Evening star., 1895-09-13

back her hair behind her neck, and holding
che hand to her side. Throw first she
added
The count ratified his box. and his throw
was seven. Osra took the box from him,
| locked keerly and defiantly in his eyes, and
| threw.
Fortune is with you, madame" said he.
| biting his lips. For a five and four
| make nine, or err greatly"
He took the box from her; his hand
shook. but hers was firm and steady; and
again he threw.
"Ah, it is but five," said ne impatiently,
| and frown settled on his brow.
1T is enough. my lord said Osra, and
pointed to the dice that she had thrown
a three and a one.
The counts eyes cleaned again. and he
sprang to her and was about to seize the
box. But he checked himself suddenly and
bowed, saying:
Throw first this time, l pray you, ma
dame, If it be not dsagreeable to you"
L do not care which way it is" said
Osra, and she shook the box and made her
third cast. And when she lifted the box,
the face of the dice showed seven And a
smiled broadened on the counts face. for
he thought surely he could beat seven he
that had beat eleven and thereby won the
castle of Zenda. which now he staked
also were very keenly and 'attentively on
her. and he held the box poised, shoulder
high in his right hand.
But then sudden faintness and sickness
IRE that had hitherto upheld her failed:
she could not meet his glance nor could she
bear to see the fall of the dice but she
turned away her head before he threw and
stood thus with averted face And he kept
attentive eyes on her and drew very near
to the table so that he stood right over it,
And the Princess Osra caught sight of her
own face in the mirror and started to see
herself, pallid and CHASTITY, and her face
was drawn though she were suffering
some great pain. But she uttered no sound
The dice ratified in the box; they ratified
on the table: there was pause while man
might quickly count a dozen: and then
Count Nikolas of Festenburg cried out in a
voice that trembied and tripped over the
words:
Eight eight eight"
But before the last of the words had left
bis shaking lips the Princess Osra faced
round on him like lightning. She raised
her hands SO that the loose white gown
fell back from her rounded arm. and her
eyes flashed and her lips curled as she out
stretched her arm at him and cried:
Foul play.3
For, as she watched her own pale face in
the mirror-the mirror that Count Nikolas
had not heeded-she had seen him throw
she had seen him stand for an instant over
the dice he had thrown with gloomy and
maddened face; and then she had seen a
slight swift movement of his left hand. as
his fingers deftly darted down and touched
one of the dice and turned it.
And all this she had seen before he had
cried eight! Therefore now she turned on
him. and cried. Foul play" and before he
could speak she darted by him toward the
door. But he sprans forward and caught
her by the arm above the wrist and grip
ped her, and his fingers cut in to the tender
flesh of her arm. he gasped, You lie!
Where are you going?"
But her voice rang out clear and loud in
answer:
Il am going to tell all the world that
Zenda is ours again and am going to pub
lish in every city in the kingdom that Count
Nikolas of Festenburg is a common cheat
and rogue and should be whipped at the
carts tail through the streets of Stresau.
For saw You in the mirror. my lord. saw
You in the mirror" And she ended with a
wild laugh that echoed through the room.
Still he gripped her arm and she did not
finch; for an instant he looked full in her
eyes: and covetousness and desire and
shame came altogether upon him and over
mastered him, and he Kissed between set
teeth
You shan'ti By God. you shan't,"
"Ay. but l will. my lord. said Osra. TT
is d fine tale for the king and for your
friends in Stre,sau."
An instant longer he held her where she
was; and he gasped and licked his lips.
Then he suddenly dragged her with him
toward a COUCH SeiZ:ng up a coverlet that
lay couch he flung it round her: he
folded it tight about her, and he drew it
close over her face. She could not cry out
or move. And he lifted her up and swung
her over his shoulder. and. opening the door
of the room. dashed down the stairs to-
ward the great hall.
In the great hall were the six of the
kings guard. and some of the servants of
the castle. and many of the people who had
come with Count Nikolas; they all sprang to
their feet when they saw him. But he took
TO heed of them. but rushed at run
through the hall and out under the port
culis and across the bridge, which had not
been raised since he entered. And there at
the end of the bridge lackey held his
horse. and he leapt or his horse, setting
one hand on the saddle and still holding
Osra; and then he cried aloud:
My men. follow me! To Festenburg"
Ito be continued on Saturday,