Newspaper Page Text
THE HOUSE OE ISSTENS.
By Sir D'Artngan Isstens, Cadet of a Great House, Knight of the
Royal Order of Wassmarle and One Ti ne Embassador
to the Court of Charles I of England.
MADE INTO A ROMANCE BY THEODORE ROBERTS.
sj
Copyright, 1899, by American Press Association.
CHAPTER XII
THK RISB OK THE PRINCESS
Between two guardsmen we awaited
in the cabinet tiie king's pleasure The
servants and attendants of the palace
as we came in had turned after ns
with less of pity than interest
The guardsmen bit their lips and
tried not to look like jailers Tom stood
erect, his bead hack a little, smiling at
the door of the king's chamber I
glowered with one hand pressed to my
side where the hilt of my sword should
have been But cnr swords were gone
The door opened, and his royal majesty
Rufford of Clobnrg limped ont His
long, lean face was bright with wel
come, both hands outstretched to Tom
We bent cnr knees
“Stand np. spy killers'" he said
We stared in amazement, whereat he
laughed and. turning to the guards
men, commended them for the prompt
fulfillment of their duty and told them
to leave ns for awhile. Then he took us
to his inner closet and told a story that
rang like music in our ears concerning
the English baronet and, very much, the
man who killed him
The heart of the story was this
Shortly after setting the town on the
heels of Beverley and the humble cadet
they discovered a parchment protrud
ing from ilie dead nobleman's pocket
and this paper, being read by the cap
tain of the guards, disclosed the sup
posed embassador in his true colors —
those of a spy employed by the govern
rnent of Bohemia And later the king
drew from the sobbing Princess Barbara
the assertion that it was under the in
fluence of this English knave, and not
for any displeasure at her lover of Wass
mnrk. that she had undertaken her little
trip in her coach
“And now said the king, placing
a band on the shoulder of each. “I have
much pleasure in informing you that
in an hour from now a fete to your
honor will begin, and that her majesty
and her highness Princess Barbara de
sire your company in the quadrille. "
Torn Beverlev, recking little the
king’s presence, fell upon me with his
schoolboy 's embrace
In the quarters set apart for the gen
tlemen of the guard the news of our
escape from disgrace and death had set
the little squad that had captured us
boisterous with joy
The body servants were busy rushing
about with decanters and glasses, and
rollicking songs rang through the open
dorr
The whole 50 were there, and on our
entrance they rose up and cheered
Some of the men were already dressed
for the fete One in red tights, with a
three yard tail, and a green mask all
askew on bis face, made a merry devil
After pledging a few’ glasses to the nn
dying friendship of 51 gentlemen Tom
said that he would come with me to
my apartments to prepare for the even
ing
“A favor to ask of you, Isstens. ” he
said
I swore J would hook him down the
moon with my rapier hilt if his desires
were set that way
“Then borrow me one of Princess
Barbara's court dresses, " he whispered.
I donned my finest suit and my dress,
sword and, leaving my friend lolling in
the window, strutted forth to seek ad
mittance to the princess With a huge
bandage (a silk pillowcase) I made as
much of my wounded arm as possible
thereby hoping to touch the hearts of
all the ladies in waiting. It and my
~~
Barbara gave me her hand and ! touched
•> Mma f/ .• *
my vifJO MV tc.
danger and adventures so lately passed
worked like a charui. and 1 was re
eeived with cries of delighted welcome
Barbara gave me her hand. and. as 1
touched my lips to it. a thrill from the
pressure of her fingers stole into me.
“1 crave the opportunity to say a feu
words in your ear. princess. " I said, as
though the safety of a kingdom bang
on it
She smiled assent and blushed a lit
tie Then 1 thought of the flinty heart
ed Marion, and 1 sighed, with my eyes
on her highness oval chin
“1 have something of importance to
discuss with the Cavalier Isstens. ' she
whispered to the Countess Vcn Bassfel.
