The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-10-06

ground and the Bishop gripped his arm
as with a wise. The chamberlain looked
at Osra and at the Bishop, and half
drew his sword.
"This matter is too great for you,
sir, " said the Bishop. at is no quarrel
of the Princes. Stand aside" and before
the chamberlain could make up his
mind what to do, Osra had passed by
him and the Bishop had followed her.
Finding themselves in a narrow pas
sage, they made out by the dim light of
lamp flight of stairs that rose from
the farthest end of it. The Bishop tried
to pass the Princess, but she motioned
him back, and walked swiftly to the
stairs In silent speed they mounted,
till they had reached the top of the first
stage; and facing them, eight or ten
steps further up, was a door. By the
door stood a groom; this was the man
who had treacherously told Christian of
his masters doings; but when he saw
suddenly what had come Of his disloyal
chattering, the fellow went white as
ghost and came tottering in stealthy ST.
lence down the stairs, his finger on his
lips. Neither of them spoke to him nor
he to them They gave no thought to
him; his only thought was to escape as
soon as he might; so he passed them,
and, going on, passed also the chamber
lain, who stood dazed at the house door,
and so disappeared, intent on saving the
life that he had Justly forfeited Thus
the rogue vanished and what became of
him no one knew or cared. He showed
his face no more at Glottenberg or
Strelsau
clark, there are voices, whispered
Osra to the Bishop, raising her hand
above her head, as they two stood mo
tiOnless.
The voices crime from the door that
faced them, the voice of man and the
voice of woman. O5ra's glance at her
companion told him that she knew as
well as he whose the mans voice was.
1T is true then" she breathed from
between her teeth. my God, it is
true,n
The woman's voice spoke now, but the
words were not audible Then came the
Princes, For ever, in life or death,
apart or together, forever" But the
Woman's answer came no more in words
but in deep, low, passionate sobs that
struck their ears like the distant cry of
some brute creature in pain that it can
not understand. Yet Osra's face was
stern and cool, and her lips curled sc0rn-
fully, when she saw the Bishops look of
pity.
"Come, let us end it," said she, and
with firm step she began to mount the
stairs that lay between them and the
door,
Yet once again they paused outside
the door, for it seemed as though the
Princess could not choose but listen to
the passionate words of love that pierced
her ears like knives; yet they were all
sad, speaking of remuneration, and hap
piness. But at last she heard her own
name, then with a sudden start she
caught the Bishops hand, for she could
not listen longer. And she staggered
and reeled as she whispered to him,
1.-The door, the door; open the door"
The Bishop, his right hand being
across his body and resting on the hilt of
his sword, laid his left upon the handle
of the door and turned it. Then he flung
the door wide open; and at that instant
Osra sprang past him, her eyes cleaning
like flames from her dead white face.
And she stood rigid on the threshold of
the room, with the Bishop by her side.
In the middle of the room stood the
Prince of Glottenberg; and, strained in
close embrace, clinging to him, sup
ported by bis arms, with head buried in |
his breast, was girl of slight and
slender figure, graceful, though not tall,
and her body was still shaken by CON
tinued struggling sobs. The Prince held
her there as though against the world,
but raised his head and looked at the |
intruders with grave, sad air. There