Rocky Ford enterprise., 1906-03-09

! came out together: she looked at the
Dane-"he at the head OF your first
troops? He looks like your brother"
He has often been taken for sIch!"
said the bride. He Is called the
Count Won Loen."
The bells OF the minister changed
out "A changeiul thunder OF brazen nc-
claim as the bride set out for the
first time ESQ they told each other on
the streetsJ TO see her promised hus'
band.
Very like n princess and a great
lady looked Joan OF Hohenstcin as She
went up the aisle. with Margaret OF
Courtland by her side. She kept her
eyes on the ground. for she meant to
look at no one and behold nothing Ill
she should scc-ihat which she longcd
to look upon.
Suddenly she was conscious that
they had stopped In the middle OF a
vast silence. The candles upon tho
great altar threw down golden
siustrc. Joan saw the Irregular shin.
Ing OF them on her white bridal dress.
and wondered that IL should be 20
bright.
My brother. tho Prince of Court
land" said tho voice OF the Princess
Margaret.
Slowly Joan raised her cycH-prid"
and happiness nj war with Kind OF
glorious shame upon her face.
hut that on. look altered all things.
She stood fixed. ashaSt. turned to
stone aS she raEcd. She could
neither speak nor think. Tha, which
nhc saw almost struck her dead with
l horror.
The man whom his sister introduced
M tho Prince Of couTiiand was not
the knight Of the tournament. lie was
TO; tho young prince Of IN. summer
raiacc. lie was man much older.
more mcas-r at body. sr~y'hcadcd.
with an odd sideionE expression In his
eyes. His shoulders were bent and
h" carried himself like a man pErmAs
iurciy old.
And there. behind the altar Fsillns.
clad in the scarlet of n prince of n"
church. and wearing the miITr oi a
bishop. stood tho husband OF her
hearts deep thoughts. the man who
had never been out ut her mind all
these weary months. lie held
service book In his hand. and stood
ready to marry Joan Of iIuhCnAiciH to
another.
Are you the Prince Of couEtlaHd7"
she asked: and a; tho sound Of her
voice. unvonicdiy clear IN the great
church. even the organ appeared to
stiii itself. All listened intcuIiy.
though only few heard the eunycrsa.
ton.
II have that honor" bowed the man
with tho ben, shoulders.
Then. as God lives. will never
marry you!' cried loan. all her soul In
the disgust OF her voice.
lie not disdainful. my lady" said
the bridegroom mildly: Il viii he your
humble slave. You shalt have
palace and an establishment of your
own. an It like you. The marriage
vas your fathers desire. and hath the
sanction Of the emperor. II is as
/ necessary for your state as for mine"
Then. while the people waited in a
kind of palpitating uncertainty. the
Princess Margaret whispered to the
bride. who stood with face as ashcn
pale as her white dress.
Well" she said finally. Il will
marry this man. since It is my fate.
Let the ceremony proceed"
II thank you. gracious lady" said
the prince. taking her hand and lead.
ing his bride 10 the altar. You will
never regret it,"
NO. but yuu will" mut'ergi his
Eroomsman. Prince ivan OF Muscovy.
The full rich tones Of the prince
bishop rose aud fell through the
crowded Minister as Joan OF IiohCn.
stein vas married to his elder
brother. and with the closing words
Of the episcopal bcnCdiCtiDn an awe
fell upon the multitude. They felt
that they were in the presence ot
great unknown forces. the action aud
intcraction Of which might lead no
man knew whittier.
At the close of the service. Joan.
row Princess of Courtiand. leaned
over and whispered a word 10 her
captain. Maurice Won lyrar. an action
noticed by few. The young man
started and gazed into her face: but.
Immediately commanding his emotion.
he nodded and disappeared by a side
door.
The great organ swellcd out. The
marriage procession was reformed.
The prince bishop had retired 10 his
sacristy to change his robes. The new
princess Of Courtland came down the
aisle on the arm of her husband
In the center of the Minister Place.
the 400 lanccs Of the KernsberE es-
curt had formed up. serried mass n
I.a,,4Sf,,I tt.vr,r.,,N
wart mCn. and shining spears, from
each of which the pCnnon "f their