The ladies arose and left the room
“1 await vour pleasure, sir. quota
the princess. I took the liberty, as 1
had done before, of seating myself near
her
She was attired in readiness for the
dance, and 1 remembered that the first
was to be with me. Her eyes rested od
my bandaged arm I sighed, though it
had ceased to pain six hours before.
Then I said "Princess, my friend.
Tom Beverley, begs of von a court
gown, that he may wear it tonight
With a mask coveting his face no one
will imagine him the dashing soldier
that he is." I hurried on and told of
his disguise in the peasant’s skirt and
bodice. She seemed amused. Then she
said, “Is that all, Sir Cadett"
She was very near The wonderful
perfume of her hair and laces and per
haps the wine I had taken—l know not.
bnt I was lost in the soft glory of her
eyes
“Under the circumstances, prin
cess”
“What?" she queried
“Under the circumstances, princess'
—I made bold to touch her hand —“1
may not speak my own petition."
I had ridden and suffered and bad
lost hope of touching a lady's hand
again, and the scent of her hair held
the danger of lotus. She smiled—her
eyes and her lips—but her white brow
rose serene
“We are glad of your return, ” she
said.
And dow my fingers held hers 1
thought of my good sovereign away in
Wassmark, and 1 laughed a little
“Sir. whispered the princess.
“Madame." I replied—“little prin
cess. my heart presumes far " I slipped
on to one knee, holding both her hands,
and the Princess Barbara leaned and
kissed me lightly on my lips.
When I returned and found Tom
waiting patiently before the pier glass.
I thought me of the court gown.
“Where is it?" he aeked.
I shook my head
“Ho. bo, Isstens! So you are no lon
ger a pet, " he jibbed, “even unable to
borrow a little apparel. ”
I did not speak, but turned to the
wardrobe and smiled.
So poor Tom was forced to appear in
his court suit of pale green silk, his old
Flemish lace and his English sword.
He led off the queen and I the Prin
cess Barbara in the opening quaorille
My partner's hand trembled in mine
Our eyes met and held We eeemed to
be gliding there alone. And at one time,
in crossing, I sighed into her powdered
hair, “Now I will dream of another—
until I get it. "
Then the grand quadrille ended We
leaned over the ladies' hands, and the
music ceased with a dash
I saw little of the princess daring the
remainder of the evening, but the other
ladies of the court were very kind and
pretended not to recognize any of the
other gentlemen They were good
enough to say that not my arm, but
my manner of dancing, made plain my
identity
There was little rest for me when I
returned I watched the bright sun
come in at the curtains and the shadows
slide along the floor Thus I lay until
high noon In the clear light of day
how my freedom of the night appalled
me! The fumes of the wine, the scent
of her hair, had left my brain now ; but,
curse it. the memory of all this was
still deep in my heart I Oh, princess,
princess I
Looking over at the corner of my
chamber, where the tapestry took only
a little of the light and the shadow of a
pier glass fell, 1 could see her slight
figure standing—the red brown hair all
powdered as it bad been in the daDce.
the gray eyes questioning, the pale
face kind and queenlike.
“It is worth a king's game,” I mut
tered. “and the king may hang ine
for it. but love a princess I do. so God
help me!"
Then I cursed myself for a fool.
I might have lain all day. picturing
the lady's face and figure and building
toppling air castles, had not Tom burst
into my room, looking for his sword
After the barber had done with me
I ordered Hagart and rode out in the
autumn forests The little wild flowers,
the odorous ferns and the red and yel
low leaves fluttering from the trees
all laughed at the song in my heart
And so 1 staid in the greenwood until
sunset, listening to the scurrying of
partridges, the whispering of the brown
oaks and the occasional and farofif
bugle calls in the city At the end of
it 1 untied Hagart’s bridle from a
sapling, and. mounting, vowed that 1
would forget the princess and leave
Cloburg for Flanders or any place where
ope might die fighting This I had
vowed when leaving Marion The
thought came to me. and 1 laughed
"Hagart.' 1 said to my black horse.
