The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-09-16

front of the door In the wall with a
sneering smile on his face.
The Bishop of Modenstein never
loved to speak afterwards of what fol-
lowed. saying always that he rather
deplored than gloried in II, and that
w,hen a man of his sacred profession
was forced to use the weapons of this
world 1t was a matter OF grief to him,
not of vaunting. But the king COM
PEELED him by urgent requests to de-
scribe the whole matter, while 'the
princess was never weary of telling all
that she knew or OF blessing all bishops
for the sake of the bishop of Modem
stein. Yet the bishop blamed himself,
perhaps, if the truth We're known, not
for the necessity that drove him to what
he did, as for secret and ashamed
JOY that he had detected In himself.
For certainly. as he burst into the
room now, there was no sign of re-
luctance or of urwillingness in his face:
he took off his feathered cap. bowed
politely to the count, and, resting the
point of his sword ON the floor asked:
"My lord, where Is the princess?'
What do you want here. and who
are you?" cried the count. with a
blasphemous oath.
when We were boys together, you
not now know the Bishop Modenstein:"
Bishop. This is not the place for
bishops. Get back to your prayers, my
lord
1T wants some time yet before ma
tins" answered the bishop. My lord.
where Is the princess?'
What do you want of her?"
Il am here to escort her wherever IL
may be her pleasure to CO." He spoke
confidently, but he was In his heart
alarmed and uneasy because he had
not found the princess.
II do not know where she Is" said
Nikolas of Festenberg.
"My lord, you lie," said the Bishop of
Modcnstein.
The count had wanted nothing but
an excuse for attacking the intruder.
He had 1t now, and an angry flush
mounted in his cheeks as he walked
across to where the bishop stood. Shift
ing his sword to mis- left hand, he struck
the bishop on the face with his gloved
hand The bishop smiled and turned
the other cheek To- Count Nikolas. who
struck him again with all his force, so
that he reeled back. catching hold of
the open door to avoid falling; and the
blood started duh red under the skin
of his face. But he still smiled and he
bowed, saying:
Il find nothing about the third blow
in Holy Scripture"
Az this instant the Princess Osra, who
had been half stunned by the violence
with which Nikolas had thrown her on
the floor, came to her fun senses, and.
hearing the bishops voice, she cried out
loudly for help. He hearing her, dart
ed in an instant across the room and
was at the door of the little chamber
before the count could stop him. He
pulled the door open and Osra sprang
out to him, saying:
Save me! Save me!'
You are safe, madame. have no
fear" answered the bishop. And
turning to the count. he continued.
LET us go outside, my lord. and dis
ouss this matter. Our dispute will dis
turb and perhaps alarm the princess"
And man might have read the pur-
pose in his eyes, though his manner
and words We're gentle: Tor he had
sworn in his heart thst the count
should not escape.
But the count cared as little for the
presence of the princess as he had for
her dignity, her honor. or her life: and
now that she was no longer wholly at
his mercy, but there was new chance
that she might escape. his rage and the
fear of exposure lashed him to fury:
and, without more talking, he made at
the bishop. crying. You first and then
her. I'll be rid of the pair of you
The bishop faced him. standing be-
tween Princess Osra and his assault;
while she shrank back a little. shelter
ing herself behind the heavy door. For.
although she had been ready to die
without fear. yet the sight Of men
fighting frightened her. and she yelled