Page:The Children Who Followed the Piper.djvu/175

WHO FOLLOWED THE PIPER that, Valentine turned on his heel and went out of the chamber.

Quickly a new dress of silk was woven for the bride; quickly the dress was fitted and fixed, and lovely indeed did Golden Hood look in it; she had white flowers in her dark hair, and she wore a red Indian shawl across her white dress.

Valentine and she were married in the clear glass chamber of the palace. Then a great ball was given in the colored glass chamber, and the wise Emperor himself led Golden Hood in.

She would dance the first dance with no one but John Ball. He led her into the center of the colored glass chamber; the musicians began to play and he clasped her hand and put his arm around her. Golden Hood was smiling as the dance began; the whole happiness of the world seemed to stream in through the colored glass of the chamber and leave rays around her head. Gladness lit up her face as she began the dance with John Ball.

But her face became pale as death. She