“I will stay, for the princess is so far
above me, and lam her very bumble
cavalier ’ And I should have been
woefully cast down at the hopelessness
of it, but instead 1 went whistling up
the avenue that runs through the park
For what is there that a man feels far
beyond bis reach when his best horse is
under him and his tried sword swings
against his leg!
After that 1 became so good a court
ier that our embassador in Cloburg
begged me to become his secretary So
i stained my Angers with ink. drew
double p iv and wrote two letters a day
very badly The receptions at court
were seldom without me, and. though
the princess and 1 spoke little, our eyes
tcld many things.
Tom Beverley was high in favor, and
his majesty decorated him with the
white star of the Order of the Royal
Hunters. One night, when Tom was
sitting over the wine with me. he said
“Did yon ever notice. Isstens. how
small a thing lies between the deed for
which one man is hnng and another
crowned V
As I had become since entering on
my secretaryship something of a philos
opher I nodded assent and replied,
"Truly, and sometimes they would
Hang a man and afterward see reason
to crown bjm "
"Which Dearly happened in my poor
case," said Tom
He filled the bowl of a long pipe with
tobacco and lighted it at the flame of a
caudle Smoking had become fashion
able in Clobnrg—almost as much so at
this time as in London itself With the
fragrant clonds floating about his head
he talked of his old home in Devon
There was a girl there high in rank and
very young whom be had loved He
was very careful to avoid a ll names
save that of the Englishman whom he
had so valiantly killed in the Unicorn's
Head
For half the night he rambled on in
his narrative of old things while I sat.
outwardly attentive, grunting ever and
anon, but in reality thinking only of a
little, amber haired princess
The big clock in my chamber chimed
2 He ceased talking of England and
looked at me with his old smile
“What color is her hair?" be asked.
"Red brown—that is, whose hair do
you mean ?"
“The hair of the lady you used to
dream about, ” he said
“Oh, yellow I" I answered. I remem
bered the time I had called it golden
Then Tom wandered off to his bed.
taking his pipe and his tobacco with
him and leaving me to dream there in
the window seat till sunrise When I
looked out at early dawn, a white frost
lay over the grass and walls and glis
tened on the roofs I blew out the dar
ing candles, threw aside my clothing
and got to bed before 6
When I awoke, to my amazement I
beheld old Red Harding grinning at
One of them had a song hi memory o f the
slaying of Willis Howard.
me between the curtains of the bed.
How heartily we embraced and laughed
and glared at one another, as if we had
been parted for years I did not appear,
pen in hand, before the embassador
that day, bnt spent my time reading
the home letters and listening to Red
Harding’s stories
Harry alcne had heard of my esca
pade with Tom Beverley, and he wrote
upon the subject at great length, be
seeching me, for the love they bore me
in the house of Isstens. to take care of
my neck. Tears tilled my eyes when I
read my mother's Dote, and f ht little
message from Marion, which was won
drous humble The captain sent me a
poem, most heroic, of his own compos
ing. and they all prayed me to come
back before Christmas
Tom took Red Harding ont with
him. while I wrote many osges in re
ply to all these. 1 think my letters
must have been iike the works of the
poor poet who for money wrote on
husbandry, the church and state, mili
tary matters end Latin prose and was
forever verging on his one dear subject.
Doetry,*bnt nowhere mentioned it So
did I write of this and that, ever think
ing of the princess and tingeing my sen
tences with her; yet nowhere wrote her
name.
When I finished, it was time for
candles. Tom and Red Harding had not
returned, so 1 put on my cloak and hat
and went down into the gardens Some
of the flowers were frozen in their bed*
and the air was chilly 1 looked at the
royal wing of the palace, where it
fronts along the crest of the terrace
The windows gleamed out, one by one.
as the servants lit the candles. One
casement glowed as a red rose before
my eyes. I stood until all twilight
failed —until the stars glinted and the
moon swung np above the great woods
where I had dreamed.
