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The Seaforth News, 1931-10-22, Page 6PAGE "SISI' • ,.Muanusc�isss.,<....vr•," ,,.:.i rs•,w r, rrcm,uzarmaa TFIE SEAFORTH NEWS. THUIRSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1931,: SJ A of the wordHand By S. R. Crockett (Continued from Last Week) "Happy lisle Rugen!" said Joan, drawing a breath like a sigh, "Why were we born to princedoms, Conrad, you and I ?" "T at hast teas not," answered her companion, "Dumb 'Max's jerkin of blue fits me better than any robe royal." • - They stood on the highest part of the island. Joan was leaning on the crumbling wall of an ancient fort, which, being set on a promontory from which the pinetrees drew back a little, formed at once a place of obser- vation and a point objective for their walks. She turned at his words and looked at 'him. Conrad, indeed, never looked better or more princely than in that rough jerkin of blue, together with the corded foresters breeches and knited .hose which he had borrow- ed from Theresa's dutnb servitor. "Conrad," said Joan, suddenly stan- ding erect and looking directly at the young matt, ''i'f I were to tell you that I had resolved never to return to 'Kernsberg, but to reliant here on Isle ,Rugen, what would you answer " "I should ask to be your companion -or, if not, your bailiff!" said the Prince ,promptly, "That would be to forget yourself!" A certain' gentle sadness passed over the features of the young man. "I leave many things undone for the sake of mine princeship," he said. "But you have told me a hundred times," urged Joan, smiling in spite of .herself, "that it was necessity." Does that necessity ,ta longer exist " "Nay," answered Conrad readily as before; "but smaller 'necessities yield. to greater?" "And the greater " "Why," he answered, "what say You to the tempest that drove the hither - the thews and stout hearts of \Verner von Orsein and his sten, not to speak of Captains Boris and Jorian There Are they not sufficient reason's for my retraining here?" said Joan, and waited for 'him to continue. "There is something else," he said. "It is -it is -that I cannot bear to Neave yowl God knows I could not leave you if I would!" Joan of Hohenstein. started. The ev':rds had been spoken in a law tone, yet with a suppressed vehemence, as though driven from the young man's lips against his will, (But there was no mistaking their purport. Yet they were spoken so .hopelessly, and withal so gently, that site couldnot be angry. "Conrad -Conrad," she murmured reproachfully-, "I thought I could have trusted you. You promised never to forget again what we must both re- member l" ' " In so thinking you did well," he replied; "you may trust me to the end. !But the privilege of speech and testi- mony isnot denied even to the crimin- al upon the scaffold." 4A wave of pity passed over Joan, A month before she would have with- drawn herself in hot anger. !But Isle 'Rtigen had gentled .her ways, The peace of that ancient 'fortalice, the wachfit o s ambient waters, the ver} leek k rf .incident, e rt, t•he sense of the m3 tertes of tragic life which surrounded her on all sides, the deep thoughts she had thought alone with herself, the companionship of this tnan whom she• loved -ail these had wrought a new spirit in Joan of the Sword Hand. Women who cannot be pitiful are hut half women. 