| Show r I JOAN GIF U m r J R CROCK Au Jor of 0 07 7 eP C 2 d a r b Copyright 1898 1900 by bv S. S R R. Crockett CHAPTER X I r At the High Altar When Maurice von Lynar reached the open pen air he be stood for full five m minutes min min- in- in utes tes lightheaded light in the rush of the city traffic The loud reiteration of rejoicing sounded heartless and even impertinent In his ear The world had changed for the young Dane since the Count von Loen had been summoned by the Princess Margaret He c cast st his mind back over the interview in in- but bilt failed to disentangle any anything thing definite It was a maze of Impressions impressions im im- 1 out of which grew the certainty certainty certainty that safely safely to to play play- his difficult part art he must obtain the whole confidence confidence dence of the Duchess Joan The young young Dane found the duchess walking up and down on the noble promenade which faced the river to the west Ah Ah Von Lynar my brave Dane wh what good wind brings you here she cried I declare I was longing for some one to talk to A consciousness of need which had only Just come upon herI herI her I I have seen the Princess Margaret said the youth slowly and I think 0 that she must mistake me for some Bother l other other person She spoke things mostA most A strange to me The eyes of the duchess danced A load seemed suddenly lifted off her mind Was she very angry she queried Very returned Von Lynar smiling smiling smil smil- ing in recognition of her smile What said the princess First she would have It that my name and style was was that of the Count von von Loon Loen en Then she reproached reproach me fiercely because I I. I denied it it After that she she spoke of certain foreign cus customs customs customs toms she had been taught recalled walks through c corridors and rose gardens gardens gardens gar gar- dens with me till my head swam and I knew not what to answer Joan of the Sword Sword- Hand laughed a amerry amerry amerry merry peal The Count von Loen did she say she ehe mediated Well so so you are the Count von Loen I create you the Count von Loen I give you the title I give you also therewith the estates which pertain to the title They are situ situated ted on the borders of Reichenau I am so happy night to-night that I would like like to make all the world happy I Iam Iam am sorry for all the folk I have in in- Love changes all things said the Dane sententiously The duchess looked at him quickly You are In love with love with the Princess Margaret she said The youth blushed ed a deep crimson whip flooded his neck and dyed his lis dusky skin Poor Maurice she said touching his bowed head with her hand your your troubles will not be be to seek seel My lady said the youth I fearnot fear tear fearnot not trouble I have promised to to serve the princess in all things She has been kind to me She has forgiven me all So you are to change your allegiance ance ante said the duchess But how did you you manage to appease her That ThatIs Is no mean feat She is an imperious 1 lady and quick of understanding Then Maurice von Lynar told his hisa i a j mistress ss of his most allowable falsehoods falsehoods false false- hoods and begged her not to undeceive undeceive unde- unde the princess for that he would i rather bear all that she might put upon him than that she should know he be had lied to her Do not be afraid said the duchess it it was I who tangled the skein So far far tar you have unravelled It very well The least I can do is to leave you to 4 it to the end my brave Count j on von Loen iThe morning of the fhe great day cool and gre grey The streets A re e completely lined with the folk tolk e. e As- As t I of the city of Courtland as the Princess Princess Princess Prin Prin- cess Margaret with the and his company of lances clattering behind her rode to the entrance of the great palace where abode the bride Who is that youth asked Margaret Margaret Mar Mar- Margaret garet of Courtland of bf f Joan as as' they came out together sh she looked at th the Dane Dane he he at the head of your first troops He looks like your brother He has often been taken for such said the bride He is s called the Count Coun t von von Loen The bells bells' of the minster clanged out a changeful thunder of brazen acclaim acclaim ac ac acclaim claim as the bride set out for t the e first time so they told each oth other r On on the streets to see to-see see her promised h hus hus- hus s- s band Very like a princess and a great lady looked Joan of Hohenstein as she went up the aisle with Margaret of Courtland by her side She kept her eyes on the ground for she meant to look at no one and behold nothing nothing- till she should see that see that which she long longed d to look upon Suddenly she was conscious that they had stopped in the middle of a avast avast avast vast silence The candles upon the great altar threw down a golden lustre Joan saw the irregular shining shining shining shin shin- ing of them on her white bridal dress and wondered that it sho should ld be so bright My brother brother- the Prince of Courtland Courtland Court- Court land said land said the voice of the Princess Margaret Sl Slowly Joan raised her eyes pride eyes pride and h happiness s at war with a kind of glorious shame upon her face But that thai one look altered all things She stood fixed aghast turned to stone ston as she gazed She could neither speak nor think That which she saw saw almost struck her dead with horror The man whom his sister introduced as th the Prince of Courtland was not the knight of the t tournament He was not the young prince of t the e summer palace He Hew He was w was s a man much older more meager of body grey headed grey-headed wit with an odd sidelong expression in his I 1 create you the Count von Loen eyes His shoulders were bent and he carried hims himself If like a m man n prematurely prematurely prema prema- old And there behind the altar railing clad in the scarlet of a prince of of the church and wearing the mitre of a bishop stood the husband of ot her her hearts heart's deep thoughts the man who had never been out of at her mind plind all I these weary months He held a service book in his hand and stood ready to marry Joan of Hohenstein to