Then 1 turned to go. and in my first
step my foot sent something singing
along the gravel 1 stooped and peered
low to discover it Then 1 dropped on
my knees and felt about with careful
fingers. After searching for some time
I found, on the frozen mold at the edge
of the path, a silver buckle set Yitb
rubies And the same I had so often
eeen in the hunting hat of a certain
great lady that 1 held it fondly and
went on toward my apartments in the
palace
Fumes of the Virginian leaf greeted
me at the door, and. upon entering, i
found our old retainer aud Tom Beverley
comfortably seated.
“What think you?' cried Tom
“This cavalier from Isstens has been
making love to the princess. ’
“Truly,’ said Red Harding “We
met the lady in the garden and walked
np and down and around, like priests
after mass, many timep together And
her highness showed much interest in
me and all my frienda A great soldier
ever aims high
Tom winked at rue and asked what 1
held so closely in my fingers.
The old lieutenant s eyes protruded
'By heavens, it is the buckle 1 saw in
the princess hat!" he exclaimed.
"My dear friend, were there never
two buckles made alike?' 1 answered.
It was Red Harding'9 intention to
start the following morning on his re
turn journey to Blatenburg, and as he
had not seen enough of the taverns of
Clobnrg during the day Tom and 1 took
him along after tea.
Outside we found the moon obscured
and the air turned mild The lieutenant
swore roundly, thiuking of muddy
AVege tabic Preparationfor As
similating thcFocdandßegula
ting the Stomachs and Bowels cf
Promotes Digestion,Cheerful
ness and Rest. Contains neither
Opium. Morphine nor Mineral.
Not Narcotic.
jeuv a/Old DrSMtIELPITCEER
JRumpfan Seed’"’
A Lx. Senna * \
ficxAtU* Softs I
Anise Seed * I
Jbppemu/tt - >
fh Carbonate Soda *
foann Seed - 1
Clarified Muxrr .
hmfiryrton flavor )
Aperfeet Remedy for Constipa
tion, Sour Stomach,Diarrhoea,
Worms .Convulsions .Feverish
ness and LOSS OF SLEEP.
Facsimile Signature of
new Stork. 1
At(> months (tW '" %■
35
EXACT COPY OF WRAPPER.
DON'S PILE CURE.
ENDORSED SSISSSB POSITIVELY
CURES PILES
in all stages, no matter how severe the
case may be. The first treatment
brings immediate relief. It has cured
thousands. It will cure you.
NO KNIFE!
NO INTERRUPTION TO BUSINESS.
WHY suffer longer 9
DON CHEMICAL CO., Manufacturer 81. B l. Cha tf auooga, lenn
R Er TA. Er TA. BER
November end December
Is the time to plant Fruit Trees.
Now is the time to order them ...
Cedar Hill Nursery Cos.,
WINCHESTER, TENN.
is the Nursery to order from. They arr w wnat you want and you get
what you buy at HONEST PRICES.
We Pa,y Reasonable Salaries for Good Salesme .
For further information and Wholesale Price List, add rose
J. W. SHADOW, Manager,
Winchester, Tvnn.
roads for the morrow The first tavern
we came to swung the sign of the Blue
Bull. It was a little snug place, and.
aping foreign fashions, was much fre
quented by poets and actors, who would
come here and scribble their rhymes or
voice their parts as the whim took
them. Some of these gentry were pres
ent when we entered, and they made
such merry company that we tarried
long and drank deep One of them had
a song in memory of the slaying of Sir
Willis Howard, in which he was pleased
to call Tom "a valiant, skillful gentle
man. pride of all the town." and
Howard "so vile a dog. it did us good
to see him tumbled down."
We pledged many more glasses to
this astonishing poet, and he promised
to immortalize us all.
[to be continued.]
It Will be Well to Remember.
That passenger to Wash
ington, Baltimore, Philadelphia,
New York and points east are ex
icily $3 cheaper via Sea Board Air
Bine than any other all rail route.