'They have not yet en- tered upon their inheritance. iBut now Joan was corning to her own again. For to pity of Theresa von Lynar she was adding pity for Conrad of Court- land ani --Joan of fIohenstein. "Speak,' she said very gently. Do not be afraid;. tell Inc,all that is in your heart". Joan was not disinclined to hear any words that the young man fright speak. She ' believed that she -could listen uii nowecl even to his most pas- sionateCdedarations of love. Like the wise physician,: she would li.ten, 1.111- 'dersteand, ,prescribe -and administer the remedy. Rut the pines of Isle iRugee stood. between this woman and the girl who had ridden away so proudly from the doors of the Iiernsberg fuin'ste.r at the head o'f her four hundred lances. Be- sides, she had not forgotten the tour- nament and the slim secretary who had once stood before•this man in the river parlour of the Summer Palace, Then Conrad spoke in a low voice, very distinct and even in its modulo tion. "Joan," he said, "once on a time I dreamed of being loved -dreamed that among a'a the world of women there might be one woman far rte. Such things must come when deep sleep falleth upon a young man. Wak- ing •I put them from me. I believed that I had conquered last of the eye. Now I know that I can never again he true to my brother." "Listen, my Lady Joan! II love you -there is no use in hiding it. Doubtless you yourself have already seen it, 3I love you so greatly that all else is no imore to me than the crying of t'he seabirds out yonder. I would rather be your groom, your servitor$, your lacquey, than reign." Joan leaned against the crumbling battlement, and the words of Conrad were very sweet in her ear. 'They fil- led her with pity, while at the same time her heart was strong within her. 'None bad dared to speak such things to her 'before in all her life, and she was a woman, The Princess Marr- garet, had she loved a man as Joan did this man, would have given back vow for vow, renunciation for renun- ciation, and, it ,might be, have barter- ed kiss for 'kis:. Mut Joan of t'he Sword Hand was never stronger, never more serene, never surer of herself than when she listened to the words she loved best to hear, from the lips of the man. when of all others she desired to speak them. At first she had been looking' out upon the sea, but now she permitted her eyes to rest with a great kindliness upon the young man.' Even as he spoke Conrad divined the thing that was in her heart. "Mark you," he said, "do me the justice to remember that I ask for no- thing. I expect nothing. ,I 'hope for nothing in return. T thought once that I could welco•me,it, Now I know that niy heart is too earthly. Rut in- stead I love the noblest and most gracious woman in all the world. And I love' her, too, with a love not wholly unworthy of her," "You do me overmuch honour," said Joan quietly, "I, too, am weak and sinful, Or ;Lee w..u.d 1, your brother's evife, listen to such words from any man -least of all front you?" "Nay," said Conrad; "you only lis- ten out of your great pitifulness." He paused, almost smiling. But Joan did not smile. She waited a space to see if he had aught further to say, But he was silent, waiting foo, her answer. "Conrad," she said very gently, "that I have listened to you, and 'that. I !have not been angry, may be deadly: sin for us both. Yet 1 cannot 'be ang ry. God forgive mel I have tried and I cannot be angry. A,n d why should I? liven as I lay a babe in the cradle I was wedded. Ha woman must suf- fer, she ought at least to be permitted to choose the in'strtiment of her -tor, tore." "11 is verity," he repd'ied; "you are no more true wife than I am true brother," • "Yet we frust keep faith, you and I. We are bound by .our nobility, If we sin, let it he the, greater and rarer sin -the sun of spirit only. Conrad, I love you. Nay, stand still. where you are and listen to me -to tie, Joan, your brother's wife. For T, too, once for all will clear my soul. I loved you long ere, ynttr eyes fellde me. I came as 'Dessauer's secretary ho the city of C"tirtlaoct. I determined' to see the man I was to wed. Isa'w the prince --my prince as I thought storm through• the lists on his white hores, I saw him bare his head and receive the crown of victory. I steroid before him, ashamed yet glad, hosed and wet+ daubeted iike a boy, in the Summer Pavilion, , II 'heard his gracious words. I loved sty' 'prince, who so soon Was to be Wholly mine. The months slip- ped patst, and