Year: 1877

in full uniform, and his manner
were polite in the extreme.


MY lady heiress Of Rosenfels," h
said. II have come to conduct you Il
my master. He waits for YOU"


Mechanically the maiden put fortl
her hand and arose from her seat
She thought not of hesitating, for, lik'
the man who, with closed eyes, give.
himself up to the doom Of death, die
she resign herself to her fate. Eudoc
ia and her mother walked by her side
and with a trembling, feeble step sh,
followed the officer down into tht
great hall Of the castle. Kraunich
stood at the head OF the hall as she
entered, and about him were score
OF ldssoldiers. The priest stood by
the great baronial chair, and instinct.
lively Johanna gazed into his face to
see il his holy calling had made him
look kind; but she could trace no ex-
preston there, save that OF sensual
ism and sordid love OF gain. His face
was but the index of a soul that had
no feeling beyond the wants Of the
body that contained it. Moritz
Kraunich stepped forward to meet
his elect bride.


There was a grim smile upon his
coarse face, and a triumphant beam
in his eyes. He extended his hand
when he came up to the ladies, but
Johanna did not take ii.


"Come Johanna, he said, "give me
your hand" There was something
so threatening in his tones as he
spoke-something so menancing in
the look which accompanied the
words, that she dare not disobey,
though when her hand rested in that
OF her prosecutor she shuddered till
her heart seemed like senseless lead


Courage, my fair bride, continued
Kraunich, as he turned to lead the
maiden TO the head OF the hall; "the
ceremony shall soon be through with.
1t is no dreadful thing to be married.


Olivia Leusden heard the words
which Kraunich spoke, and she saw
how ashy pale was the face Of her
daughter, but she could only clasp
her hands in silent agony. Eudocia
Ellendorf supported the wretched
mother, and she tried to whisper
comfort IN her ear.


At length they reached the open
space, In front OF the great baronial
chair, and here Kraunich stopped and
faced about.


@Now. most reverend father" he
said, turning TO the priest. I'VE are
ready for the ceremony. Here are the
letters from the Archduke Charles, in
which / am commanded to take
charge OF the castle, and marry the
young lady Johanna. These witness
ses present are competent for the
purpose, and your service is alone
wanting. Let the ceremony proceed. F"


Moritz Kraunich clasped the maid
ems hand more tightly within his own
as he spoke, and the priest opened
the book and commenced to read the
service.


Gradually Johanna's strength had
been falling her, and when the priest
began to read she was supported
wholly by the man who held her.
Kraunich hoped that no one would
notice the maiden's swoon-he knew
ii, Tor he felt her weight upon his
arm; but there was one there who
did notice il. The faithful, watchful
mother saw 1t all, and for the first
time in her life all her timidity van
ished. She saw her beloved daugh-
ter failing beneath the anguish that
was being heaped upon her. and her
soul was strong with more than mas
culine power. With one bound she
sprang to the side OF the priest and
knocked the book from HE hands.


Hold. false. base. priesti". she
cried as she stood with one foot up
on the book she had dashed upon the
floor: @would you profane your
sacred and holy calling by such a
deed? You shall not marry my child,
you wicked mani"


For an instant Moritz Kradnich
was thunderstruck and confounded
by this unexpected movement, but
he quickly recovered himself. and
turning to his men, he ordered them
TO take the baroness away.


Three OF the soldiers laid their
hands upon the poor woman, and
while she struggled In their grasp,
Johanna broke loose from Kraunich
and sprang to her side.


For some time all was confusion In
the hall; but at length Moritz Kraun-
ich managed to gain the maiden once
more to his side, and the barone Sc
was secured.


Now" cried the exasperated viii
lain. when the priest had picked up
his book. "go on with the ceremony,
and II I be not Lord OF Rosenfels
within the next hour. then the fiends
seize upon my soull Go on, sayl"


Ere the priest had began to read
again. the ali was broke by the notes
OF horn at the great gate. The blast
was loud and long, like the note OF
alarm, and the soldiers started and
instinctively seized their weapons.


~Ludolf," gasped the major. @go to
the gate and tell Theodore to keep i.
closed. Quickl haste! BY my soul
and the holy mass, the emperor him
self should not enter now!"


The lieutenant started towards the