Merchants going to eastern mar
kets should communicate with
Wm. Clements, Tr tv. Pass, agent,
•Jos. M. Brown, Gen Agt. Pass
Dept. No. 6 Kimball House. At
lanta, Ga.
Valuable to Women.
Especially valuable to women is Browns’
Iron Bitters. Backache vanishes, headache
disappears, strength takes the place of
wraKtiess, and the glow of health readily
comes to the pallid cheek when this won
derful remedy is take n. For sickly children
or overworked men it has no equal. No home
should he without this famous reroedv
Bro-"’ Iron Bitters is sold by all dealers.
OA.STORIA.
Bears the The Kind You Have Always Bought
For Infants and Children.
The Kind You Have
Always Bought
Bears the / \
Signature
of
h lF The
Kind
\j You Have
Always Bought.
CASTORIA
THE CENTAUR COMPANY. NEW YORK CITY.
Chronic Diarrhoea Cured.
This is to c rtify that I have had
chronic diarrhoea ever since the
war. I got so weak I could hardly
walk or <!o anything. One bottle
of Chamberlain’r Colic, Cholera and
Diarrhoea Remedy cured me sound
and well.
J. R. Gibbs, f'incastle, Va.
I had chronic diai rhoea for twelve
years Three bottles of Chambt r
lain’s Colic, Cholera and Diarrhoea
Remedy cured me.
S. L. Shaver, Fincastle, Va.
Both Mr. Gibbs and Mr. Shaver
are prominent farmers and res.de
near Fincastle. Thev procured
the remedy from Mr. W. E. Casper,
a druggist of that place, who s
wei; acquainted with them and
will vouch for the truth of their
statements. For ale by all drug
gists.
What Not to say.
Do not sav, "I can’t eat.” Take
Hood’s Sarsaparilla aud sav, “I am
hungry all the time, and food never
hurts me.”
Never say to your friends that you
are as lired in the morning as at night,
if they happen to be sharp they will
tell you Hood’s Sarsaparilla cures that
tired feeling.
Do not say, “My face is full of pim
ples,” You are quite iikelv to be told
l>.v some one, “Tbere’s no need of that,
for Hood’s Sarsaparilla cures pimples.”
It is improper and unnecessary l to sav,
‘■Mv health is poor and my olood is
bad.” Hood’s Sarsaparilla will give
you good blood, and good health will
follow as a natural censequeDce.
oastouta.
Bears the /) The Kind Ytuj Have Always Bought
WORMs
“A tape worm elsjlit,„ , " “
least jama 0 a the scene ***'* i°ue
CASCARETS. This! am™™ ? r
bad health for the past three tea™ C ? use *
taking Cascarets, the only ciiwl 1a ® tl!j
notice by sensible people ’' thtlc Worthy *
w Bowles, Baird, Mi U
m CATHARTIC
• Pa r.
Never Sicken. Weaken, or cTfne
... CURE CONSTIPATION **
St.rlin, Hwfj (n-p.-y. CM...,. j.H.’e,
NO-TO-BAC
E.&W. E. R. OF ALA
Taking EttecToct. 28,1895.
So 1 Passionoeb W No 2 Pashenoeb-e
, „ Di,LY ’ daily.
Ct Cartersville 10.00 am. Lv Pel!rn„
" Stilesboro.. 10.33 <• •• r™ Ctv Z‘2 &B
:BS2SMs: :-'SSr ;:
Warner’s ... 1.11 pm •• Cedartown" .
Piedmont,.. 2.10 •• "Grady " ..
Duke’s 4.06 •• - Rock mart £
Ragland. .. 5.30 •• •• Tavl’rsv’le
“ Coa! City.... ,10 •• <• Stijesborn "
Vr Pell Cltv .. 0.35 - Ar. Car Wine';, ..
No 3 Passenger— West No 4 Pahsengeb-Eab*
DAILY EX. SUNDAY. DAILY EX. SUNDAY
rr T ßVnle ", fi . 4spTn Lv Cedartown. k 15 a _
Stilesboro... 7.12 •• “ Oradv aa
“ Taylorsville 7.24 “ •• Rockina'rt"." *m ~
~ Boekmart... 7.40 •• - Taylorsville..'*:*?
