Evening star., 1895-08-03

Then Prince Rudolf sprang on his horse.
calling again to M. de Merosailles: ''Qufck!
quick! Your life hangs on it!'
Then at last the marquis, though he was
most reluctant to depart. was about to
spring on his horse, when the princess
turned and glided back swiftly to them.
And let 1t be remembered that evening had
fallen thick and black-she came to her
brother and put out her hand, and grasped
his hand, and said
my lord l forgive your wrong, and
Una, snank Z. .o you for your courtesy and I wish
Prince. Rudolf, astonished. gazed at her
without speaking. But She moving very
auh,eSiy IN spite Of the darkness. ran to
spring on his horse, and she flung one arm
lightly about his neck, and she said:
Farewell, dear brotherhood preserve
you. See that no harm comes to my good
him lightly on the cheek. Then she sud
denly gave loud cry of dismay, exclaim-
ing. Alas what have I done? All, what
nave doneT' And she hid her face in her
Prince Rudolf burst into q loud. short
laugh, yet he said nothing to his sister. hut
again agaaa urged the marquis to mount his
tumult of triumph and of woe leaned mn
ana tney rode out. and, turning their faces
tcward the forest, set spurs to their horses
ana vanished at breakneck speed into the
giades. And no sooner were they gone
than the troopers of the kings es,srS
ciattered al canter up to the end of the
ptiose where the Princess Osra stood, But
drew rein. Ae
What is your errand, sir?' she asked
most coldly and haughtily.
Madame, said the captain, I'VE are
oaIgaed eafI1ae 10, TO bring the MARQUIS de Nero
saliIes, awe or dead, into the kings pres
ehce, and we have information that he is
In the castle. unless. indeed, he were one of
tne .rh norsemen who rode away just now"
tho ne nr;neS no.semea len you % saw were my brother
But II yol think that NJ. de MerosafIIes is
IN the castle. pray search the castle from
Keep to cellar; and. If you find him, carry
orders.7
Then the troopers dismounted in great
haste and ransacked the castle from keep
to cellar, and they found the clothes of the
he had whitened his face, but the marquis
they did not find. And the captain came
again. to the princess. who still stood at the
end OF the bridge, and said:
Madame, he is not In the CASTLE"
'Is he not?" said she, and She turned
away, and walking to the middle of the
bridge, looked down into the water of the
moat.
was it in truth the princes groom who
rode with him, madame?" asked The cap
tain following her.
In truth. sir, it was so dark" answered
the princess. that 1 could not myself
"One was the prince, for saw you em-
b1ace him, madame"
You do well to conclude that was my
brother" said Osra. smiling little.
And to the other, madame. you gave
your hand"
And now give it to you," said she with
naughty insolence. "And if to my father $
servant, why not to my brother's?" And
she held out her hand that he might kiss
It, and turned away from him and looked
down into the water again.
But we found NJ. de Merosailles' clothes
in the castle!' persisted the captain.
He may well have left something of his
in the CASTLE" said the princess.
Il will ride after them" cried the cap
tain.
II doubt If you will catch then1," smiled
the princess: for by now. the pair had been
gone half an hour and the frontier was
but ten miles from the castle. and they
could not be overtaken. Yet the captain
rode of with his men and pursued till ne
met Prince Rudolf returning alone, having
seen NJ. de Merosailles safe on his way
crowns to the marquis. So that the fugitive
was well provided for his journey. and.
travelling with many relays of horses, made
good his escape from the clutches Of King
Henry.
But the Princess Osra stayed a long time
looking down at the water in the moat
And sometimes she sigh ed and then again
she frowned, and, although nobody was
there and it was very dark into the bar
gain. more than once she hlushed. And, at
last she turned to go into the castle. And
as she went she murmured softly to her.
self:
why kissed him the first time know;
1t was in pity: and why kissed him the
second time / know; 1t was in forgiveness
But why l kissed him the third time, or
what that kiss meant" said Osra, heaven
knows"
And she went in with smile on her lips.