f was ever the gladder the faster they sped, The w04115,0 stir- red within the stripling girl. In. half a year, 1'n' twenty weeks -in five -in one -a day -an hour, I +would put rn'y hand, my life, myself into his keep- ing! Then came-'tlhe glad tumult of the rejoicing folk, the hush Of the crowded. edilfi'ce. I said, ''O'h, not yet -JI will riot lift nay eyes to my prince uiitfi - We stopped.. I lifted to pp y eyes. And lo! the prince was trot my prin'cje " There was a hong and solemn pause between thes.e two on the old watdh tower. Never, was. detciar'a!tion of love. so given and 'so taken. Conrad re- mained still as a5 statue, only his' eyes grow=ing great 'and full of light Joan stood looking at him, unashamed and fearless. Yet neither moved an inch toward either. A brave woman's will, to do right greatly, stood between them. She went on. "Now you know all, my Conrad," she said. "Isle Rugeia .can never more be the else of peace to us. You and I have shivered the cup of our happiness. We must part. We can ne- ver merely be friend's. I must abide. because d ani a prisoner. You will keep my counsel, promising ire to be silent, and ,together we will contrive a way of escape." !When Conrad an's'wered 'her .again 'his voice %.as hio'arse and broken, al- most like one Aeu'med with sleeping out on a winte'r's night. His words whistled in h•'s windpipe, flying front treble eo bass and back again. "Joan, Joan " he said, and the third time "Joanl" And for the moment he could say no more. "True love," she said, and her voice was almost caressing, "you and I are harried from each other. Yet we. belong -you to me -II to youl I will not touch your hand, nor you mine. Not even as we have hitherto done. Let ours be the higher, perhaps dead- lier sin -the sin of soul and soul. Do you go back to your office, while I stay here to do my duty." "And why not you to your duchy?" 'said Conrad, who had 'begun to re- cover himself. "Because," she answered, "if I re- fuse to a'b'ide by one o'f my father's bargains, I have no right to hold by fhe other, lHe ,would have made nee your brother's wife. 'That I have re- fused. 'He disinherited his lawful son that I Wright take the dukedom with me as my dowry. Can I 'keep that which was •only given me in trust for another? Maurice von Lynar shall be Duke Maurice, and Theresa von Lyn- ar shall have her true place as the widow of Henry the Lion!" And s'he stood up tall. and straight. 'like a princess indeed, "A.i''d you " he. said very low. "'What wdl'I you do, Joan?" "For ane, I will abide on Isle 'Rugen. There are doubtless one or two who will abide with me for the sake of old days -Werner von Orsein for one, Peter Balta for another. I shall not be 'l'o'nely." !She smiled upon him with a peculiar trustful sweetness and continued -- "And once a year, in the .autuni, you will conte from your high office. You will gather blackberries and help me to preserve them, ' You will split wio:od and carry water. Then, when the day is well spent, you and 1 shall walk Hither in the high 'a'ftern'oon and tell each other haw we stand and all the things that have filled our hearts In the ye'ar's interspace. Thus will we. keep tryst, you and I -pian and wom- an speaking the truth eye to eye with- out fear and without stain, Do you promise?' And for all eusw'er the ,Prince kneel- ed' do'wm, and taking the hem of her dress he kissed it humbly and rever- ently. C'HA'P'T'ER :XL. 