. Hans of Iceland . cret with me to the grave. This man cannot be guilty, muttered the minister. Then drawing from his breast a black crucifix, he placedit on a sort of altar rudely shaped from a granite slab rest-ing against the damp prison wall. Beside the crucifix helaid a small lighted lamp which he had brought with him,and an open Bible. My son, meditate and pray; I willreturn a few hours hence. Come, he added, turning toEthel, who during this conversation had preserved asolemn sUence, we must leave the prisoner. Our timehas passed. She rose, calm and radiant; a divine spark flashedfrom h
. Hans of Iceland . cret with me to the grave. This man cannot be guilty, muttered the minister. Then drawing from his breast a black crucifix, he placedit on a sort of altar rudely shaped from a granite slab rest-ing against the damp prison wall. Beside the crucifix helaid a small lighted lamp which he had brought with him,and an open Bible. My son, meditate and pray; I willreturn a few hours hence. Come, he added, turning toEthel, who during this conversation had preserved asolemn sUence, we must leave the prisoner. Our timehas passed. She rose, calm and radiant; a divine spark flashedfrom her eyes as she said: Sir, I cannot go yet;you must first unite Ethel Schumacker to her husband,Ordener Guldenlew. She looked at Ordener. If you were still free, happy, and powerful, my Or-dener, I should weep, and I should shrink from linking .•^^W^Vn uY^ ?\o ^?^W^^5:^V. A/.-)>..nriC[ vf ?<5friv/f;(L ffirrR — .onidjO-otodl Tbe Marriage of Ethel and — From drawing by HANS OF ICELAND. 135j my fatal destiny with yours. But now that you need nolonger dread the contagion of my misfortune; that you,like me, are a captive, disgraced and oppressed; now thatyou are about to die, I come to you, hoping that you willat least deign, Ordener, my lord and husband, to allow herwho could never have shared your life, to be your com-panion in death; for you love me too much, do you not, todoubt for an instant that I shall die with you ? The prisoner fell at her feet, and kissed the hem ofher gown. You, old man, she resumed, must take the place offamily and parents. This cell shall be our temple, thisstone our altar. Here is my ring; we kneel before Godand before you. Bless us, and pronounce the sacredwords which shall unite Ethel Schumacker and OrdenerGuldenlew, her lord. And they knelt together before the priest, who regardedthem with mingled astonishment and pity. How, my children! What would you do ? Father, said the girl, time presses. God and dea
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