The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-10-06
BY ANTHONY HOPE,
Author of 1.-THE Prisoner of zenda."
'The Dolly Dialogues" etc.

Inc dolly SLC.
copyright, 1896, by A. H. HawlzinsJ
It was in the spring of the year that
Ludwig, Prince of Glottenberg, came
counting the Princess Osra; for his
father had sought the most beautiful
lady of a royal house II Europe, and
had found none to equal Osra. There
fore, the prince came to Strelsau with
q great retinue and was lodged in the
White palace which stood on the out
skirts Of the city, where the public
gardens now are (for the palace itself
was sacked and burnt by the people
in the rising of 1S4S). Here Ludwig
staid many days, coming every day to
the kings palace to pay his respects
to the king and queen and to make his
court to the princess. King Rudolf
had received him with the utmost
friendship, and was, for reasons of
state, then Of great moment, but now
of vanished interest, as eager for the
match as was the King of GlOtten-
berg himself, and he grew very impa-
tient with his sister when she hesita-
ted to accept LudWig's hand, alleg-
ing that she felt for him no more than
u AluOly CSICCIu cLnQt H1ldL was Dis
much to the purpose, that he felt no
more for her. For although the prince
possessed most courteous and winning
manners and was very accomplished
both in learning and in exercises, yet
he was a grave and pensive young
man, rather stately than joVial, and
seemed to the princess eyes (accus-
toned as they were 10 catch and check
ardent glances) to perform his wooing
more as a duty Of his station than on
the impulse Of any passion. Finding
!n herself also no such sweet ashamed
emotions as had before now crossed
her heart on account of lesser men,
she grew grave and troubled; and she
said to the king:
Brother, is this love? For L had as
lief he were away as here, and when
he is mere and kisses my hand as
though it were a statues hand; and
and feel as though it were. They say
you know what love is Is this love?'
There are many forms of love-"
smiled the king. This is such love
IS prince and aaprincess may most
properly feel"
Il do not call it love at ALL" said
Osra with a pout.
When Prince Ludwig came next day
10 see her and told her with grave
courtesy that his pleasure lay in doing
her will, she broke out:
Il had rather it lay in watching my
face" and then ashamed she turned
away from him.
He seemed grieved and hurt at her
words; and it was with a sigh that he
Baid: SHY life shall be given to Civ
ing you joy"
She turned round on him with
flushed cheek and trembling lips:
Yes, but [ had rather it were spent
Sn getting JOY from me-"
He cast down his eyes for moment
and then. taking her hand, kissed il.
but she drew it away sharply, and so
that afternoon they parted he back to
his palace, she to her chamber, where
she sat, asking again, rs this love ?"
and crying, HE does not know love"
and pausfng now and again, before her
mirror, to ask her pictured face why
1t would not unlock the door of love.
On another day she would be mer-
~, or feign merriment, rallying him on
his somber air and formal compli-
ments processing that for her part she
soon grew weary of such Wooing and
loved to he easy and merry, for thus
she hoped to sting him, so that he
would either disclose more warmth or
forsake altogether his pursuits But
he made many apologies, blaming, ma
ture that had made him grave, but
assuring her of his deep affection and
respect.
Affection and respectw murmured
Osra, with a. little toss of her head.
S'Oh, that ] mad not been born a prin-
cessp And yet, though she did not
love him, she thought him a very noble
gentleman, and trusted to his honor
and sincerity in everything Therefore.
when he still persisted and Rudolf and
the 1,o, To11
king mockingly, the queen with
touch of sadness, that she must not
look to find in this world such love as
romantic girls dreamt of, at last she
yielded, and she told her brother that
she would marry Prince Ludwig; yet
for little while she would not have
the news proclaimed. So Rudolf went.
alone and privately, to the White pal
ace and said to Ludwig:
Cousin, you have won the fairest
lady in the world. Behold. her brother
says itv'
Prince Ludwig bowed low and, TAX
Ing the kings hand pressed it, thank
ing him for his help and approval, and
expressing himself as most grat eful
for the boon of the princess favor.
"And will you not come with me and
find herr" cried the king with a mer-
~ look.
nave urgent business now" an
swered Ludwig. BEG the princess to
forgive me. This afternoon I will crave
the honor of waiting on her with my
humble gratitude"
King Rudolf looked at him, a smile
curling on his lips, and he said, in one
Of his gusts of impatience:
By heaven, is there another man in
the world who would talk of gratitude.
and business, and the afternoon, when
Osra Of Strelsau sat waiting for him ?"
Il mean no discourtesy," protested
Ludwig, taking the kings arm and
glancing at him with most friendly
eyes. Indeed, dear friend, I am re-
joiced and honored- But this business
Of mine will not wait"
So the king, frowning, and grumb-
ling, and laughing, went back alone
and told the princess that the happy
wooer was most grateful and would
come after his business was transacted
that afternoon. But Osra having Civ
en- her hand would now admit no fault
In the man she had chosen and thank
ed the king for the message with great
dignity. Then the king came to her.
and, sitting down by her, strolled her
hair, saying softly:
You have had many lovers. sister.
Osra-and now comes a husband"
Yes; now a husband" she murmured
catching swiftly at his hand. and her
voice was half caught in a sudden
sob.