hand' is 'brisk enotrgh. If the town be taken,' better that be' than you be found in ]Castle Kernsberg; Is the thing not we'll invented, niy .lady.?"' aarerner looked up hopefully, He thought he :had pleaded his cause well, "Traitor 1 Supplanter t" cried Joan indignantly; "this Diane in my place! I will hang him from the highest vviudowv in the Castle of Kernsberg if ever I win back to mine own again!" "My lady," said Werner, gently and respectfully, "your servant Von Lynar bade ,me tell you that, he • would as faithfully and loyally take your place now as he did on a fo'rnser occasion!" "aah," said Joan, smiling warily with a quick change of mood, "I hope he will be more !eady to give up his priv- lieges on this occasion than on that!" She was thinking of the Princess -Margaret and the 'heritage of trouble upon which, as the Count von Loen, she had caused the 1Sparhawk to enter. Then a new thought seemed to strike her. '"But my nurse and my women- how can he keep the imposture se- cret? He may pass before the stupid eyes of men. But they—" "If your !Highness will recollect, they have been sent out of harm's way into Plassenburg. There is not a woman born of woman in all the Castle of Kernsberg!" "Yes," nursed Joan, "I have indeed been fairly cozened. I gave that order also by the Dane's advice. Well, let hint have his run. \Ve will reeve him a firm collar of hemp at the end of it, and maybe for Werner voi'Orscln, also, as a traitor alike to his (bread and his mistress. Till then I hope you will both enjoy playing your parts. The chief captain bowed. "I am content, my •lady," he said respectfully. "Now, ;good jailers all," cried Joan, "lead on. t1 wild follow. Or would you prefer to carry me with you hand- cuffed and chained? 'I will go with you in whatsoever fashion seemeth good to my masters!" She paused and looked around the little goatlierd's hut. "Only," she said, nodding her head, "1 warn you 1 will take my own time and manner of coaling back!" There was a deep silence as the men drew their belts tighter and pre- pared to mount and depart. "About that time, Jorian," whisp- ered !Boris as they went out, "you and I will he better in Plassenbung than within the bounds of Kernsberg—for our health's sake and our sweetheart: that is!" "Good." .said Jorian, dropping the bars of his visor; "but for all that she is a glorious wench, and Looks her bravest when she is angry,' CHAPTER XXL [ale Rugen They travelled for six hours through high arched pines, their fall- en needles making a. carpet green and springy underfoot• ;Then succeeded oaks, stricken .a little at the top with the frosts of years. Alternating with these carte marshy tracts .where alder and white birch gleamed from the banks of shallow runnels :and the margins of black peaty 'takes. Arlon the broom and the gorse 'began, to flourish sparsely- above wide sand - hila, heaved this tray and that like the waves of a mountainous sea., The party was approaching that na nsan -]and which stretches for up- wf arl s ea hundr'd miles a�long the southern shores of the Baltic. It is a. land of vast brackish waters connect - cd with the outer sea by devious channels often half silted up, but stili' feeling the pulse of the outer green water in the windy which .blow over the sandy "bills," bars, and spits, and bring with them sweet scents of hea- ther and wild thyme, and, ,most of all, of the southernwood which grows wild on she scantily pastured 'braes. It was at that ,time a beautiful but lonely country—that 'hatable land of half a dozen princedai ns, its only in- habitant a stray hunter seating up his gipsy booth of wattle:d boughs, heap- ing with stones a rude fireplace. or fixing a tripod over it whereon .apot- tinger was presently a -swing, in some sunny curve of the shore. At eventide of the third day of their journeying the party came to a great morass. ,Black decaying trunks of trees stood up at various angles;of- ten bristling with d'cad branches like their path warily through, ,this tangle, the rotten sticks yielding as'. readily and silently as wet mud benhath their hoofs, Finally all dismounted ex- cept Jloan, whale. W erenr von Orseln, with a rough neap in hand, traced out the way. Pools of stagnant black water had to he evaded, treacherous yellow sand's tested, bridges con- •strutted of the firmer logs, till all suddenly they carne out upon a fairy- like little half-moon .of Sand and, tiny shells. Here Was a large flat bottomed boat drawn. rip against the shore T n the ,tern a strange figura was seated a pian tall and angular, clad in jerkin and trunks of brown tanned, leather, crass gartened hose ,of grey cloth, and home made ehoon of hide with the hair outside, .He wore a black skirl! nap, .and his head had the strange, ti - canny look of a wild animal, It