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Show ' JOAN-Mil) IM) I I (Copyright, 1898, 1900, by S. 11. Crockett.) CHAPTER X. , At the High Altar. When Mnurlco von Lynnr reached A. thoxpon air he stood for full ftvo mln-r mln-r utes, light-headed In the rush of tho city traffic. Tho loud reiteration or rejoicing sounded heartless and even Impertinent In his ear. Tho world had changed for tho young Dane since tho Count von Loon had been summoned by tho Princess Margaret. Ho cast his mind back over tho Interview, In-terview, hut failed to disentangle anything any-thing definite It was n maze of Impressions Im-pressions out of which grew the certainty cer-tainty that safely to play his difficult part ho must obtain tho whole confidence confi-dence of tho Duchess Joan. Tho young Dane found tho duchess walking up and down on tho noblo promcnado which faced tho river to tho west. "Ah, Von Lynar, my bravo Dane, what good wind brings you hero?" she cried. "I declaro I wns longing for somo one to talk to." A consciousness of need which had only Just come upon her. "I havo seen tho Princess Margnret," said the youth slowly, "and I think that sho must mlstako mo for somo other person. Sho spoko things most strango to mo." Tho eyes of tho duchess danced. A load seemed suddenly lifted off her mind. "Was sho very angry?" sho queried. "Very!" returned Von Lynar, smiling smil-ing In recognition of hor smile. "What said tho princess?" "First sho would havo It that my narao and stylo was that ot tho Count von Locn. Then sho reproached mo fiercely becauso I denied It. After that sho spoko of certain foreign customs cus-toms sho had been taught, recalled walks through corridors and roso gardens gar-dens with me, till my head swam and I know not what to answer." Joan of tho Sword Hand laughed a merry peal. "Tho Count von Loen, did sho say?" Bho mediated. "Well, so you are tho Count von Locn. I create you tho Count von Locn. I give you tho title. I give you also thcrowlth the estates j which pertain to tho title. They aro t situated on tho borders of Relchcnau. I am so happy to-night that I would like to make all tho world happy. I am sorry for all tho folk I have Injured." In-jured." "Love changes all things," said tho Dano, sentontlouBly. The duchess looked at him quickly. "You nro In lovo with tho Princess Margaret?" sho said. Tho youth blushed a deep crimson whlh flooded his neck and dyed his dusky skin. "Poor Maurlcol" sho said, touching his" bowed head with her hand, "your troubles will not bo to seek." "My lady," said tho youth, "I fedr not troublo. I havo promised to servo tho prlncoss in all things. Sho has been kind to me. Sho has forgiven mo nil." "So you aro to change your allegiance," allegi-ance," said tho duchess. "But how did you manage to appeaso hor? That 1b no mean feat. Sho Is an lmporlous lady and quick of understanding." Then Maurlco von Lynar told his 1 mistress of his most allowable false hoods, and bogged hor not to unde-colvo unde-colvo tho princess, for that ho would I rather bear all that sho might put upon him than that sho should know 'he had lied to her. "Do not bo afraid," said tho duchess, "it was I who tangled tho skein. So far you havo unravollod It very well. Tho least I can do la to leavo you to unwind It to tho end, my bravo Count von Ijen." Tho morning of the great day dawnod cool and groy. Tho streets "I create you the Count von Loen." woro completely lined with tho folk of tho city of Conrtland as tho Prln-i Prln-i coss Margaret, with tho Sparhawk j 1 and his company of lancos clntterlng behind hor, rode to tho entrnnco of tho great palace where abode tho' bride-elect. I "Who Is that youth?" asked Mar- I garet ot Courtland of Joan, as thoy I' - camo out together; sho looked at tho Dano "ho nt tho head' of your first troops? Ho looks like your brother." "Ho haH ofton been taken for such!" said tho .bride. "He Is called tho Count von Loen." Tho bells of tho minster clanged out a changeful thunder of brazen acclaim ac-claim as tho bride set out for tho first tlrao (so they told each other on the streets) to see hor promised husband. hus-band. Very llko a princess and a great lady looked Joan of Hohcnstcln as she went up the nlsle, with Margaret ot Courtland by her side. Sho kept her eyes on the ground, for sho meant to look at no ono and behold nothing till rho should sec that which sho longed to look upon. Suddenly sho was conscious that they had stopped In tho mlddlo of n vast silence. Tho candles upon tho grent altar threw down a golden Hibtrc, Jonn saw tho Irregular shining shin-ing of them on her whlto bridal dress, and wondered that it should bo so bright. "My brother, tho Prince of Court-land!" Court-land!" said tho volco of tho Princess Margaret. Slowly Joan raised her eyes prldo and happiness at war with a kind ot glorious shame upon her fnce. But that ono look altered all things. Sho stood fixed, aghast, turned to stono as sho gazed. Sho could neither speak nor think. That which Bho saw Almost struck her dead with horror. Tho man whom his sister Introduced ns tho Prlnco of Courtland waB not tho knight of tho tournament. Ho was not tho young prlnco of tho summer palnco. Ho wns a man much older, moro meager of body, grey-headed, with an odd sidelong expression In bis eyes. His shoulders wcro bent and he carried himself llko a man prematurely prema-turely old. And there, behind tho altar railing, clad In the scarlet of a prlnco ot tho church, and wearing tho mltro of a bishop, stood tho husband ot her heart's deep thoughts, tho man who hnd never been out of her mind all these weary months. Ho held a servlco book In his hnnd, and stood ready to marry Joan of Hohcnstcln to another. "Aro you tho Prlnco of Courtland?" sho asked; and nt the Bound ot her volco, unwontedly clear In tho great church, oven the organ appeared to still Itself. All listened Intently, though only a few heard tho conversation. conversa-tion. 