'Teresa Keeps Troth. But they had. reckoned Without Theresa von Lynar. Conrad and Joan carie back from the ruined f ti or ftcatfoa, silent mostly, but thrilled with the thoughts of that which their eyes hadseen end their ears heard. Each had' listened to the heating of .the other's heart. Both knew they were beloved. Nothing could alter that any more far ever. As they had ;gone out with Theresa watching then from the dusk o'f the garden arcades their hands Had drawn together. Eyes had sought answer- ing eyes at a:eh dip ,of the path, They had listened for th'e finest shades of nieanihg in one areo'therls.voices, and taken courage or lost hope from the droop of an eyelid or the quiver of.a sy^lable. Now all was •changed. They knew 'hat which tli'ey knew. 1.1he orchard of the lonely grange_ on isle Ilugen was curiously out of'keep- in ' C g with h u. barren surroundings. En - Nosed within the same wall as the "veiling house, ,t was the special care of the Wordless Man, whose many vears of pruning and digging and wat- ering, undertaken each at ,it's proper season, had resulted in a golden baa•-• vest of Septemlber -fruit, When Joann' and Conrad 'came to the portal which gave entrance fromwithout, lot.,it stood open. The 51111 had been shin- ing in their eyes, and the place looked very siuin'benous in the white hazy' glory of a northern day. The palth .which led out of the oroha.rd' was 'splashed with oao1 shade. Green ,eaves shrilled fair glob'e'sof fruitage fast ripening in the bioiwning'airs and 'Stead-, fast sun. Up the path towards theist carte Theresa vote Lyear. There teas a smite on her farcea large and kindly y graciousness in her,splett'di•d /eyes Her hair was piled and en'dled ablaut her he'ad,and drawn b'a'ck in ruddy 'go'l'den masses from the lbroa'd white' 'fo•re- h'ead.. Autenen was 'T'heresa'Is s'e'ason, and, in such surroundings she might well hare stood for Ceres or P.oneoana. with apron fall` enough al fruit • for many a horn of plenty. tSuch, large-l'i'fnbed simple -natured women as :Theresa von Lynar appear to greatest advantage in autumn,' It is their time when the do'f ay :applle blossom and spring flourish is over- patst, and when that which these fore- shadowed is at length fulfilled. Then to see -such an one emergefrom an orchard ol'ose, and " approa'c'h softly s5niling out of the shadow of fruit trees, is to catch a glimpse of the eld- er goda. Spring, our the other hand, is for merry maidens, slips of unripe grace, b'ud's from the sc'hool's. Sum- mer is the season o'f ,langorous dryads at rest in the green gloom of forests, fanning sunburnt cheeks 'with leafy boughs, their dark eyes full a'f t'he height of living. Winter is the time of swift -limbed ,girls nv'th head's proud- ly set, whp through the white weather carry them like Diana the Huntress, their dainty chins dimpling out of softening furs. To each is her time and suprenta;cy, though a certain fav- ,ourred few are the mistresses of all. They stove like a part of the spring when cherry blossoms are set against a sky of changeful! Ap'ri'l blue, They rejoice when dark -eyed summer wears scarlet flowers in her hair, shaded by green 'leaves and fanned by soft airs: 1Well-bosomed Ceres herself, smiling luxuriant with ripe lips, is not fairer than they at the time. of apple -gat'h- erin'g, nor yet dainty Winter, footing it lightly over the frozen snow. 'Joan, an it diked her, could' have triumphed in all these, but her nature Was too rim:pde t0 care about the im- pres'sion she made, while Conrad was too deep in lave to notice any diffe:r- en'ce in her perfections. And now- Theresa von Lynar, the woman wino had given her beauty and her life like a little Saint Valen- tine's gift into the hand of elle man she loved, content that he should take or, throw away as pleased hien best - Theresa von Lynar islet these two, who itt their new glory of 5enuncia- tio13 thought that they had plumbed the abysses of love, when as yet they had taken no more than a single sounding hr the narrow seas. She lStood looking at them as they carne towards here, with a sympathy that was deeper far than mere tolerance. "Our Joan of the Sword Hand is growing into a woman," she murmur- ed; and something she thought buried deep in her brea's't, shaking her as 'Encel'adus the Giant shakes Etna when he turns in his selep. For she saw in the girl her father's likenelas more strongly than• she had ever 'seen it in her awn son. "You have faced flee sunshine!" 