another Are you the Prince of C Courtland she asked and at the sound of ot other her voice unwontedly clear In the great church even the organ organ appeared to still itself AH An listened intently though only a few tew heard the conversa conversa- tion I have that honor bowed the man with the bent shoulders Then as God lives I will will never marry you cried Joan all an her soul Inthe in inthe inthe the disgust of her voice Be not disdainful my lady said the bridegroom mildly I will be your humble slave You shall have a apal pal palace ce and an establishment of yo your r rown own an it ft like you The marriage was as your fathers father's desire and hath the sanction of the emperor It is as necessary for your state as for for- mine Then while the people waited in a kind of palpitating uncertainty the Princess Margaret whispered to the bride who stood with a face as ashen pale as her white dress Well she said finally I 1 will marry marry- this man since e It is my fate tate Let the ceremony proceed ceremony Proceed I thank you gracious lady said the prince taking her her hand and leading leading leading lead lead- ing his bride bridet t to tha th the altar You will never never r regret gr t it itA R- RNo TT No but put Y you you w rel his groomsman Prince Ivan of The full rich tones of the prince bishop rose and fell through the crowded Minster as Joan of Hohenstein Hohenstein Hohenstein Hohen Hohen- stein was married to his his elder brother and with the 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 noman noman noman man knew whither At the close of the service Joan now Princess of Courtland leaned over and whispered a word to her captain Maurice von Lynar an action noticed by few The young man started and gazed into her face but immediately commanding his emotion emotion he nodded and disappeared ared by a side do door r. r The great organ swelled out The marriage procession was re The The prince bishop had retired to his sacristy to change his change his robes The new new princess of Courtland came down the aisle on n the the- therm arm rm of her husband In the center of the Minster Place the lances of the es es es- tort had formed up a serried ma mass massof s. s of of beautiful well-groomed well horses stalwart stalwart stalwart stal stal- wart men and shining spears from each of which the pennon of their mistress fluttered in in the light wind On the steps of the Mi Minster ster after they had descended more than half half- way the new Princess of Courtland turned upon her lord Her hand slipped from his arm which hung a moment crooked crooke and empty before it dropped to his side His mouth was wasa a little open with surprise Now my lord said said- the Prin Princess ess Joan loud and clear I have married The bond of you heritage brother hood is fulfilled I have haye obeyed my my father to the letter I have obeyed the emperor I have done all Now be it known to you and to all men that I will neither live with you nor yet in your city I am your wife in name nanie You shall never be my husband In aught else I bid you f farewell rewell Prince of Courtland Joan of Hohenstein may marry where she she is bidden bidden but she shel l loves ves where she will The The horse upon which she had come cometo cometo to to- the Minster s stood waiting There here was the ready to help her into the saddle Ere one of the wedding guests could move to prevent her before the Prince of Courtland could cry cryan an order order order or or- der or decide what to do Joan of the Sword Hand had had I placed herself at the head of her lances and was riding through th thI the s shouting outing st streets toward the Plassenburg Plassenburg Plassen- Plassen en I burg gate As soon as they were clear clear- the Princess Joan turned In her saddle saddle and to the behind her We ride back to to she cried Joan of the Sword Hand is wed but not yet won won If they would keep her they must first catch her Are you with me lads of the hills There came came a unanimous shout of Aye Aye to to the the death from throats C Then give me a sword and put Qt mt horses to their speed We ride fOr toe home Let them catch us who cant can H HAnd And this was the true fashion of the marrying of Joan of the Sword Hand Duchess of Hohenstein to th the Prince Louis of Courtland by his brother Bishop Conrad cardinal and prince of the Holy Ch Church CHAPTER XI XI O What Joan Left Behind After the departure of his bride the Prince of Courtland stood on the steps of the minster dazed and foundered I by the shame which had so suddenly befallen him Bid the gates be shut prince The whisper came over over his shoulder J I I gi 1 She stood fixed aghast from a young man who had bad been standing all the time twisting his his mus mus tache Bid your horsemen bit and bridle The plain is fair before you It is a long way to Let no wench in the world put this shame upon a reigning prince of Courtland upon his wedding day I Thus Ivan of attired in silk banded of black and gold coun coun- counseled counseled counseled the disdained Prince Louis who stood pushing upward with his two fingers the point of ot his thin greyish beard and gnawing its straggling ends between his teeth The Prince Louis appeared to be moved by Prince Wasps Wasp's words He He- turned about to the nearest knight knight-in- v waiting Let us to horse horse every every man of f us he said Bid Bid that the steeds be instantly brought The The banded banded Wasp had further counsels counsels coun coun- sels to give Give out that you go to meet the princess at a rendezvous For a pleasantry between yourselves you have resolved to spend the honeymoon at a distant hunting Quick Not half a dozen of all aU the company caught the true Import of her words You will tame her yet At the command of the prince th the trumpets rang out again the Boot saddle and-saddle from the steps of the cathedral At the sound the grooms who were here here and and there In the press hasted to find and caparison the horses of their lords Meanwhile on one the wide steps the Prince Louis fretted dinting his nails nalls' restlessly into Into Into in In- to his palms and shaking with anger and disappointment till his deep sleeves shook like scarlet flames in a veneering wind To be continued |
