Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1871-06-17
81 on JEFFERSON COUNTY, W. VA, SATURDAY JU
Z" Bsrtram !" she murmured.

head. Ihere, with the liSut oi tne iauiP s"S
pended to the arch above falling full upon
her, stood the Princess, who had graced the
royal pew that day The court dress Of vel
vet, with its ermine trimmings, the tiara, the
necklace, the bracelets, had been exchanged
for gray serge robe aud long thick veil,
which was now pushed back from the fair,
girlish face.
"Why are you here, Bertram ?" asked the
Princess.
"I came to bid you farewell and as | dar-
ed not to venture into the palace, gained ac-
cess to the cathedral by bribing the bell-rins-
er, and having taken the seat of the dead or
ganist, let my music breathe out the adieu
could not trust my lips to utter"
A low moan was the only answer, and he
continued;
"You are to be married on the morrow"
"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 living death"
Think of me-" rejoined the orsanist.-
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 poor
musician must give you up"
alt is like rending my soul and body asun-
der to part with you" said the girl. "To-
night may tell you this-te!l you how fond
ly love you, but in few hours it will be a
sin Go, Co. 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 lie arose to
leave her. then came back, held her to his
heart in a long embrace, with half smother
cd farewell, left her.
The next morning dawned in cloudless
.plendor. At an early hour the cathedral
was thrown open and the sexton began to pre-
pare for the wedding. Flsme-colored flow
ers nodded by the wuyside-fame-colored
leaves came dashing down the trees and lay
in heaps upon the ground and the ripe wheat
waved IKE golden sea, and berries dropped
in red and purple clusters over the rocks along
the Rhine.
At length the palace gates were opened and
the royal party appeared, escoTting the Prln-
cess Elizabeth to the cathedral, where the
marriage was to be solemnized.
1t was bright pagcant-far brighter than
the entwincd foliage and blossoms where the
tufts of plumes which hoated from stately heads
and festal robes that streamed down over the
housings ofthe superb steeds.
Bat the Princess, mounted on o
snowy palfrey, and clad in snow-whitc velvet,
looked pale and sad; and when on nearing the
church. she heard a gush Of organ music,
which, though jublant in sound, struck on
her ear like funeral knell-she trembled and
would have fallen to the earth, had not page
supported her. A few minutes afterwards
she entered the cathedral. There with his re-
tinue stood the royal bridegroom, whom she
had never before seen. But her glance roved
from him to the organ loft, where she had ex-
pected that mysterious organist. He was gone,
aud she was obliged to return the graceful
bow of the King, 10 whom she had been be-
trothed from motives of policy. Mechanically
she knelt at his side on the altar stonei me-
chanically listened to the service and made tho
response.
Then her husband drew her to him in 4
convulsive embrace, and whispered;
elizabeth, my queen, my wife, look up"
Trembling in every limb, she Obeyed.-
Why did those eyes thrill her so7 Why did
that smile bring glow on her checks
All though the King wore the royal purple
and many jewcled o:der glittercd on his
breast, he seemed the humble person who had
been employed to teach organ music, and had
taught her the lore Of love.
Elizabeth" murmured the monarch, Ber-
tram Hoffman, the mysterious organist, and
King Oscar lthe Royal Free MasOnD are one
Forgive my stratagem. ! wished to marry
you, but would not drag to the altar an un-
willing bride Your father was in the secret. "
While tears Of joy rained from her blue eyes,
tho new made queen returned her husbands
fond kisses and for once two hearts were made
l.r..,, l, N EQUAL