Fifteen Hundred Miles an Hour

by Charles Dixon

  CHAPTER XIX.

  WEDDED!

  "'My brave one; my brave one; art thou hurt?" were Volin?'s first wordsof greeting as we met in her prettily-arranged private room, adjoiningthe arena where the King had sat to see the fight, and where I had beenconducted to her presence by the ever-faithful Irolne.

  "'No, darling, 't is but a scratch,' I answered, as we kissed andnestled into each other's arms. 'Volin?, no cloud may dim the lustre ofour happiness now. Surely, bride and groom ne'er had a future so brightand fair as ours! We leave the long dark vale of sorrow behind us, andstand at last upon the threshold of our perfect bliss.'

  "'Harry, I cannot tell thee my happiness; made all the sweeter,methinks, by the anguish my soul hath suffered since last we met. Buthow proud I am of thee now thou hast vanquished Perodii, and before allEdos freed my name from evil gossip; I would sooner thee have done thisthing than even my father.'

  "'Ah, Volin?, I thought of you when the fight waxed hottest, andthat thought gave new strength to my arm when weakening by desperateeffort. But all is over, and all is well. Now, dear one, tell me ofto-day--when is our bridal feast to be?'

  "'Echri and his fellow-Priests have already reached the Palace, andall is in readiness to commence at setting of the sun; for that is thehour we people of Edos assign unto this ceremony. But, Harry, what astrange, strange wooing mine hath been, coloured more with sorrow thanwith gladness; and even the early hours of my wedding-day have not beenfree from strife.'

  "'All has been as you say. But now perfect peace shall be my darling'sportion, and I will devote myself to smoothing her path across life'sstormy way. My arms shall ever be her refuge in sorrow, and her restingplace in joy.'

  "'Always?'

  "'Until life is done; for I love you with a passion that death can onlydestroy.'

  "'Oh, Harry, it is sweet to be loved like this. Do all the men of Ramoslove like thee? Methinks there are plenty of maidens in Edos who wouldchoose them a mate from thy world, rather than mine, if such be so.'

  "'Well, darling, that there is love on Earth as sweet, and pure,and true as ours I will not deny; but there is love that turns tobitterness and hatred. There are men who betray, deceive, and wrong inthe sacred name of Love; there are men who make vows of affection andconstancy, only to break them.'

  "'Ah! it is even so in Gathma, and many the maid of Edos that hath ruedher marriage-vows before she hath well become a wife.'

  "'Does my Volin? doubt me--does a single misgiving haunt her heart, nowthat she has given that heart to me?'

  "'Not one; not one! My faith in thee is boundless. I have no thoughtthat thou may'st not share. Now let us return. Already the assemblyhath dispersed, and the day draws on. Besides, thou must feel faint andweary, after thy fight.'

  "'Never weary in your precious company, darling,' I answered, as werose and left the room. We strolled across the beautiful groundstogether, Volin? resting confidingly on my arm; and, as we walkedalong, our happiness seemed too great to be true, for not a single carepursued us.

  "'Let us pass by Siccoth's arbour yet once again as lovers, Harry--theplace where we parted when sorrow overwhelmed us, and hope lay dead.'

  "'Ah! Volin?, prospects are brighter now, indeed. See! the dear oldplace is just the same--to me the sweetest spot in all wide Gathma; forhere our vows of love were pledged!'

  "And as I spoke, the Palace bells rang out a loud and merry peal, likean omen of good fortune to us.

  "'List thee, Harry! My bridal bells! How strange that they shouldcommence whilst we are here! Oh! how their gladsome peals thrillthrough and through my soul! My wedding day! So soon! Harry, do all themen and women of thy world marry so quickly after betrothal as we?'

  "'Not all, my darling, not all. Some tarry months, years; and some evenso long that they do not wed at all. But if any man could love as Ilove, or had such a beautiful being for the object of his affections,the time would be no longer than with us--especially when Fate smilesso sweetly upon my suit as now,' I answered, kissing her upturned face.

  "'Indeed, thou art a consummate flatterer! And yet doth it not seemunmaidenly for me to yield so quickly and so readily to thy words oflove?'

  "'Ah! no, dear one, I prize you all the more for not delaying myhappiness. Besides, it seems years and years since we first met, somuch having happened in the interval between then and now.'

  "'Methinks thou hast made good use of thy time, if it hath been short!'she answered, with an artless, bewitching smile.

