Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-10-12

sword, she still supposed that her lover
must die; and she turned and flung her
arms around his neck and chung to him for
a moment. kissing him. Then she faced
the king. with a smile on her face and the
little dagger in her hand. But the king
came up. wearing scornful smile, and he
asked her:
What is the dagger for my willful sis
ter?"
For me, If you kill him." said she.
you would kill yourself, then, if killed
him.
Il would not live a moment after he was
dead"
Faith. it is wonderful said the king
with a shrus. '"Then. plainly. if you can
not live without him you must live with
him. He is to be your husband not NINE
Therefore. take him if you will
When osra heard this, which, indeed, for
joy and wonder she could hardly believe
she dropped her knife and, running for
ward fell on her knees before her brother
and, catching his hand. she covered it
with kisses. and her tears mingled with
her kisses. But the king let her go on,
and stood over her, laughing and looking
at the student. Presently the student be-
gan to laugh also, and he had just ad-
vanced a step toward King Rudolf, when
Count Sergius of Anthem, the grand
dukes ambassador, came out from among
the trees riding hotly and with great zeal
after the noted robber. But no sooner did
the count see the student than he stopped
his horse, leapt down with a cry of Won
der, and running up to the student. bowed
very low and kissed his hand. So that
when Osra looked around from her kissing
of her brothers hand. she behel1 the grand
dukes ambassador kissing the hand of her
lover. She sprang to her feet in wonder.
who are your" she cried to the student
running in between him and the ambassa-
dor.
Your lover and servant" said he.
and besides?" she said.
why, in month, your husband" laugh
her nv he han
He clasped the kings hand. but turned
at once to her, and said. hnmbly:
ALAS, l have no cottage!'
who are you?" she whispered to him.
The man for whom you We're ready to
die, my princess. Is it not enough"
Yes, it is enough said she. and she
did not repeat her question. But the king
with short laugh, turned on his heel
walked eff with him; and presently they
met the officer and learnt fully how the
grand duke had come to Strelsau and how
he had contrived to WOO and win the Prin-
cess Osra, and finally to carry her off from
the palace.
1t was an hour later when the whole of
the two companies, that of the king and
that of the ambassador, were all gathered
together again, and had heard the story:
SO that when the king went to where Osra
and the grand duke walked together among
the trees, and, taking each by hand led
them out, they were greeted with a great
ana lHey mounted lnelf horses,
which the grand duke row found without
any difficulty, although when the need of
them seemed far greater the student could
not contrve to come upon them, and the
whole company rode together out of the
wood and along the road towards Strelsuu
the king being full of jokes and hugely de-
lighted with trick that suited his merry
fancy. But before they had ridden far
they met the great crowd which had come
out from Strelsau to learn what had hap
pened to the Princess OSra. And the king
cried out that the grand duke was to marry
the princess, while his guards who had
been with him, and the ambassadors peo-
pie spread themselves among the crowd
and told the story; and when they heard it.
the Strelsau folk were nearly beside them
selves with amusement and delight, and
thronged round Osfa, kissing her hands
and blessing her But the king drew back
and let her and the grand duke ride alone
together, while he followed with Count
Sergius. Thus, moving at very slow pace
they came in the forenoon to Strelsau; but
someone had galloped on ahead with the
news, and the cathedral bells had been set
ringing, the streets were full, and the whole
city given over to excitement and rejoice
ing. All the men were that day in love
with Princess Osra, and, what is moro,
they told their sweethearts SO; and these
found no other revenge than to blow kisses
and fling flowers at the grand duke as he
rode past with Osra by his side Thus they
came back to the palace whence they had
fled in the early CLEANS Oh that mornings
light