'Thus she greeted them as they cable. "Sit awhile with Me in th'e shade, I leave Bare a bower where :Maurice d'oved to p'l'ay -before he Left me. 'No'ne save 17iath entered it since that day„ So saying, she led the wey along an alley of plea'ched green, It t'he far end of which they could see the soli- tary- figure of 'Alex Ulrich, in the cued sun, bending his balle to his garden- ing tasks, yet at the sante time, asi was his cutsom, keeping so. near 'hiss mistress that a fluttering kerchief or a lifted hand ,would bringhim instant- .ly to her side, it was a small rustic eight -sided lave, thatched with heather, its lat- ticed windows open. and, weeper - grown, to' which Theresa led theist. It had be en well kept; vrd nv'henJoa n found herself within, a sudden accts', of tenderness for this lonely mother, w'ho for love's sa'kei had offered her- self like a sacrifice upon an altar, took possession o'f her, For about the walls was fastened a child's pitiinl armoury. Hantemade swords ,of lath, arrows, winged with t'he cast feathers of the woodland, crooked bows, the broken crockery of a hundred imagined banquets these, and many more, were carefully kept in pllace with immediate and lov- ing care, Maurice would be back ag- ain pr'esen'tly, they seethed to say, tinct would take up his play just where he left it. persuade':ilaciiseilweJs that Neeeitice von Lynar Was far off, enduring the hard- ships of war or in deadly peril for his, lnistress. I -Is aright have been even' then in lidding in the 'brushwood, ready to cry bo-peep at them through 'the open door. ` 'There was silence in the arbour for a space, a silence which no one of the, ;tree was anxious to break, For Joan thought of her promise, Conrad Of Jioan, and Theresa of her son, I't was ,the last who spoke, "S1osnlelh'ow to -day it is lborne in up- on me that Kertasherg has fallen, and that nay son is in ,his eneny's handed" No 4'0 PRO'FESSIONIA'L 'CARDt` Medical DR. H. HUGIH I21OSIS, , 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 eserdence behind Dominion Bank. Office Phone No. 5; Residence Phone 104:: DR. F. J. BURROWS, Seafortfa_ Office and residence, Goderioh street, east of the United Church. Coroner for the County of Huron, Telephone Joan started to her Meetand tbh'ru'st her hands a'iittle out Flt: feont of her as if to ward off a blow. can you leu'att' that?" she cried, "Who—No; ' it cannot be, IK'ern'sberg waas• victualled for a year. It was filled with brave m'eni. My cap- tains are staursc'h. The. thing is im- possible." ' Theresa von Lynar, with her ey'e's on the ws:ving foliage which alternate- ly revealed andeclipsed' the muddy glebes of the apples on the orchard trees, slowly shook, her head. "I cannot, tell you how 2 know," she said; "nevertheless .I 'know. 'H'ere s'onnetlein'g rvhidh tells me." She ]'aid her hand upon her heart. "Those wdho are long aloaie' beside the sea 'hear voices and see visions," "But it is impossible," urged Joan; "or, if it be true, why ani I kept there I will 'go and die with my people I" "It is my sot's will," said Theresa "the will of the son of Henry the Lion. He is like his father -therefore women do his mill!" The words were not s'p'oken bitterly, but as a simple statement of fact. Joan looked at this 'woman and un- derstood for the fi'rs't time that she was the strongest spirit of all -great- er than her father, better than her- self. And perhaps be'c'ause of this, nobility and sa'cri'fice stirred emulous- ly in 'her Own breast, "M'ada'm," she said, looking directly at Theresa von Lynar, "it is time that you and 'understood each other. 