Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-10-12

king was, though it did not find the fugi-
tives, found the embassy from the Grand
Duke of Mittenheim; and the ambassador,
with all his train, was resting by the road
side, seeming In no haste at all to reach
Strelsau. When the king suddenly rode up
at great speed and came upon the embassy
an officer that stood by the ambassador.
whose name was Count Sergius of An
theim. stopped down and whispered in his
excellency's ear, upon which he rose and
advanced toward the king, uncovered his
head and bowling profoundly; for he chose
to assume that the king had ridden to
meet him out of excessive graciousness and
courtesy toward the grand duke; so that he
began, to the impatient kings infinite an
noyance, to make very long and stately
speech assuring his majesty of the great
hope and joy with which his master await
ed the result Of the embassy, for said he.
since the king was Jealous in his cause,
his master could not bring himself to doubt
of success. and, therefore, most confidently
looked to win for his bride the most eXalt-
ed ard lovely lady In the world. the peer
less Princess Osra, the glory of the court
of Strelsau, and the brightest jewel In the
crown of the king, her brother And hav-
ing brought this period to a prosperous
conclusion. Count Sergius took breath and
began another that promised to be fully as
magnificent and not whit less long. So
that, before 1t was well started, the king
smote his land on his thigh and roared:
Heavens, man, while you're making
speeches that rascal is carrying off my
sister,
Count Sergius, who was an elderly man,
of handsome presence and great dignity.
being thus rudeiy and strangely interrupt
ed, showed great establishment and Of
Tense: but the officer by him covered his
mouth with his hand to hide smile. For
the moment that the king had spoken these
impetuous words he was himself over
whelmed with confusion; for the last thing
that he wished the grand dukes ambasSa-
dor to know was that the princess, whom
his master courted, had run away that
morning with a student of the University
of Strelsau. Accordingly he began, very
hastily and with more regard for prudence
thar for truth. to tell Count Sergius how
noted and bold criminal had that morning
swooped down on the princess as she rode
unattended outside the city and carried her
off; which seemed to the ambassador a
very strange story. But the king told it
with great fervor. and he besought the
count to scatter his attendants all through
the wood and seek the robber; yet he
charged them not to kill the man them
selves but to keep him till he came. For
1 have sworn to kill him with my own
hand" he cried.
Now, Count Sergius, however much as
tonished he might be, could,rdo nothing but
accede to the kings request, and he sent
off all his men to scour the woods, and
mounting his horse, himself set off with
them, showing great zeal in the kings serv-
ice. but still thinking theakings story a
very strange one. Thus.the king was left
alone with his two guards and with the
officer who had smiled.
will you not go also,s sir?" asked the
king.
But at this moment a man galloped up at
a furious speed, crying:
eve have found them, sir, we have found
them!'
"Then he hasn't five minutes to liver
cried the king in fierce joy, and he lugged
out his sword. adding, 1.-The moment 1 set
my eyes on him l will kill him. There is
no need for words between me and him."
AT this speech the face Of the officer
grew suddenly grave and alarmed; and he
put spurs to his horse and fastened after
the king, who had at once dashed away in
the direction in which the man had pointed,
but the king had got a start and kept 1t,
so that the officer seemed terribly fright
ened, and muttered to himself:
Heaven send that he does not kill him
before he knowSe' And he added some
very impatient words concerning the fol-
lies of princes and above all of princes in
love.