The Elbert County tribune., 1906-03-08

I
| Courtland by her side. She kept her
eyes on the ground. for she meant to
look at no one and behold nothing till
she should see-that which she 1onged
to look upon.
Suddenly she was conscious that
they had stopped in the middle OF
| vast silence. The candles upon the
great altar threw down golden
lustre. Joan saw the irregular shin
| ing of them on her white bridal dress.
and wondered that it should be SO
bright.
MY brother, the Prince of Court
land!" said the voice of the Princess
Margaret.
Slowly Joan raised her eyes-pride
and happiness at war with a kind of
glorious shame upon her face.
But that one look altered all things.
She stood fixed, aghast. turned to
stone as she gazed. She could
neither speak nor think. That which
she saw almost struck her dead with
horror.
The man whom his sister introduced
as the Prince of Courtland was not
the knight of the tournament. He was
not the young prince of the summer
palace. He was a man much older.
more meager of body, grey-headed.
with an odd sidelong expression in his
eyes. His shoulders were bent and
he carried himself like a man prema-
turely old.
And there. behind the altar railing,
clad in the scarlet of a prince of the
church. and wearing the mitre of
bishop. stood the husband of her
hearts deep thoughts. the man who
had never been out of her mind all
these weary months. He held
service book in his hand, and stood
ready to marry Joan of Hohenstein to
another.
Are you the Prince of Courtland?"
she asked; and at the sound of her
voice, unwontedly clear In the great
church, even the organ appeared to
still itself All listened intently,
though only few heard the conversa-
tion.
81 have that honor" bowed the man
with the bent shoulders.
Then, as God lives. I will never
marry you!" cried Joan, all her soul in
the disgust of her voice.
BE not disdainful, my lady" said
the bridegroom mildly; 81 will be your
humble slave. You shall have a
palace and an establishment of your
own, an 1t like you. The marriage
was your fathers desire. and hath the
sanction of the emperor. 1t is as
necessary for your state as for mine"
Then, while the people waited in
kind of palpitating uncertainty, the
Princess Margaret whispered to the
bride, who stood with a face as ashen
pale as her white dress.
We'll" she said finally. 81 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 to the altar. You will
never regret it."
mo, but you will" muttere1 his
groomsman, Prince Ivan of Muscovy.
The full rich tones of the prince
bishop rose and fell through the
crowded Minister as Joan of Hohen-
stein was married to his elder
brother, and with the closing words
of the episcopal benediction an awe
fell upon the multitude. They felt
that they were in the presence of
great unknown forces, the action and
interaction of which might lead no
man knew whittier.
At the close of the service, Joan,
now Princess of Courtland, leaned
over and whispered a word to her
captain, Maurice Won Lynar. 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 swelled out. The
marriage procession was reformed.
The prince bishop had retired TO 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 lances of the Kernsberg es-
cort had formed up. a serried mass of
beautiful well-groomed horses, stall
wart men, and shining spears. from
each of which the pennon of their
mistress fiuttered in the light wind.
On the steps of the Minister, after
they had descended more than half
way. the new Princess of Courtland
turned upon her lord. Her hand
slipped from his arm, which hung a
moment crooked and empty before it
dropped to his side. His mouth was
little open with surprise.
Now, my lord" said the Princess
Joan, loud and clear 81 have married
you. The bond of heritage-brother.
\ hood is fulfilled. l have obeyed my
father TO the letter. l have obeyed the
emperor. | have done all. Now be 1t
known to you ana to all men that |
will neither live with you nor yet in
| Your CITY. | am your wife In name