The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1903-09-09
WHEN A QUEEN
WAS MADE
BY CuRRAN r. GRtENLrl
Copyright. 1919, by 7. c. Mcclure

Night III Venice. he Gay was uolc,
but the merriment only waXed the
louder with the coming of the stars.
There was glitter of golden banners
nlong the Grand canal and the silent
hurrying of many gendoiaS for Venice
was en- fete The treaty With Gyprus
had been formally ratified, and that
day the republic had formally adopted
the slim patriclan maid, daughter of
Venice, that she might become the
mother of kings to -
A great destiny for the shy child of
scarce fourteen years. But as Cnterina
leaned from her easement. the golden
hair falling down the wall iii nimbus
light her thoughts We're not of King
james de l.usienan nor that storicd
kingdom of Cyprus ovcrsca, not of
them. for maiden thoughts are white
winged birds that 70 where they list
but of one slender youth whose eyes
sought hers across the darkness, where
he stood in the shadow of the closed
portals of the Morosini palazzo across
the canal. SO near that lie could note
the CLEAN of the scarlet light ON the
golden head SO far that the sword of Il
nations destiny flashed between them.
kings bride what chance had he
Andrea Morosinl, cavalier and poet
and ii Morosini, the ancient enemy of
her house?
There had been days when old Cor
naro's daughter had watched concealed
behind her easement draperlcs IL see
him go forth with the young knights.
There had been soft starlit nights
when he had watched that selfsame
easement and poured forth his soul to
the silkcn sweet tones of his lutte One
night when her nurse nodded drowsily
the small white hand had dropped
great languorous white rose into the
prov of his gondela. and after that
there had been moment In the great
cathedral when he had pressed close
and held the little hand for Il moment
in his. That was all. and there could
be no more for Cornaro's child, the
daughter of Venice, but the Ind had
dreamed his dreams and gone merrily
forth TO brittle with the Gcnoese 1t
Ind been month. II long month. when
hc returned. aud all the bells were ring
Ing I'm honor OF CATERING
The twilight died, but the blaze of
festal beacons flashed from tower to
tower. Over there In the Cornaro pa
lnzzo there was perfect carnival of
music and laughter. Andrews face grew
whittier In the reflected glare. He could
see rs the breeze blew aside the cur
tains many figures passing To and fro
In that upper room. They We're robing
for her sacrifice In that maiden cham
Der that had been his hearts shrine for
two long years,
No longer Venetian maiden the
ceremony that would presently take
place before the high altar of st.
Marks would make her crowned
queen. Well, lac would 70 to the wars
again There was always the Genoese
TO battle with. lie might even win the
holy sepulcher.
Was there no way lie would have
given his soul for one word with her
face To face. Andrea flung the lutte
far out, where 1t sank into the dark wa
ters. He would never need II again.
Overhead all the bells of Venice called
to one another, and the lap, lap of the
tide sobbed beneath as the under note
Of human pain that beats II minor tone
to all the joy of life.
Caterlna stood up straight and tall
in the midst of her maidcns. The Jew
eled robe fell close to the round, young
limbs, heavy with Its weight Of pearls.
Pearls and rubies were twincd In the
golden curls, and the fair, round arms
We're banded with glowing gems of the
orient Across the childish breast,
above the folds Of cloth of gold,
baldric of emeralds rose and fell with
every frightened breath, and the wild
rose color WIS gone from cheek and
quivering lip.
Straight and tall in her young males
ty, but over the blare of the trumpet,
the flash Of the jewels, deeper than the
voice of Venice in loud acclaim, came
the low note of lutte that was stilled
forever. There was n strangeness In
her throat, II blackness before her eyes.
Awed at her silence, the flock OF
maidens fell little away from where
she stood, and then there came an old
woman. bowed and weary, through the
velvet portals
When the attendants would have
barred the way Caterlna held out her
hand As the old woman bowed be
fore her she opened the palms Of her
brown hands an instant, so quickly
that none saw but Caterlna, who drew
a quick breath and turned to the walt
ing throng with n new authority,
Leave us. | would have speech with
the dame alone"
Wondering, they left her, and as the
door changed to the old woman slipped
the iron bar into place and then stood
up, the gray wig thrown off, the wom-
an trappings cast aside, Andrea Moro
sini
One step toward Caterina, and he
held out his arms. With low, glad
cry she nestled Into them, and for one
long moment Of heaven his lips lay on
hers, while below the Grand canal pull
stated with the music and triumph of
queens bridal.
The seconds licked away. There was
no past, no future. Then st. Mari
called to the outermost mole, and the
sound OF feet came along the stone
corridor pausing at the barred door
Caterina started and paled. Her father,
the Cornaro, The steps died away.
Then noise behind them startled
them. Not ten PAGES Guido Cornaro
leaned on his great sword. and their
frightened eyes were met with look
30 stern that for a time they were
speechless. He had entered through a
door OF which Caterina had no knOwl-
edge, built by some jealous Cornaro of
long ago, who had caused this place of
espial to be made that he might the
better prove his fears. Indeed they
might all have been carven stone.
There was no motion In the room but
the waving of the arras In the evening
breeze that blew through the easement
the slender youth in his cavalier garb
nf dark velvet the stern mailed old