The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-09-22

"Are such friendships as ours made every day?" he said at last. "At least let me have the privilege of seeing you from time to time"
 "My friend was the kings messen- ger, not the king" was the sad reply. "To him the head forester's daughter must henceforth remain a stranger"
 "What Is my position that it should thus repel your" he said. "I remain myself. Yet you are right. This crown, this hateful crown, divides us, am no longer free to love you '"
 She had divined his secret already, and had he not her own, too? All her courage vanished on a sudden. She sat as one stricken by evil fortune.
 "We were drawn to each other from the first," he went on, now using the passionate language of an avowed lover, speaking in low, quick under tones. "Oh, Ermengarde, instead of enticing you from your island, could but share 1t with you, could un- king myself for your sakew
 Then the honest eyes filled with tears, the frank, naturally joyous voice broke down. He was utterly unnamed, and the sight of his agita- tion helped to restore her calm. She felt bound to make a great effort in order to regain self mastery.
 "Let us not think of ourselves" she murmured. "You are called to play great part. You will have no time for vain regrets, and T"-checking her tears, she went on-"I will try to for get the kings messenger, and from distance follow the king's career. If noble, if worthy of him, I shall be consoled."
 "Can any human being live nobly without happiness2" he answered, re- senting alike his good and evil for tune, feeling all his words alike empty of meaning. It was sweet to sit thus by her side listening, but the future stretched before him bare and colorless. His joy was buried in this little island. And he dared no longer broach the subject of her departure. They loved each other, and in their case love could only mean separation.
 "Self-sought happiness is not al- ways the best," she said gently. "You, least of all, can afford to live for yourself"
 w am young. It is hard to learn such lessons 80 soon," he replied, al- most boyishly resentful and despond- ent.
 The glory of summer lay round the earth. They were in the summer of life, yet weight of despair lay on their young hearts.
 "Bid me farewell and go away" Ermengarde said, feeling unable to bear this tension of feeling any longer. "We can do each other no good"
 She had hitherto sought to soothe and inspirit him; but now alike her helplessness and love had spoken. He sprang to her side, moved by des- perate decision.
 "You love mel" he whispered. "Then away with this crown! Be another's this uncoveted kingdom, for am not entirely slave. l can ab- dicate. Say the word, and l will be nothing else-yOurs, yours only"
 She shook her head, smiling through her tears.
 "But it can, it shall be-" he added. "What do care for mems scorn or for the good opinion of the great? Should not man choose for himself where his whole happiness is con cerned Kings have abdicated before row. A few days gossip, and the world will forget my existence"
 These wild words, wrung in all sin cerity from the depth of his passion, only moved Ermengarde so far. She was growing more and more sorry for him and for herself. He might draw q bright picture of the future, might apparently sweep away all obstacles and impossibilities; might insist that things were to be as his fancy painted them. The reality was present to her hard, cruel, and implscable. One moment was theirs only. To-day they were lovers, drawn as near to each other as human beings can well be by virtue of sympathy and affec- tion. Tomorrow they should be less than strangers.
 "Go," she said "we have both been dreaming. Let us dream no more"
 Just then the chatter of hoofs was heard, and party of horsemen drove up.
 "That is surely my father hastening back to take leave of you. He must not be made unhappy, too. Be good be happy, my comrade, my king. Err mengarde's allegiance shall never fail you."
 She was about to raise his hand Loyalty to her lips, but he bent for. ward, for a moment held her in hi arms, and kissed her, lover like, on th' brow. When the head forester en. tered, both were collected, and appar. ently cheerful. The bitterness of part. ing was over.