Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1893-06-09

found themselves just outside the gates
of the town of Presburg. They were
weary and footsore, and laid themselves
down beneath wide-spreading elm
tree to rest. Lying there half asleep,
they were suddenly aroused by the
sound of hunting-horn in their imme-
diate vicinity Directly after, o stag
purs I'd hv dogs and hunters burst
from Il thicket not far away from them.
A huntress rode at the head of the
troop. a young and beautiful woman.
When the stag had been brought to
bay, it was she who, dismounting, came
forward to give him the deathzstB>eke.
Nhaa tAa fair Drss7Tsrg sS-s-s- ----r--r-1 sest
ard was about TO ride away again,
Stephan seized his violin and played a
soft, yearning melody. The lady, turn
ing her horse, came up to where he lay
beneath the tree, and, drawing rein,
remained listening in silence till the
last strain had died away She gazed
long and attentively at the count, then
asked imperiously:
''Who are you? Whence come you?''
'We are strolling musicians"
answered Stephan, modestlv, yet with
out a trace of servility in mind or tone.
1--WE are called, in the country round
about, the two fiddIers.
The lady nodded her head thought
fully.
81 have heard of you before. You,
however, are no gypsy, no strolling
fiddler. How is it that you lead the
life of one?''
''The love of music, of change, of the
sight Of fair smiling faces, causes me
to journey, fddling, about the land"
he returned, looking at her with eyes
,ss proud and unfiinching as her own.
And if she was struck by his handsome
face and nobility OF form and stateli-
ness of bearing he in his turn was no
less fascinated by her wonderful beauty.
His eyes rested admiringly on her slight,
supple figure, which her close-htting
habit of dark green velvet set OFT 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;
on 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 few 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 disliked her from the
first glance.
"But we will gladly pass few days
beneath your roof, if you will allow us,
gracious lady," Stephan fastened to
add, eagerly.
Every WELL" 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
| salllowich"
She nodded and galloped off, followed
| by her suite.
! Stephan was already acquainted with
her, at least by reputation. She was a
widow, much courted and sought after,
| 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
politics, and was supposed to favor the
| Imperial party, though at the same
time managing to keep on friendly terms
with Ralxoczy 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 its side, and she was therefore
courted and distrusted by both.
When the princess had returned to
her palace and had dined, she remem-
bered 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. mo strolling,
wandering minstrel, at least by birth.
Were you stolen when child from
your home by the gypsies, and have
youLived among them ever since?"
mo, highness," was the brief answer.
'.Who and what are you?" she de-
manded with impatience.
Pardon me, highness, if l for the
present keep that a secret"
What is your name-or is that too a