  "'But, Volin?, what is it that has drawn you to me? Surely there aremen in Gathma, in Edos, more handsome than I, who would sell theirsouls for your smiles and favour?'

  "'Thou knowest a woman little. It is not a handsome face altogetherthat draws or fascinates her heart; but open, winning ways, sympathies,and devoted love--love that her instincts tell her is true andunselfish; these be the things that gain her favour,' she answered, aswe passed on towards the Palace, where we parted until such time as thenuptial ceremonies commenced.

  "Never before did time pass away so slowly as those few hours thatintervened between noon and sunset on this my wedding-day. Each momentwas flighted with lead, each hour seemed ages to me who impatientlywaited their course to run. All day long the Palace bells, atintervals, rang out glad bridal tidings, and those of Edos echoedback the stirring music. The city was _en f?te_ to-day. The onlydaughter of Gathma's King was beloved of the people, and each man andwoman of Edos, dames and nobles of high degree, strove hard to makeher bridal day replete with joy and happiness. The Palace swarmedwith guests. From near and far they made its stately halls theirrendez-vous or perfumes and fabrics of priceless worth--tributes ofrespect and love to the daughter of their King. Then troop after troopof soldiers entered the Palace gates, many dressed in uniforms and withaccoutrements entirely unknown to me--garrisons from far-off places,summoned to do honour at the coming ceremony and feast."

  [1] At last the sun proclaimed the advent of evening, from thecloudless west, as he sank toward the mountain crests. All interestnow was centred within the magnificent Hall of Ceremonies, a vastand lofty chamber in the western wing of the Palace. Here a greatthrong of guests had assembled to witness the brilliant nuptials. Noword of ours can hope to describe the overwhelming splendours of thatwondrous Hall, as the last rays of the setting sun streamed throughthe gorgeously-coloured windows, upon what was literally one blaze ofsparkling jewels. Not a guest was there who did not scintillate withprecious stones, cunningly arranged to harmonise with their rich andmany-coloured raiment. Then the delicate light-blue draperies, thathung in graceful folds round the entrances, contrasted well with theslender pillars of gold that shot upwards, fashioned like tree-trunks,to support the roof. In niches round the walls were arranged groupsof statuary, all carved in the famous flesh-tinted marble, and onthe walls themselves were paintings of fair women and handsome men,of strange landscapes, of fruits and flowers, of beasts and wingedcreatures--all drawn with marvellous skill and exceeding beauty. Nearlyone quarter of this mighty Hall was still empty of people. The guests,who must have numbered nearly a hundred thousand, were all seated; thereserved space at the end of the Hall was for those engaged in thenuptial ceremony.

  As the sun finally sank behind the mountains, casting the draperiesof night o'er Edos, the great Hall suddenly became illumined withbrilliant light, and almost simultaneously a score of heralds marchedin and blew a lusty blast upon their trumpets of gold. At once a greatsilence of expectation seized the gay and laughing guests, and, amidsthushed excitement, all eyes were turned towards the grand entrance atthe end of the Hall. Shortly the enormous curtains were drawn aside,and we could see the wide corridor behind them lined on either sidewith Royal troops. Then regiment after regiment of soldiers came along,with colours flying and bands playing triumphant music, each man takingup his allotted station with marvellous precision, until the entirespace set apart for the coming ceremony was lined with treble rows oftroops, whose armour and trappings shone like silver and gold in thebrillian
t light.

  Scarcely had the soldiers taken up their position, when a longprocession of Virgins, a thousand strong, all clad in pure whiteraiment, carrying flowers and branches of some tree emblematical ofPeace, came along, walking fourteen abreast. Nothing could exceed theloveliness of this maiden throng, as they assembled in a grand galaxyof beauty in front of the troops. Following the virgins came a hundredPriests, dressed in black robes and scarlet sashes, bearing incenseand their long golden rods of office. After these came Holy Echri,attended by four of his sacred brothers; then a high Minister of State,bearing a cushion, on which were rolls of parchment, seals, and asword of gold; and then again another hundred Priests, clad in purplerobes and yellow sashes. Then came all the High Ministers of State,and representatives of various cities round Edos, accompanied by theirattendants and guards of honour. Following these entered Doctor Hermannand Sandy, escorted by a posse of guards attached to the Palace, underthe command of our old friend Kaosp, reinstated to rank but a few hoursbefore.