wasnot at the first glance nor ye(at the second that Boris and Jorian - found out the cause of this curious appear- ance. Moan while Warner von Orseiu• was putting into his hand some pledge or sign which he scrutinised 'carefully when Jorian suddenly gripped' his companion's arm. "Look," .he whispered, "he's got no ears!" "Nor any tongue " responded Boris, staring with all his eyes at the prodigy. And, indeed, the strange man was pointing to his mouth with the index finger of his right ,hand and signing that they were to follow him into the boat which had been' waiting for thein. Joan of the Sword Hand had never spoken since she knew that the men were taking her to a place of safety. Nor did her face show any trace of emotion now that Werner von Orseln approaching cap in hand, humbly beg- ged her to permit liini to conduct her to the boat. Balt the Duchess leapt from her horse, and 'without accepting his hand she stepped from the little pier of stone beside which the boat lay. Then walking firmly '"coni seat to seat she reached 'the stern, where she sat down without seeming to have glanc- ed at any of the company. Werner von Orseln then motioned Captains Boris and iJ'ori'an to take their places in the bow, and having bared his head he seated himself be- side his mistress. The wardiess ear - less man took the oars and .pushed off. The boat slid over a little belt of still water through a wilderness of tall reeds. Then all suddenly the wave- lets lapped crisp and clean beneath her baton', and the wide levels of a lake opened out before them, The ten men left on the shore set about build- ing a fire and making shelters of brushwood, as if expected to stay here some time. The tiny harbour was fenced in on every side with an unbroken wail of lofty green pines. The lower part of their trunks shot up tall and straight and opened long vistas into the black depths of the forest. The sun was setting and threw slant rays far un- derneath, touching with gold the rank marsh growths, and reddening the mouldering boles of the fallen pines. The boat passed almost noiselessly along, the strange man rowing strong- ly and the boat drawing steadily away across the widest part of the still inland sea. As they thus coasted along the gloomy shores the sun went down and darkness carie upon them at a bound. Then at the far end of the tong tunnel, which an hour agone had been sunny glades, they saw strange flickering ligh•ts dancing and vanish- ing, waving'and leaping upward- -will -0' -the -wisps kindled doubtless from the stagnant hogiands and the rotting. vegetation of that ancient northern forest.,. The breeze freshened. 'rhe water clappered louder under the boat's quarter. Breaths born of the wide sea unfiltered through' forest dankness visited more keenly the nostrils of the voyagers. Theyheard ahead of theinthe distant roar of the breakers. Now and then carne a long and grad- ual roil underneath their quarter, quite distinct front the little dropping waves of ,the fresh -water "half", as the sur- face mere f ca �f the heaved itself in a great slope of water upon which the bloat swung slideways. After a space tall trees again shot up overhead, and with a quick turn the boat passed between wal'is of trembling reeds that rustled against the oars like silk, emerged on a black circle of water, and then, gliding smoothly forward, took ground in the blank dark, As the broad keel grafted on 'the sand, the Wordless Man 'leapt out, and, standing on the shore, put his. hands to his .mouth and .einitte•d a long shout like a blast bio'own on a conch shell. Again and again 'that melan- choly ululation, with never a conson- antal sound to ..break it, went forth in- to the night. Yet it was 60 .nrodu'lateld that at had Obviously a meaning for some one, anal to put She natter be- yond a doubt it was ,answered by three shrill whistles from ,behind the rampart of trees. Joan sat still in the boat where she chevauxade-frise. The horses picked had placed herself. She asked no question, and even these strange ex-. pe,riences did not after her resolution Presently a light gleamed uncer- tainly through the trees, now lost he - hitt d ehind brushwolod and again breaking waveringly oust. A tall figure moved forward with a step Brick and firm. It was that of a woman who carried a swinging lant- ern in her :hand, fro'nm which wheeling lights gleamed through a score of va- riously coloured little prates, of horn. She wore about her sh'oti icSers a .great crilmson cloak which masked her shape. A hood of the same material,, attached at the back of the neck to the choale, concealed het head and dropped abouther face partially hid- ing her features. Standing still on. a little wooden pier she held the lantern high, so that the light fell directly on thosein the boat; and the'•ir faces looked strangely white in that iihumined circler surroun- ded as it was by a pent -house of tense blackness—black pine's,; black water, black' slay. 