The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1868-02-26
On; VIRGINIA. WEDNESDAY MORNING FEBRUARY &C. 1863

royal pew that day. The court dress of vel
vet, with its canine trimmings, the tiara, the
necklace the bracelets, had been exchanged
for grey serge robe and a long thick veil
which was now pushed back from the fair
girlish face
~Why are you here, Bertram I" asked the
princess.
II came to bid you farewell; and as ] dare
not venture into the palace, gained access
to the cathedral by bribing the bellringer, and
having taken the vacant seat of the dead
orgapist, let my music breathe out the adieu
I could not trust my lips to utter"
A low moan was the only answer. and he
continued:
sYou are to be married on the morrow r
"Yes," sobbed the girl. '.Oh, Bertram,
what trial it will be to stand at yonder al
tar, and take upon me the VOWS which will
doom me to a living death y @ &
"Think of me" rejoined the organist-
"Your royal father has requested me to play
at the wedding, and / have promised to be
here. If were your equal could be the
bridegroom instead Of the organist; but a
poor musician must give you up
1T is like rendering soul and body asun-
der, to part with you," said the girl. Tonight
I may tell you this tell you how fondly l
love you, but in few hours it will be a sin !!
Go, and God bless YOU"
She waved him from her, as if she would
Danish him while she had the power to do so,
and he-how was it with him? He rose to
leave her, then he came back, held her to
his heart in a long embrace, and with half
smothered farewell left her.
The next morning dawned in cloudless
splendor, and at an early hour the cathedral
was thrown open, and the sexton began to
prepare for the wedding. Flame-colored
flowers nodded by the way side-fame- color
ed leaves came rushing down from the trees
and lay in heaps upon the ground and the
ripe wheat waved like golden sea, and ber-
ries dropped in red and purple clusters over
the rocks along the Rhine.
At length the palace gates were opened
and the royal party appeared, escorting the
Princess Elizabeth to the cathedral, where
her marriage was to be solemnized.
1t was brave pageant; far brighter than
the untwined foliage and blossoms were the
tufts of plumes which foated from stately
heads, and festal robes that streamed down
over the housings Of the superb steeds. BUT
the princess, mounted on a snow palfrey, and
ciadin snow-white velvet, looked pale and
sad and when, on nearing the church she
heard gush of organ music which though
jubilant in sound, struck on her ear like
funeral knell, she trembled and would have
fallen to the earth had not page supported
L.. Gov ftor rJc che onfaro1
the cathedral There, with his refine, stood
the royal bridegroom, whom she had never
before seen. But her glance royed from
him to the organ loft, where she had expected
to see the mysterious organist. Hewas gone,
and she was obliged to return the graceful
bow Of the King, to whom she had been be-
throthed from motives of policy. Mechani-
caIly she knelt at his side on the altar stone
mechanically listened to the service and made
the responses.
Then her husband drew her to him in q
convulsive embrace, and whispered:
s.Elizabeth, my queen, my wife, look up y
Trembling ID every limb, she obeyed. Why
did those dark eyes thrill her SO {? Why did
that smile bring glow on her cheeks All !!
though the King wore the royal purple, and
many jeweled order glittered on his breast,
he seemed the same humble person who had
taught her the lore Of love.
elizabeth" musmured the monarch, "Ber-
tram Hoffman, the mysterious organist aud
King Oscar are one. Forgive my stratagem.
l wished to marry you, but would not drag
to the altar an unwilling bride. Your father.
was in the secret"
While tears of joy rained from her blue
eyes, the new made queen returned her bus
bands fond kisses, and for once two hearts
were made happy by royal marriage.