  Directly after them came another band of music, playing a march ofexceeding beauty, heralding the approach of the bridegroom-elect,supported by Temple. Graham's appearance sent a thrill of excitementthrough the spectators, and many the fair lady in that brilliant throngthat envied Volin? her good fortune in mating with him. He lookedin the very prime of health and spirits, happy in the full pride ofhis handsome manhood; and a mighty cheer broke simultaneously froma hundred thousand people, who remembered his undying courage atRemagaloth, and his matchless gallantry on the morning of that very dayin deadly conflict with Perodii.

  The excitement caused by Graham's arrival had scarcely lulled when theband of Court musicians entered, playing a triumphal air, followedby seventy heralds and the body-guard of Royalty. After these cametwenty-five Princesses of Edos, the number being symbolical of theage of the bride, each strewing flowers as they walked towards thealtar, where Echri and his four attendant Priests stood waiting. Thenexcitement and enthusiasm reached their highest pitch as the dear oldwhite-haired King of Gathma appeared, with Volin?, his daughter, thebride-elect, leaning upon his left arm, followed by her handmaidensand another company of Royal troops. As the King and his daughterentered, every one of that dense, joyous throng rose to their feet, anddeafening shouts of loyalty and welcome seemed as though they wouldrend the Hall asunder.

  The grandeur and brilliancy of the scene, now that the matchlesspageant was complete, beggar all description--the sparkling jewels,the flashing arms and armour, the solemn-visaged Priests, the hostsof white-decked virgins, the flower bearers, the musicians, thesoldiers in their many-hued uniforms, the white-bearded Ministers ofState, the handsome men and lovely women, the endless officials andattendants--all assisting in making one gorgeous picture, one scene ofindescribable beauty, in which the fair and blushing bride shone forthlike a peerless pearl in all her maiden loveliness!

  All eyes were fixed on Her. And in all truth she merited the universaltribute of admiration so spontaneously showered upon her. Clothed in aflowing robe of white and costly fabric, neither silk nor satin, yetheavier and more beautiful than either, whose folds suggested, althoughthey covered, the matchless beauty of her faultless form, fastenedon the left shoulder, and studded across the open bosom with gems ofsparkling whiteness, and girdled round the waist with a broad scarf orsash of the same colour. Embossed upon this costly robe were bunchesof flowers made of lustrous pale-pink gems. Upon her head was a diademof the same white fiery stones, and her wealth of hair hung down inits heavy crimped coils of golden glory. Blushes suffused her cheeksand contrasted well with her snowy brow, whilst her liquid violet eyesshone with the passionate tenderness of a new-born subtle desire, asher white bosoms rose and fell in responsive harmony to the great joysurging and swelling within her heart! Her white shapely arms were barefrom the shoulder, and round each wrist was a broad bracelet of finegold, united by a slender chain of the same precious metal, which hungdown looped nearly to her feet. Every inch a peerless queen she lookedas she stood facing the altar, by her father's side, radiant withhappiness, proud in her conquest, and conscious of her victory, as onlya woman can be who weds the man of her choice for Love.

  In a few moments the soul-inspiring music ceased, although its strainswere already drowned in the tumult to all but those standing near theplayers. Then the heralds again blew blasts upon their trumpets, as asignal for silence; and as the last echoes of their brazen call diedaway, Echri stepped forward and said:

  "Brethren, we are assembled here to celebrate one of the most solemnrites of our Holy Church; ye to witness, and I to perform, the ceremonyof marriage between the beloved daughter of our temporal King, and aman who hath journeyed hither from the star-world Earth, by us calledRamos. God works His mighty will in divers ways; and in this union ofhearts to-day, we see the beginning of the union of worlds. God, inwondrous apocalypse, hath promised this united Universe to His nowscattered people, and in His wisdom hath ordained that Ramos and Gathmashall first be linked together in the chain that is to spread unbrokenround Creation. Throughout Gathma's long and glorious march throughtime, no such union as we celebrate to-day hath ever been; it is anepoch in our history, and is pregnant with importance to the peoplesthat dwell on Ramos and on here. More than usual solemnity hath,therefore, attached itself to this nuptial rite to-day; and it is myholy duty to inspire thoughts among ye which, although unusual at suchceremonies as these, are in full keeping with the one we now proceed tocelebrate."

  "Echri's words produced a great effect, and the breathless silence waseven painfully intense when he ceased to speak. At this point the Kingturned towards Echri, saying:

  "It is scarcely meet of me to interrupt thy holy offices; but, as thouhast well said, this ceremony stands in our annals alone; and thatbeing so, I command indulgence."

