The Elbert County tribune., 1906-06-07
JOAN fHs 4H SWORD HAND
1865
a S.RROdETT.A .Aadzac AZ MeRxasuoo
(copyright ls9s. ls0O. by s. r. croekett)
CHAPTER XXI.
rhe Dropping Of : cloak.

The Dropping Of Cloak.
And SO. with the mounted guard OF
his own Cossacks before him and be-
hind, Prince Ivan carried his bride to
church through the streets of her ma
tive city.
The great doors OF the cathedral had
been thrown wide open and the leath-
ern curtain withdrawn. The altar
candles and the lamps a-swing In the
choir winked no brighter than yellow
willow leaves seen through an autumn
nal fog. But as the cortege dismount-
ed the organ began to roll, and the
people within rose with a hush like
that which follows the opening OF
window at night above the ALA.
The sonorous diapason OF the great
instrument disgorged itself through
the doorway In wave after wave OF
sound. The Princess Margaret found
herself again on her feet. upheld on
either side by brother and lover. She
was at first somewhat dazed with the
rush of accumulate disasters. Slowly
her mind came back.
Maurice-where was Maurice? She
eyes of Prince Ivan. black as sloes.
were looking into hers. She remem-
bered now. 1t was her own wedding.
These two. her brother and her enemy.
were carrying out their threat. They
had brought her to the cathedral to
wed her, against her will, to the man
she hated. But they could not. She
would tell them. Already she was
but then, If she told them that,
they would ride back and kill him.
Better that she should perjure herself,
condemn herself to hell, than that.
Better anything than that. But what
was she to do? Was ever a poor girl
so driven?
Margaret, you must come with us
into the cathedral" 1t was the voice
of her brother. "It Is necessary that
the Prince should wed you now. 1t
has too long been promised, and now
he can delay no longer. Besides. the
Black Death is in the city, and this is
the only hope to escape. Come!"
1t was on the tip Of Margaret's
tongue to cry out with wild words,
even as she had done at the door OF
the river parlor. But the thought OF
Maurice, of the torture and the death,
silenced her. She lifted her eyes, and
there, at the top OF the steps. were
the dignitaries of the cathedral wait
ing to lead the solemn procession.
II will go!" she said.
She laid her hand on her brothers
arm and began the ascent OF the long
flight of stairs. But even as she did
an fraA hnr hnr aIn nf
sound-the crying of many people.
confused and multltudinous. like the
warning which runs along a crowded
thoroughfare when a wild charger
escaped from bonds threshes along
with frantic flying harness. And 10!
at the foot Of the steps. clad from head
to foot in cloak, the sick Princess
Joan. she whom the Black Death had
stricken, leaped from her foaming
steed, and drawing sword followed
hercely up the stairway after the
marriage procession. The Cossacks of
the Muscovite guard looked at each
other. not knowing whether to stand
in her way or no.
Hold, there!" the pursuer shouted,
as she set foot on the lowest step.
Lord! Surely that is no woman's
voice!" whispered the people who
stood nearest, and their lower jaws
dropped little further in sheer won
derment.
Up the wide steps of the Dom flew
the tall woman in the flowing cloak.
Her face WAS pallid as death, but her
eyes were brilliant and her lips red.
At the sight Of the naked sword
Prince Ivan plucked the blade from