The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-09-25
PRlzE DETECTIVE STORIES, no. So.

words as they pointed at the body and
whispered TO one another, very low,
"The bishop has killed hm-the bishop
has killed him.. But the bishop saw
them from the window and leant out,
crying:
Eyes, have killed him. So perish all
such Villainsl''
And when they looked up and saw in
the moonlight the bishops face, they
were amazed. But he hastily drew his
head in, so that they might not see him
any more. For he knew that his face
had been fierce, and exultant and joyful
Then dropping his sword, he ran across
to the princess and drew the count IS
sword, that was wet with his own blood,
out of the door, releasing the princess
hair; and seeing that she was very faint
he put mis- arm about her and led her 10
the couch; and she sank down upon 1t,
trembling and white as her white gown
and murmuring, Fearful, iearful!' and
she clutched his arm and for long
while sne would not let him go; and her
eyes were fixed on the counts sword that
lay on the fioor by the entrance of the
little room.
CHAPTER v.
"Courage, madame" said the bishop,
softy. GAN danger is past. The william
is dead, and you are with the most de-
voted OF your servants.
"Yes, yes, - she said, and pressed his
arm and shivered. sis he really dead?"
''He is dead. God have mercy upon
him., said the bishop.
"And you killed him?"
81 killed him. If il were sin, pray God
forgive me-"
Up through the window still came the
noise of voices and the stir of men NOV
ing; for they were recovering the body OF
the count from the moat; yet neither
Osra nor the bishop noticed any longer
what was passing; he was intent on her,
and she seemed hardly yet herself; but
suddenly, and before he could interpose,
she threw herself of the couch and on
to her knees in front OF him, and seiz-
ing hold of his hand, she kissed first the
episcopal ring that he wore and then his
hand. For he was both bishop and gal
liant gentleman, and a kiss she gave him
for each; ana after she had kissed his
hand he felt the tip of her eye lashes
brush wet against his skin as she bent
her hea over bis hand. But he raised
her hastily, crying to her not to kneel
before hun, and throwing away his hat,
he knelt before her, kissing her hand
many times. She seemed now recover
ed from her bewilderment and terror;
for. as she looked down on him kneel-
ing, she was half ways between tears and
smiles, and with curving lips but met,
shining eyes she said very softly: "Ah,
my lord, who made bishop of your"
And her cheeks grew in an instant from
dead white into sudden red and her hand
moved over his head az IL she would fain
have touched him with it. And she bent
ever so little towards him. Yet perhaps
1t was nothing, and any lady who had seen
how he lore himself and knew that IT was
i'm her cause, for her honor and life,
might we'll have done the same.
The Bishop OF Modenstein made no i'm
mediate answer; his head was still bowed
nx,ar har ha nd and N ffar n VA hile he Kissed
her hand again, and he felt her hand
press his. Then suddenly, as though in
alarm, she drew her hand away, and he
let il go easily. But then he raised his
eyes and met the glance OF hers and he
smiled; and Osra also smiled. For an
rose to his feet, and he stood before
her with bent heao and eyes that sought
the ground in becoming humility.
"It IA by Gods infinite goodness and
divine permission that hold my sacred
office, said he. 81 would that / were
more worthy of 1t. But today l have
taken pleasure In the killing OF man"
Sand in the saving Of lady, sir" she
added softly, "who will ever count you
among her dearest friends and the most
gallant of her defenders. Is God angered
at such a deed as that?"
"May he forgive all our sins, +" said the
bishop gravely; but what other sins he
had in his mind he did not say, nor did
the princess ask him.
Then he gave her his arm and they two
walked together down the stairs into the
hall; and the bishop having forgotten
altogether both his hat and his sword,
was bareheaded and had no weapon in
his hand. The counts men were all col
lected in the hall, being crowded around
a table that stood by the wall; for on
the table lay the body OF Count Nikolas
| of Festenburg, and ii was covered with a
horse cloth that one OF the servants had
| thrown over II. But when the men saw
the princess and the bishop, they made
way for them and stood aside, bowing low
az they passed.
"You bow now," said Osra. "But be-
| fore, none of you would lift a finger
for me. To my lord, the bishop alone
/ owe my life and he is churchmsn,