Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-05-23


 supple figure, which her close-itting habit of dark green velvet set off to the greatest advantage; on her dainty little head with it's long, dark ringlets, on which little cap of velvet with heron's feathers was jauntily perched; oD her dark blue eyes that smiled down at him as he stood there before her. Would you not like to enter my ser vice?" she asked, after a fekw moments thoughtful consideration of the two. 'Too great an honor for us, gracious lady," interposed Gezas, suddenly. He too had examined the lady as atten- lively as his companion, but unlike him he distrusted and dislilled her from the ] first glance.
 But we will gladly pass a few days beneath your roof if you will allow us, gracious lady," Stephan hastened to add, eagerly.
 ''Very we'll" she returned; follow my train into the city; you will not be able to keep up with us, but any child you meet in the street will direct you to the palace of the Princess Irma Graf | sallIewich. ."
 She nodded and galloped off, followed by her suite.
 Stephan was already acquainted with her, at least by reputation. She was ' widow, much courted and sought after, l but who had as yet shown no desire to put her head beneath the yoke of wedlock a second time. The court at Presburg rivalled in splendor that of the emperor's at Vienna, and in its patronage of poets, | artists, and sculptors that of the Medici at Florence
 She took also a lively interest in l politics, and was supposed to favor the Imperial party, though at the same | time managing to keep on friendly terms | with Raloczy and the pasha-governors | of the provinces in Hungary under the ! dominion of the sultan. Neither party, however, could boast of having attached her to it's side, and she was therefore | courtcd and distrusted by both. When the princess had returned to her palace and had dined, she remem- bercd suddenly the two wandering minstrels she had encountered in the | morning.
 She sent for them and had them ushered into her boudoir. The princess | received them lying on splendid Turk | ish divan. alone and unattended. Stephan entered the apartment, fol- lowed at a distance by Gezas. He bowed low before her and silently | awaited her commands
 You are no gypsy" she began ! abruptly, after eying him for some | moments in silence. No strolling, wandering minstrel, at least by birth. Were you stolen when a child from your homo by the gypsies, and have you lived among them ever Eince?"
 "No, highness," was the brief answer.
 "Who and what are you?" she de- handed with impatience
 Pardon me, highness, if I for the present keep that a secret"
 What is your name-or is that too Q secret?"
 stephan, highEcss." "Play for me, Stephan-but nothing you have heard or learned. Let your | soul, your heart, speak to mine in | music"
 Stephan obcycd. When he had fin ished playing the princess remained silent for while, then suddenly eX- l claimed, Your music could teach one | how to love"
 ''lS love, then, alesSOn to be learned? he returned quickly. "You are no wandering fiddler" she | replied in her turn. "Lct the mask l drop now. It is timc Who are you?'' l ''Stcrhan, Count Thurzo" he an \ swcrCd. tlinming himself at her feet and | pressing his lips to her hand She smilrI town nt him and did not ithdraw her hand
 stephan remained at the palace: in a | short time he was the declared and ac- | cvpted lover of the princess. But he | was not happy His tancee refused to | set any time for the marriage. When | he urged speedy union, she laughed at him for his impatience or grew rest l less at his importantly. Often she was cold and naughty to him, as though he were really base-born fiddler, living on her bounty, instead of a great and powerful magnate. Then Stephan, growing weary of the treatment he re- ceived at his fckle mistress hands would wander off again with Gezas throughout the country. Several times he returned to his own castle, vowing never again to return to Presburg. But the willy princess understood well how to lure him back again, to keep him Sc. curelY in her tolls and at her feet.
 One day, however, Stephan, sitting with Gezas on the banks of the Danube opposite a little island where the prin- cess had built herself summer pavil- ion, was addressed by his companion:
 "Why are you sad to-day, count?"
 Stephan gave no answer but sighed deeply.
 You are tormented by the treat ment of the princess toward you Think of her no longer, my lord She is falso-in every way. Incapable o1 truth or faithfulness. She is in no way worthy of love like yours"
 You use strange words-you { gypsy-in speaking of a great and noble lady"
 ''True words, nevertheless, my lord And I can prove their truth. This princess you love is both false anc cruel, as I can show you this very
 night if you choose to have me do so
 What is it you know about her
 speak"
 ''I know that this princess hesitates