'Follow mel said, the woman, in a deep rich voice—a: voice whose tones thrl•Iled these who heard them to their hearts, so full and low were some of the mates. !Joan of the Sword Hand 'rose to her "I am the Duchess .of Hohenstein,' and I do not leave -this boat till 'I know in what place. I am, and who this maybe that cries 'Fioliowl' to the daughter of Henry. the Lion!" . The tall woman turned without bowing and looked at .the girl 'I axil the mother of Maurice von Lyrrar, and 'his is the Isle Rugcnl" she said simply, as if the answer were all sufficient. (To Be Continued) 710 KEEP SEAS CLEAN Without a dissenting voice the Bri- tish Parliament gave first reading to a bill which is designed to keep the great seas clean. Introduced by Sir Cooper Awson, the bill would require oil car- rying, ships to ,free their liquid dis- charge ischarge from oil. With the air of a 'conjuror producing a rabbit from his hat,. Sir Cooper held up before the ad- miring house two bottles, One, -filled ivitli a dreary black liquid, was the un- separated ,discharge. The separated contents Of the other were clear. He estimated that 2,000,000 tons of crude oil were discharged 'from oil-ship:"into the sea every day. Sir Cooper stressed the importance of the natter. This discharged oil drifted to the coasts, destroying bird life, damaging fisheries and hurting the business of seaside resorts. "Pf Britannia cannot. rule the waves, that's no reason whey we shouln't keep them clean," he said. The house agreed and cheered the bill on its way. Malcol'mMacbonald, the Prime I\ihrister's son,' is one of its sponsors. iPerslan Balm is irresistible. F,ra.g- rant as summer flowers. Cool as a mountain spring. Wonderfully invig- orating. Softens and whitens the hands. Makes skin soft -textured and youthful. Used by women as a pow- der base and as a peerless aid to love- ly Complexions. Used by men as an effective hair fixative or shaving lo- tion. And for children, nothing soothes and protects their tender skin like the delicately cool ,Persi.an Balm: Let us have the names of your visitors D. H. McInnes chiropractor Of Wingham, will Oleatthe Commercial Hotel, Seaforth Monday, Wednesday and ' Friday Afternoons e Diseases of all kinds' success fully treated. Electricity used. PROFESSITONAL.CARDS; Medical 17111. 1-I. II4UIGIH ROSIS, 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 Bank. Office Phone No. 5; Residence Phone bac DR. F. J. BURROWS, Seaforth., Office and residence, Goderich street, east of the United Church. Coroner for the County r le hone ty of Huron. on. Tep No. 46, DR. C. MldOKIAY.—C. Mackap,+ honor graduate of • Trinity University and gold medallist of Trinity Mediril College; member of the College oa= Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. DR. F. j. R. FORiSITEIR-Eye, Ear Nose and Throat. Graduate in Medi- cine, University of Toronto 1897- bate 847Late Assistant New York Op'hthal- uric- and Aural Institute, Moorefields• Eye, and Golden Square throat hospi- tals, London, England. At Comm erciat Hotel, Seaforth, 3rd Monday fn each month, from 11 a,nr. to 3 p.m. No visit:•in August. DIR. W. C. S'PIRIO,AT-Graduate of Faculty of Medicine, University alt Western Ontario, London. Member of College of Physicians and Sur- ^ goons of Ontario. Office in rear of Aberhart's drug store, • Seaforth. Pboiie 90. Hours 1.30-4 p.m., 7J1 ,-9 p.m. Other• hours by appointment. Dental 1 DR. J. A. MUNNN, Successor to- Dr. oDr. R. R. Ross, graduate of North,. western University, Chicago, IIh U- centiate Royal College of Dental Sur- geons, Toronto. Office over Silk' hardware, Main St., Seaford'. Phone 151. DR. F. J. BIECHIELY, graduate, Royal' College of ,Dental Surgeons, Toronto: Office over, W. R. Smitten grocery, Main St., Seaforth. Phones. office 185W, residence 185J., Auctioneer. ,GEORGE ELLIOTT, Licensed Auctioneer for the County of Huron - Arrangements can be made for Sale Date at The Seaforth News. Charges moderate and satisfaction guranteed. WATSON AND REIDili REAL ESTATE AND INSURANCE AGENCY (Succssors to James 'Watson) ,MALN ST., SEA.FOiRTH, OrNT. ,All kinds of Insurance risks effect- ed at lowest rates in First -Class. Companies. THE McKII.LOP Mutual Fire lnsbrance Ce. FARM ARJO IISOLATE'D TOW* PIRIOIPIERIT'Y, 0 IN•'L Y, INSURED - Officers—J•antes Connolly, Goder- iet, Pres,; James Evans, Beechwood',. Vice President; D. F. McGregor. Seaforth, Sec. -Treasurer. Directors—Wm. Rinn, No. 2, Sem, forth; John Bennewies, Brodlragem; James Evans, Beechwood; \4. Mc- Ewen, CeEwen, Clinton; James Connolly, God- erich; Alex. 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