'T have that honor," bowed the man with the bent shoulders. "Then, as God lives, I will never mnrry you!" cried Joan, all her poul In tho disgust of hor voice. "Bo not disdainful, my lady," said tho bridegroom mildly; "I will be your humble slavo. You shall havo a palace and an establishment of your own, an' it like you. The marriage was your father's desire, and hath tho sanction of the cmporor. It Is as necessary for your state as for mine." Then, whllo tho people waited In a kind of palpitating uncertainty, tho Princess Margaret whispered to tho bride, who stood with a face as ashen palo as her white dress. "Well," sho said finally, "I will marry this man, since It is my fate. Lot tho ceremony proceed!" "I thank you, gracious lady," said tho prince, tnklng her hand nnd leading lead-ing his bride to tho altar. "You will never regret It." "No, but you will!" mutteroi his groomsman, Prlnco Ivan of Muscovy. The full rich tones ot the prince bishop roso and fell through tho crowded Minster as Joan ot Hohen-stein Hohen-stein was married to his elder brother, and with the closing words of the episcopal benediction an awe foil upon tho multitude. Thoy felt that they were In tho presence of great unknown forces, the action and Interaction of which might lead no man knew whlthor. At tho close of tho sorvlce, Joan, now Princess of Courtland, leaned over and whispered a word to her captain, Maurlco von Lynnr, an action noticed by fow. Tho young mnn started and gazed Into her fnce; but, Immediately commanding his emotion, ho nodded nnd disappeared by a sldo door. The great organ swollcd out. Tho marriage procession was ro-formed. Tho prlnco bishop had retired to his sncrlbty to change his robes. Tho now prlncoss of Courtland enmo down tho alslo on tho arm of her hiiBband. In the center of tho Minster Placo, tho 400 lances of tho Kernsborg escort es-cort had formed up, a serried mass of beautiful well-groomed horses, stalwart stal-wart men, and shining spears, from each ot which tho pennon ot their mistress fluttered In tho light wind. On the stops of tho Minster, nfter thoy had descended moro than halfway, half-way, tho now Princess of Courtland turned upon hor lord. Her hnnd slipped from his arm, which hung a j momont crooked nnd empty beforo it dropped to his side. His mouth wns a little open with surprise. "Now, my lord," salfl tho Princess Joan, loud nnd clear. '7 havo murrlod you. -Tho bond of heritage-brother-hood Is fulfilled. I havo oboyed my father to tho letter. I have obeyed tho omporor. I havo dono all. Now bo It known to you nnd to nil mon that I will nolthcr llvo with you nor yot In your city. I nm your wlfo In npmc. You shall nover be my husband in aught else. I bid you farowoll, Prlnco of Courtlnnd. Jonn of Hohcnstcln mny marry where sho is bidden, but sho loves whoro sho will." Tho horse upon which sho had como to tho Minster stood waiting. Thoro wa tho 8parlmwk ready to holp her into the saddle, I5ro one of tho wedding guests could movo to prevent hor, beforo tho PrlKco of Courtlnnd could cry an order or-der or decide what to do, Joan ot the Sword Han had ( placed herself at tho head of her 400 lances, nnd was riding through the shouting streets toward tho Plasscn-burg Plasscn-burg gate. As soon as they were clear tho Princess Joan turned In her saddle and spake to tho 400 behind her. "Wo rldo back to Kernsberg," sho cried. "Joan of tho Sword Hand Is wed, but not yet won. If they would keep her they must first cntch her. Aro you with me, lads of tho hills?" There camo a unanimous shout of "Aye to the death!" from 400 throats. "Then glvo me a sword and put the horses to their speed. Wo rldo for home. Let thorn catch us who can!" And this was tho true fashion ot tho marrying of Joan of tho Sword Hnnd, Duchess of Hohensteln, to tho Prlnco Louis of Courtland, by his brother, Bishop Conrad, cardinal and prince of tho Holy Church. CHAPTER XI. What Joan Left Behind. After tho departure of his brlflo, tho Prlnco of Courtland stood on the steps of tho minster, dazed and foundered She stood fixed, aghast, by the shamo which had so suddenly befallen him. "Bid tho gates bo shut, prlnco!" The whisper camo over his shoulder from n young mnn who had been standing nil tho tlmo twlBtlng his mustache. mus-tache. "Bid your horsemen bit and bridle. Tho plain la fair beforo you. It Is a long way to Kernsberg. Let no wench In the world put this shamo upon n reigning prlnco of Courtland upon his wedding day!" Thus Ivan of Muscovy, attired in silk, banded of black and gold, counseled coun-seled the disdained Prince Louis, who stood pushing upward with bis two fingers tho point of his thin greyish beard and gnnwlng Us straggling ends between his teeth. Tho Prlnco Louis appoared to bo moved by Prlnco Wnsp's words. Ho turned about to tho nearest knight-In-waiting. "Lot us to horse every man of us!" ho said. "Bid that tho steeds bo brought Instantly." Tho banded Wasp had further counsels coun-sels to glip. "Glvo out that you go to meet tho prlnccBS at a rendezvous. For n pleasantry between yourselves, you havo resolved to spend tho honeymoon at a distant hunting-lodge. Quick! Not half a dozen of all tho company caught tho truo Import of her words. You will tamo her yet." At tho command of tho prlnco tho trumpets rang out again the "Boot-and-saddle!" from tho steps ot tho cathedral. At tho sound, tho grooms, who wero here and there In tho press, hasted to find and caparison tho horses of their lords. Meanwhile, on tho wide steps the Prince Louis fretted, dinting his nails restlessly Into In-to his palms and shaking with nngcr nnd disappointment till his deep sleeves shook llko scnrlet flames In a veneering wind. (To bo continued. |
