sketches new and old-第37章
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brilliant capital of the Duchy of Brandenburgh was resplendent with
military pageantry； and noisy with the rejoicings of loyal multitudes；
for Conrad； the young heir to the crown； was come。 The old Duke's； heart
was full of happiness； for Conrad's handsome person and graceful bearing
had won his love at once。 The great halls of tie palace were thronged
with nobles； who welcomed Conrad bravely； and so bright and happy did all
things seem； that he felt his fears and sorrows passing away and giving
place to a comforting contentment。
But in a remote apartment of the palace a scene of a different nature
was； transpiring。 By a window stood the Duke's only child； the Lady
Constance。 Her eyes were red and swollen； and full of tears。 She was
alone。 Presently she fell to weeping anew； and said aloud：
〃The villain Detzin is gonehas fled the dukedom！ I could not believe
it at first； but alas！ it is too true。 And I loved him so。 I dared to
love him though I knew the Duke my father would never let me wed him。
I loved himbut now I hate him！ With all； my soul I hate him！ Oh； what
is to become of me！ I am lost； lost； lost！。 I shall go mad！
CHAPTER III。
THE PLOT THICKENS。
Few months drifted by。 All men published the praises of the young
Conrad's government and extolled the wisdom of his judgments； the
mercifulness of his sentences； and the modesty with which he bore himself
in his great office。 The old Duke soon gave everything into his hands；
and sat apart and listened with proud satisfaction while his heir
delivered the decrees of the crown from the seat of the premier。
It seemed plain that one so loved and praised and honored of all men
as Conrad was； could not be otherwise than happy。 But strange enough；
he was not。 For he saw with dismay that the Princess Constance had begun
to love him！ The love of； the rest of the world was happy fortune for
him； but this was freighted with danger！ And he saw； moreover； that the
delighted Duke had discovered his daughter's passion likewise； and was
already dreaming of a marriage。 Every day somewhat of the deep sadness
that had been in the princess' face faded away； every day hope and
animation beamed brighter from her eye； and by and by even vagrant smiles
visited the face that had been so troubled。
Conrad was appalled。 He bitterly cursed himself for having yielded to
the instinct that had made him seek the companionship of one of his own
sex when he was new and a stranger in the palacewhen he was sorrowful
and yearned for a sympathy such as only women can give or feel。 He now
began to avoid； his cousin。 But this only made matters worse； for；
naturally enough； the more he avoided her； the more she cast herself in
his way。 He marveled at this at first； and next it startled him。 The
girl haunted him； she hunted him； she happened upon him at all times and
in all places； in the night as well as in the day。 She seemed singularly
anxious。 There was surely a mystery somewhere。
This could not go on forever。 All the world was talking about it。 The
Duke was beginning to look perplexed。 Poor Conrad was becoming a very
ghost through dread and dire distress。 One day as he was emerging from a
private ante…room attached to the picture gallery； Constance confronted
him； and seizing both his hands； in hers； exclaimed：
〃Oh； why； do you avoid me？ What have I donewhat have I said； to lose
your kind opinion of mefor； surely I had it once？ Conrad； do not
despise me； but pity a tortured heart？ I cannot；；cannot hold the words
unspoken longer； lest they kill meI LOVE you； CONRAD！ There； despise
me if you must； but they would be uttered！〃
Conrad was speechless。 Constance hesitated a moment； and then；
misinterpreting his silence； a wild gladness flamed in her eyes； and she
flung her arms about his neck and said：
〃You relent！ you relent！ You can love meyou will love me！ Oh； say you
will； my own； my worshipped Conrad！'〃
〃Conrad groaned aloud。 A sickly pallor overspread his countenance； and
he trembled like an aspen。 Presently； in desperation； he thrust the poor
girl from him； and cried：
You know not what you ask！ It is forever and ever impossible！ 〃And then
he fled like a criminal and left the princess stupefied with amazement。
A minute afterward she was crying and sobbing there； and Conrad was
crying and sobbing in his chamber。 Both were in despair。 Both save ruin
staring them in the face。
By and by Constance rose slowly to her feet and moved away； saying：
〃To think that he was despising my love at the very moment that I thought
it was melting his cruel heart！ I hate him！ He spurned medid this
manhe spurned me from him like a dog！〃
CHAPTER IV
THE AWFUL REVELATION。
Time passed on。 A settled sadness rested once more upon the countenance
of the good Duke's daughter。 She and Conrad were seen together no more
now。 The Duke grieved at this。 But as the weeks wore away； Conrad's
color came back to his cheeks and his old…time vivacity to his eye； and
he administered the government with a clear and steadily ripening wisdom。
Presently a strange whisper began to be heard about the palace。 It grew
louder； it spread farther。 The gossips of the city got hold…of it。 It
swept the dukedom。 And this is what the whisper said： 。
〃The Lady Constance hath given birth to a child！〃
When the lord of Klugenstein heard it； he swung his plumed helmet thrice
around his head and shouted：
〃Long live。 Duke Conrad！for lo； his crown is sure； from this day
forward！ Detzin has done his errand well； and the good scoundrel shall
be rewarded！〃
And he spread； the tidings far and wide； and for eight…and…forty hours no
soul in all the barony but did dance and sing； carouse and illuminate； to
celebrate the great event； and all at proud and happy old Klugenstein's
expense。
CHAPTER V。
THE FRIGHTFUL CATASTROPHE。
The trial was at hand。 All the great lords and barons of Brandenburgh
were assembled in the Hall of Justice in the ducal palace。 No space was
left unoccupied where there was room for a spectator to stand or sit。
Conrad； clad in purple and ermine； sat in the premier's chair； and on
either side sat the great judges of the realm。 The old Duke had sternly
commanded that the trial of his daughter should proceed； without favor；
and then had taken to his bed broken…hearted。 His days were numbered。
Poor Conrad had begged； as for his very life； that he might be spared the
misery of sitting in judgment upon his cousin's crime； but it did not
avail。
The saddest heart in all that great assemblage was in Conrad's breast。
The gladdest was in his father's。 For； unknown to his daughter 〃Conrad；〃
the old Baron Klugenstein was come； and was among the crowd of nobles；
triumphant in the swelling fortunes of his house。
After the heralds had made due proclamation and the other preliminaries
had followed； the venerable Lord Chief justice said：
〃Prisoner； stand forth！〃
The unhappy princess rose and stood unveiled before the vast multitude。
The Lord Chief Justice continued：
〃Most noble lady； before the great judges of this realm it hath been
charged and proven that out of holy wedlock your Grace hath given birth
unto a child；； and by our ancient law the penalty is death； excepting in
one sole contingency； whereof his Grace the acting Duke； our good Lord
Conrad； will advertise you in his solemn sentence now； wherefore； give
heed。〃
Conrad stretched forth the reluctant sceptre； and in the self…same moment
the womanly heart beneath his robe yearned pityingly toward the doomed
prisoner； and the tears came into his eyes。 He opened his lips to speak；
but the Lord Chief Justice said quickly：
〃Not there； your Grace； not there！ It is not lawful to pronounce
judgment upon any of the ducal line SAVE FROM THE DUCAL THRONE！〃
A shudder went to the heart of poor Conrad； and a tremor shook the iron
frame of his old father likewise。 CONRAD HAD NOT BEEN CROWNEDdared he
profane the throne？ He hesitated and turned pale with fear。 But it must
be done。 Wondering eyes were already upon him。 They would be suspicious
eyes if he hesitated longer。 He asc