1 hold myself no true Duchess of IIolr- en.s'tein so long ,asyour son lives. My fa'ther's compact and condition. Ore of ne effect. The Diet of the Empire would cancel 't'he'ir in a moment. I will therefore talee no rest 'till this thing is made •clear. T swear that Tette son shall be Duke Maurice and sit in his fa'ther's ip'l'a'ce as is right and fitting. For me, I ask nothing but the daughter's • portion -a' grange s•u'dh as this, assolitary and as peace- ful, a garden to delve and a beach to wander upon at. eve " As she spoke, Theresa's eyes sud- denly brightened. A proud highlook sat ou the fulness of her lips, w'hich gradually .faded as some other th'ou'ght asserted its s'up're'ma'cy. She rose, aand going •str'ai,ght to Joan, for the fir'st time she kissed 'her on the brow, „Naw do I know," she said, "that you are 'Henry the Ikon's daughter: 'That is spoken as he would have spoken it. It is greatly thought. Yet it cannot be." "It shall bel" cried Joan impe•riotis-• ly. (To •Be Continued) Want and For Sale Ads„ 3 tines 50c Your Home Medicine Chest, A- mong the standard 'household :reme- dies that 'should always be on hand in. your home medicine ,ch•e's't, none Is more imp'ortan't thus Dr, Tthonias''Ec•- lectrfc 'Oil. Its manifold usefulness in relieving pain and 'heading sickness is known by many 'iih1o1.1.5anri's t'hrou'gh- out th'e•land. Allways use •Dr. Thom- as' Eclectric '061 for relieving rheum- atic and 'scia'ti'c pains, treating some throats and cheslts, burns, s'c'alds, cuts, bruises and, sprains, No cobwebs hung from the roof; the bows were cluly unstrung; and fhoug,h wto,,den p.a'attei+s will rough kitchen equipage were' mingled with warlike ac'coutremen'ts upon the floor,! there was not a particle of dust to be Let us have the names of your visitors' DR. ;C.' MAOKIAY.-C. Mackage honor graduate of Trinity University and gold medallist of Trinity Medical College; member of the College ad Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. DIR. F. J. R. kiO!RISITEIR-Eye, Ear Nose and Throat. Graduate in Medi- cine, University of Toronto 1691/. Late Assistant New York Ophthal- mic and Aural Institute, MoorefieId's Eye, and Golden Square throat hospi- tals, London, England, At Comm- ercial Hotel, Seaforth, 3rd Monday ie each month, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. DR. W. C. SIPRlO:A'T,-••Graduate c ff Faculty. of Medicine, University off Western Ontario, London. Member of College of Physicians and Sur- geons of Ontario. Office in rear off Aberhart's drug store, Seaforth. Phone 90. Hours 1.30-4 p.m., 7.39 -9 p.m. Other' hours by. appointment ' Dental IDE. J. A. MU'N'N, Successor to Dr. R. R. Ross, graduate of North- western University, Chicago, 111. Li- centiate Royal College of Dental Sur- geons, Toronto. Office over Sills` hardware, Main St., Seaforth. 'Phone 151. DR. F. J. BiECHlELY, graduate Royal College of Dental Surgeons,; Toronto. Office over W. IR. 'Smith's grocery, Main St.,Seaforth. !Phones, office 1S5W, residence 1'85'J. Auctioneer. - IGIEOIRIGE ELLIOTT, Licensed Auctioneer for the County of Huai. Arrangements can be made for See Date at The Seaforth News. Charges moderate and satisfaction guranteed_ WATSON AND REID'S REAL ESTATE AND INSURANCE AGENCY (Succssors, to James 'Watson) .MAI'N S'T., SEAFIORTH, ONT. All kinds of Insurance .risks effect- ed at lowest rates in -First-C1asns Companies. THE M'cKILLOP Mutualf it e Insurance Co. FARM AiNID 'ISOLATED TOWN P1!RIOIPiE'RhTY, 0 N L Y, INSURED Oddtcers - !John IBennewies, 'Brod:. hagen, President; 'pas. 'Gonnoily, 'God- erich, Vice-'P''res,; •ID. IF. McGregor. Seaforth No. 4, Sec.-Treas. !Directors--1Geo. R. lvi'dCartuey,' Sea 'forth No. 3'; :Ayes. 'Broadifoot, Sea -- forth No. 3; 'James Evans, (Seaford? No. 5; Rohl. Perris, Blyth No. 'I; Jas. Siaoldice, Walton No. 4; 'Jo'hn Pepper,! Brucefeld; Wiliam Knox, Londe 'borough. Agents -'Jas. \Watt, IBiyth No. l; W- E. 73•in!chd'ey, ;Sca'fort'h; J. A. Murray, iSenforth No. 3; W. J. Yeo, 'Clinton ,No. .3; R. G. IJarmuth, Bornholm. (Auditors - 'J'as. 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As they sat' d'o'wn at offesmssimainalignammagwanisampa ,the mother's bidding, it was hard to i '