The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-10-13
BY ANTHONY HOPE.
Author of The Prisoner of Zenda."
The Dolly Dialogues etc.

Copyright. 1885, by A. H. Hawkins0
King Rudolf. being in the worst Of
humors. had declared in the presence
Of all the court that women were born
10 plague men and for no other purpose
whatsoever under heaven. Hearing
tbs discourteous speech. the Princess
Osra rose and said that, for her part
she would go walking alone by the
river outside the city gates. where she
would at least be assailed by no more
renroa ches. For since she was ire
vocably determined to live and die I'M
married, of what use or benefit was it
to trouble her with embassies, court
ine5 or proposals, either from the
Grand Duke of Mittenheim or anybody
else2 she was utterly weary Of this
matter # love and her mood would be
Tnchanged though this new Su1tOr were
as exalted as the king of France, as
rich as Croesus himself, and as hand
some as the god Apollo. She did not
desire q husband, and there was an
enf Of it. Thus she went out, while
the queen sighed and the king fumed,
and the courtiers and ladies said to
ono another that these dissensions
made life very uncomfortable at Strel-
san. the ladies further adding that he
would be a bold man who married
Osra. although doubtless she was not
Unlocking.
To the banks Of the river outside the
walls then Osra went. and as she went
she seemed to be thinking of nothing
AFT all in the world least of all of
p,hon, she might chance to meet there
ON +be- banks of the river, where in
those busy hours of the day few came.
Yet there was p strange new light IN
her ewes. and there seemed a new I'M
Outstanding in her mind; and when a
Young peasant wife came by. her BABY
in her arms. '6sra stopped her and
kissed the child and gave money, and
+nen ran on in unexplained confusion,
laughing and alushing as though she
had done something which she did not
1,-ieh n he seen. Then without reason
bar ewes filed with tears, but she
dashed them away. and burst sudden
" into sin ging. And she was still sing
ing when from The long grass by the
rivar's edge A young man Sprang UP.
and. with a very low bow, drew aside
10 LET her uass He had a book in his
hand. for he was a student at the uni
versitv ara came there to pursue his
lea ming in peace; his plain brown
clothes spoke of no wealth or station,
though certainly they set off a stall
wart straight shape, and seemed TO
match well With his light brown hair
and hazel ewes. Very low this young
man bowed. and Osra bent her head
The pace Of her walk slackened. grew
quicker. slackened again; she was past
him. and with a great sigh he lay
down again. She turned; he sprang
IN: she spoke coldly, yet kindly.
"sir."' said she, " cannot but notice
that you lie every day here by the
sigh. Tel me your trouble, ana II
can I viii relieve 1t.
az am reading. madame he an
evereG. "of Helen Of Troy, and am
signing because she is dead.
1T is an old grief by now said
Osra. smiling. "Wiil no one serve you,
III I were prince" said he, 81
need not mourn"
no No. M madame he said with an
other bow
Farewell. sir"
Madame, farewell
So she went on her way and saw nm
no more till the next day, nor AFTER
that till the next day following ana
then came an interval when she saw
him not and the interval was no less
than twenty-fOur hours; yet stlll ne
read of Helen Of Troy, and still sighed
THAT she was dead. and he no prince
All last he tempted the longed-for ques-
tlon from her shy smiling lips.
WHY would You not mourn, SIR, ii
you were a prince2" SAID she. For
princes and princesseS have then
share of signs" And with very
plaintive sigh Osra looked at the rapid
running river as she waited for the
answer.
Because 7 would then go to STel-
sau. and so forget her.
But YOU are at Strelsau nowH' she
cried with wonderful surprise
"Ah. but 1 ann no prince, madame,
"Can princes alone-forget in Strel
sau?"
Glow would a poor student dare t.
forget in Strelsau?" And as he spoke
ne made bold TO step near her anG
stood close, looking down into hel
face. Without a word she turned anC
left him. going with a step that seemed
s. 10 dance Through the meadow and ye
& led her to her own chamber, where she
4 could weep in quiet.
I know it now, l know 1t now" she
Il whispered softly that night TO TIT
81 tree that rose by her window. 'Heigh
M 10. what am to do? l cannot live; no
and now [ cannot die. All, me, wha
an I 20 DO? ] wish L were a peasan
girl butt then perhaps he would not
An, yes, but ne Wouldr' And her ions
5 laugh rippled in triumph through tn
night, and blended with the ruStlius
Of the leaves under a summer breeze
and she stretched her white a ms Il
heaven, imploring the kind God witt
prayers that she dared not speak ever
to his pitiful ear.
Love knows no princesses, m!
princess" 1t was that she heard al
she fed from him next day. Sh
should have rebuked him But for tina
f& she must have staid; ana to stay sh
had not dared. Yet she must rebuk
M him. She must see him again in orde
~ to repuke him. Yet all this while sh
mast be pestered with the court of It'll
grand duke of Mittenheim! And whed
Z she would not name a day on whicl
the embassy should come. the king fey
into passion and declared that h
- would himself set a. date for IT Wa
his sister mad, he asked that sh
3 would do nothing but walk every da.
by THE rivers bank
~ Surely l must be mad" tbouob
~ Osra, for no sane being could he a
once so joyful and so piteouslv un
happy"
Did he know what il was he asked
He seemed to know nothing of II II
did not speak any more now Of nr.ir
M cesSes, only of his princess: nor .
Osra, save of his hearts queen. an
7p when his eyes asked love. they aisle
as though none would refuse and thAr
could be no cause for refusal II
-. would IL