Long Valley advocate. (Lardo, Idaho) 1904-1907, 1907-05-09
CHAPTER XXI.
The Droppina of a Cloak.

his own COSSdCho pOAo'o
hind. Prince Ivan carried his bride 10
church through the streets OF her ma
tive city
The great doors of the catnedral mao
heen thrown wide open and the lealn-
orn curtain withdrawn. Inc altar
candles and the lamps a-swing In the
choir winked no brighter than. yeiio"
willow leaves seen through an autumn
mol fog. But as the cortege dlsmount-
I'D the organ began to roll, and the
neople within rose with hush IKE
hat which follows the opening OF a
uindow at night above the ALA.
Tbo sonorous diapason of the great
instrument disgorged itself througn
tbe doorway in wave after wave OF
sound. The Princess Margaret Iouno
herself again on her feet, upheld on
either side by brother and lover. ohe
was at first somewhat dazed with the
rush of accumulate disasters. SLOWLY
her mind came back.
Maurice-where was Maurice! one
turned about. The small, glltterlng
ewes 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 10
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 tnat'
thew 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 IL
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. Gomez"
1t was on the tip of Margaret
tongue to cry out with wild words
even as she had done at the door o
the river parlor. But the thought o
Maurice, of the torture and the death
silenced her. She lifted her eyes, am
there, at the top of the steps, wer'
the dignitaries of the cathedral wall
ing to lead the solemn procession.
Il will go!" she said.
She laid her hand on her brother
arm and began the ascent of the lon
hight of stairs. But even as she oil
So behind her there broke wave c
sound-the crying of many people
confused and multitudinous, like tn
warning which runs along a crowde
thoroughfare when a wild charge
escaped from bonds threshes alOn
with frantic flying harness. And lo
atthe foot of the steps, clad from hea
10 loot in cloak, the sick Princes
Joan, she whom the Black Death ha
Strlckens leaped from her foamin
s'eed, and drawing sword followe
hercely up the stairway after til
marriage procession. The Cossacks
Nne Muscovite guard locked at eaC
o'ner' not knowing whether to star
ner way or no.
Hold, there!" the pursuer shoute
10 sne set loot on the lowest step.
Lord! Surely that is no woman
aolce! whispered the people wi
s'oou nearest, and their lower jaw
derment.
Up the wide steps of the Dom fie
.aH woman in the flowing cloa
evn owe lace was pallid as death, but h
A. were brilliant and her lips re
Dr. me sight of the naked swo
b,oe Ivan plucked the blade fro
ms Side and ou;s ch~oL 1;++1o ,