Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-04-22

l change"
Within ten minutes he WAS man
transform ed--as Juan and Martin tcs-
tined when they returned from pro-
vidinR the former with more suitable
garments than his nshcrman's sarh
Your Majesty" the major-domo
uuavercd trembling. will forgive my
emotion. Thus, as YOU stand. YOU are
as tho portrait Of your royal father
stepped from the frame OF that picture
which hangs in the great gallery. You
yourself shall Judge If am not right
when there is time" Philip agreed
induleen,ly. For the present. there
is mare precious business"
81 am wholly at your majcsty's COM
mands."
Lead me. then. frst TO the Princes.
Julia-make IL possible for me 10 sneak
with her alone"
II am afraid your majesty asks the
one impossible thing OF me" Martin
objected.
Why
Because to-nEht--even now as We
stand here talkinr-the Princess Julia
is being privately married 10 Count
Ramon de Ioba in the royal chapel
What do YOU tell me-
only wharI am told. your majesty"
Good Cod" Philip muttered in the
agony that visited him upon hearing
this announcement. That she should
be brought to this
His hand unconsciousiv feIl ino, rho
hiit Of the sword that swung at his
side His eyes sought the face OF Juan
Lopez. This last nodded. with look
OF perfect understanding
Lead me 20 this chapel" Philip or
dered.
There is little gallery above tn.
chapel" Martin suggested Ell route
whence you could look down and 500
the cercmony-if it he not vet ended
without being seen--providcd thar ro,
were very silent in entering
That will serve excellcntly."
They made fast work of the tanr,od
corridors. arriving speedily at small,
oaken door
Opening this with the most extreme
stealth. Martin rccred through, then
stood aside. that Philip and Juan might
prcccde him.
Your Majesty is just in time" he
said
II was true that the ceremony taking
place in the old oakpanclcd chapel be-
meath the little gallery in which they
paused had reached a point which
focused the attention Of all present
exclusively upon tho TWO principal
actors.
Not soul OF those below seemed
aware Of the entrance of tho three 10
the gallery. 1t is. however. true that
there were but few present other than
the priests and the bride and groom:
evidently Martin had hccn we'll advised
in asserting that this was a private
wedding.
Three or four gentlemen in evening
dress stood to ono side-familiars of
King Simon. the sole spectators. Simon
himself stood near the steps OF the
altar his back 10 the gallery. which
the priest officiating alone faced di-
rec,ly. His hands were extended in
henediction above the heads Of the
kneel!nS man and woman whom he had
just pronounced man and wife
Slowly these TWO rose and turned to-
ward one another The bride was
closely yelled. but Count Ramon Philip
recognized instantly
Again his hand sought the hilt Of his
sword. and Philips breath checked as
he awaited the final act Of this little
drama.
Ramon was lifting and throwing
back the veil OF MS bride
As her fac was exposed up;urned
for the bridccroon's kiss. Ramon
started back with cry 81 angry sur
pr!s" echoed by every person present
save those in tn" gallery And Of these
last tin major -domo was as much
astonished any al the Others. only
Prince Philip and Juan received the
shock with .quan!mt,y. Philips hand
dropped from his sword. Juan's from
The butt Of the pistol in the bosom IF
his coat
For the face of the woman whom
Count Ramon de Zoha had married was
the face. not Of the Princess lula Of
Alania. but of vic,orinc Savata.
How that substitution had been ac-
compl!shed there vas no way uf sur
missing nor did Philip and Juan waste
lime wondering For simultaneously
with tho discovery Of Victorine's fca-
lures beneath the bridal veil Il stranr.
anu alarming sound penetrated the
walls OF The palace even 10 the privacy
~ INC royal chapel
SOM" her" In the city a great brazcn
bel! mad begun 10 toll. - bell whose
tones were of such sonurous volume
ihdt they seemed 10 STRIKE vibrations
a =
scene that might have followed the
"hrosur" Of tia" trick ulavcd uunn
Ram"n and King Simon was by that
iolIing abbreviated 10 a tahlcau The
h"hd which Ramon had lifted as IL 10
strike the fac" Of his bride fol- Imply
To his sid" He turned 4 face blank
WITH apprehensivc afnazemcnt 10 his
NinE. simon himself was trembling
Nip!"ntIN, his fac" tn" color Of march
ih"ni The Spectators were wildly
consulting on" anoth"r's countcnances
IN" mrs, half dozen strokes sound
." slowly, then tn" bon began to toll
WIN a.aTmins violence iuadly. furious
~ necessarily, stroke following stroke
;" last that they blended into one
great. endless below
som" one cried aloud. The tocsin.'
ihihp touched JUau's arms and drew
MN out OF the gallery. the ma Tor.
domo following