Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-06-23
4 WARD OF TIE KING.
KATHARINE 8. MACOUOID,
Author of "Maisie Derrick 1.-THE Story
of Lois" Patty Louisa" "At
the Red Glove" Miss Eyon
Of Eyoncourt," &c.
(Copyrlght.)
Continued from yesterdays issue.)
CHAPTER II.
MARRIED.


"Mademoiselle! Mademoiselle Jeanne!
A plague on the child! My wind is
spent III crying after her! Where can
she be hidden?"
A tall, long faced woman, soberly
dressed in black with a white colt
hiding every thread of her hair, came
hurrylng round the inner square of the
castle to a corner of the court yard
near the donjOn, where, circled in by
stone walls, was the orchard. The
brCad-spreading apple trees were thick
with leaves, ALMOST hidden by the
rosy cloud OF blossom that lay on
them. Gillonne did not at first OBJ
serve Jeanne's small cloth-shod feet
and ankles, so near in color was her
hose to the old grey wood of the lad
der placed against a blossom covered
tree.
Gillonne was ruffied; she had gone
from tower to tower in search of her
young lady, and at last had sought her
in the orchard, though at present there
was no fruit to be found there except
wild strawberries:
"Eh-what is it, then, my POOR Gill
lonne?" came with pleasant laugh
out of the apple tree. why are you
seeking me? l am but gathering a
posy tor my mothers table; the fruit
will be the finer if the tree spares some
of it's promise"
''Mademciselle must hasten" Gill
Tonne cried THE Countess wearies
till mademoiselle comes to her There
is stirring news for mademoiselle, come
come heedfully; it is not we'll to risk
fall"
This was said in protest against the
speed with which Jeanne descended,
one hand numbered by a bunch of
apple blossoms.
Gillonne locked admiringly at the
blossom.
Il need a flower wherewith to deco
rate my bride She smiled at the girl
instead Of giving the lecture that
Jeanne expected to receive. "a brides
attire calls for fitting blossom She
took the flowers from Jeanne. There
seems to be enough to deck the altar
as we'll as the bride; pear blossom
would be more fitting, but that is with
cred"
What mean you, Gillonne, by a
bridte?"
Jeanne looked excited; her eyes
sparkled, her cheeks glowed.
Mademoiselle will learn. She must
come; the Countess waits
Three doors in the gloomy passage
that led to Jeanne's bed chamber
opened into the Countesss apartments.
First came large room in which she
sat with her maidens; the next was
her bed chamber; the furthest Of all
was her oratory. She now raised the
heavy tapestry that shut this off from
the bed chamber, and came forward.
Madame Kergrist was very tall and
pale, her long black robes swept the
floor, but her movement was full OF
grace as she bent forward and kissed
Jeanne's forehead
"The time is short, dear child" Her
voice was tender almost to sadness, as
she looked towards the window. Il
have a message from Monsieur de La
val. He and his train are riding over
from Guingamp; they will be here in
an hour. All is ready but you, my
child Take her, Gillonne; you shall
yourself tire her. Annie will serve
my turn, for / will not sadden your
bridal, dear little one, with mourning
weeds"
She pressed Jeanne fondly to her,
and then gently pushed the astonished
girl towards Gillonne.
Jeanne looked with wide open eyes
at the shining mass of white-and-
silver brocade spread out stiffiy on her
bed. There was also a white velvet
Golf, sewn with small pearls and edg-
ed with larger ones, and this was
placed over her long silky hair, when
that had been carefully made fast by
Gillonne's practiced fingers. The in
ner white silken robe fell straight and
stiff from the throat, and hid ner feet;
over this was sort of pelisse, open in
front, of stiff white and silver brocade,
falling straight to- Che ground, cut
square at the throat; with long hang
ing sleeves, long veil of shimmering
gauZe was fastened to the cap, and
made a sort of halo round the sweet
girlish face.
Gillonne looked her charge up and
down with a satisfied smile.
"The blossom is best for the chapel"
she said; "'twould mar the gown to
add color to it, and madame has plan
ned it herself from her portrait of good
Queen Anne. 1t is not the newest
mode, but l have heard that our Queen
Claude's bridal robe was fashioned on
the same pattern"
The countess came in to see how love-
ly her child looked in bridal array; but
time had sped fast while Gollonne per-
formed her duties, and madame Ker-
grist had only time to say a few words
and to give Jeanne fond kiss, when a
summons came for madame and mad
emoiselle to descend to the great hall.
The old seneschal stood there, wait
ing to conduct them to seats placed at
the further end of the vast chamber,
hung with fine blue and green tapestry
representing a forest, with an antlered
stag in the foreground, with huntsmen
and bowmen among the distant trees.
Jeanne groaned inwardly under the
weight of her bridal robes, but her de-
light in their beauty helped her to bear
it; she begun to praise them to her mo-
ther, when the seneschal again entered
and from the great door at the end of
the hall. Beside him walked a keen
faced old man, the chamberlain of the
Count of Laval; behind them came a
group of pages.
Jeanne watched while the seneschal
marshalled them to stand on either side
of the door Now there came a gentle
men of middle height and middle age,
clean-shaven and with a pleasant, de-
bonair look on his well-featured face;
a taller, much younger man walked be-
side him. AS the girl met his narrow
hripb oveS fiyei on her they reminded