. “ " Stilesboro.... 733 ..
Ar Cedartown... 8,30 •• lAr atCartersvlUesw) ■
No. 35 Passenger—W No. 34 Passbngeb-E
SUNDAY ONLY. SUNDAY ONLY
Cv Carters vi11e..1.15 pm Lv Cedartown 11 2d ~
“ 5ti1e5b0r0....1.37 “ Grady iiy a
Taylorsville 1.47 “ “ Rock mart um.,
" Rockmart....2 07 " " Taylorsvilleuu, -
Grady 2.27 “ “ 5t11e5h0r0....12.‘!3"
Ar Cedartown...2.4o “ Ar Cartersville..l2.4s'
Atlanta-East.
Differentia! Passenger VIA
rates. Seaboard Air-line
To Richmond ~
To Washington
To Baltimore via Washington 1575
To Baltimore via Norfolk and Bay Line
Steamer \ 75 25
To Philadelpha via Washington
To Philadelphia via Norfolk "" f ,5
To New York via Richmond and Wash
ington 21.00
To New York via Norfolk, Va., and Ca;,e
Charles Route
To New York via Norfolk. Va. and Norfolk "
and Washington Steamboat Cos., via
Washington 21,00
To New York via Norfolk. Va.. and Bay
Line Steamer to Baltimore and rail
to New Y ork 20.25
To New York via Norfolk, and Old Domin
ion S. S. Cos., meals and stateroom
included 20.25
To,Boston via Norfolk and Steamer, meals
and stateroom Included 21-50
$3 SAVED TO
Washington, Bahhaore,
Philadelphia, New lork
AND ALL POINTS EAST
The Seabord Air Line’s passenger service be
tw’een Atlanta and the east is excellent. Double
daily through trains Atlanta to Washington
and Norfolk, with Pullman’s finest drawing
room sleepers.
Pullman reservation can be made at any time.
For further Information call on any agent, or sd
WM. B CLEMENTS,
Trav. Pass. Agnnt,
JOS. M. BROWN, G A. P. D.,
Atlanta, fta.
H. W. B GLOVER, L S. ALLEN,
Traffic Manager. GenPassAat
Mothers ij
Read This. \
For Flatulent j
Colic,Diarrhoea, h ]
Dysentery, B I
Nausea,Coughs, ~
Cholera Infantum,:
ing Children, Cholera
Morbus, Unnatural Trains if I f\
from the Nowels, Pain3, 4 OPM' -
Griping, Loss of Appetite, Indigestion, I
ao a all Diseases of the Stomach and j
Bowels.
Pitt’s Carminative ’
is the standard. It carries children over j
the critical period of teething, mid is rec
ommended by physicians as the foend
of Mothers, Adults a*'d Children. It is
pleasant to the taste, and never fails to
give satisfaction. A few doses will demon
strate its superlative virtues. Price, -■'< is.
pe -r e. For sale, bv druggist-
Write for the free booklet: “•Merry
llht/mes for Thirsty Times.”
Hires
Rootbeer
time
Is here
THE IHAfu.Es E. HIRES CO., Philadelphia, Pa.
Makers of Hires Condenser! Milk
SHOOTJ^f^TfiAM^
PETERS LOADED SHELLS
STRONGEST, CLEANEST, QUICKEST.
PETERS METALLIC CARTRIDGES
WON WORLD’S RECORD-
Ask for Sportsman’s Handy Book, t
THE PETERS CARTRIDGE CO.,
246. 248, 250 MAIN ST.. CINCINNATI.
02 B* F M and Whiskey Hahtt*
S K I §fc .**3 cured at home with
I x, 5 outoi—.. Booto.
B B §¥ B ticulars sent FRE
AUaaU, Sjta, ufiice 1M *>• F-T Ol •