  "Proceed, O King, for thy words are wisdom," Echri answered, with whitehead bowed in loyal reverence.

  "Echri, as thou knowest, during all the countless ages of our Royalrace, it hath been the unvarying custom for the sons and daughters ofour ancient and illustrious house to wed with those of high degree.Our Princes have taken unto themselves Princesses to wife; and ourPrincesses have had Princes found them for husbands. Our beloveddaughter shall not break this unchanging edict, for I now create herspouse, this man from far-off Ramos, a Prince of our Royal race, andinstal him here and now with all the rights, privileges, and dignitiespertaining to such rank."

  Then addressing Graham, who stood listening to the King's words inbewilderment, he continued:

  "Man of Ramos, by the ordeal of Fire, and by the right of conquest,thou hast well merited the honour and the dignity I do now confer uponthee. No longer art thou Harry Graham, of Earth or Ramos; henceforth,as Prince Tihernah, of Edos, shalt thou be known," and taking the goldsword from the Minister standing by, he presented it to Graham, withthe roll of parchment and the seals confirming the rank to which he hadjust been exalted.

  Graham's few stammering words of thanks were stopped by the King, who,interrupting him, smilingly commanded the wedding service to proceed.

  Once more did Echri step forward, and bade Volin? and Graham stand sideby side before him at the altar. Then, taking the slender chain of finegold which connected the bracelets on Volin?'s wrists, he commandedGraham to grasp it in his left hand and to break it asunder, saying ashe did so:

  "The bondage of thy maidenhood this man hath broken; henceforward, inthy state of wifehood, shalt thou only cleave to him, and him only, whohath set thee free.

  "Volin?, doth thou enter this state of thine own will, and prepared toabide by the conditions and fulfil the duties of thy sacred office aswife to him?"

  "Even so, O Holy Father."

  "Prince Tihernah, thou takest this maiden unto thee of thine own will,and art thou prepared to abide by the conditions and fulfil the dutiesof thy sacred office as husband to her?"

  "Even so, O Holy Father."

  Then Echri, taking Volin?'s left hand, placed it in Graham's right, andas t
hey stood thus together, the two hundred Priests commenced to swingtheir incense-pots, and to sing a solemn chant in sweet harmoniousvoice. The singing and the incense-throwing having ceased, one ofthe aged Priests attendant on Echri came forward and gave to him aninstrument, fashioned very like a lancet, but with a long carved handleof solid gold, embossed with gems. Taking Volin?'s right hand in his,he pricked her arm below the elbow so that blood did flow, yet causingher no apparent pain. Then taking Graham's left hand, he proceededto do the same unto him; and when the blood trickled down, he crossedVolin?'s arm and his, letting the two streams of blood intermingle in atiny crimson torrent.

  "Blood is life; so therefore let the lives of this man and maid mingleand fuse together that they do now and henceforward, until death,be One. May the arrows of God's wrath o'ertake all they who seek bytemptation, force, or stealth, to break this bond asunder; and may Hisholy blessing rest upon ye both, as well as upon the unborn posteritywithin ye, for Man and Wife ye have now become!"

  This was all. Yet the bridal ceremony was solemn and imposing to adegree no man could conceive, who had not witnessed it.

  As soon as all was over, the grand procession returned in the orderthat it entered, with the exception that Volin? walked out blushing andsmiling, leaning on her husband's arm. Soon afterwards the assemblydispersed themselves, and the grand bridal feast was served to athousand special guests.

  The gay and festive scene at the bridal banquet was little lessimposing than the nuptial ceremony. The bride and bridegroom sat on theKing's right hand, at the head of the table, both looking supremelyhappy, and both, if we mistake not, heartily wishing that the feast wasover, and they could enjoy their new-found bliss entirely by themselves.

  The banquet over, Volin? and Harry had yet one more ordeal to pass, andthis was the grand procession of triumph in which they were conductedto their own apartment--accompanied by the strains of music and thevoice of song; by white-robed virgins, emblematical of innocence;by sad-faced Priests, and officers of State; by high-born dames andnobles--all, according to ancient custom, bent upon seeing the last ofthe beautiful bride and her handsome groom at their chamber's threshold.

  Here we draw the veil before the consummation of highest humanhappiness; for the tender, passionate secrets of the bridal chamber aretoo sweet and too holy to be made privy of all men!

  [Footnote 1: This portion of the narrative is in the handwriting ofJohn Temple.--ED.]