The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-08-11

my good friend NJ. de Merosailles." And
she kissed him lightly on the cheek.
Then she suddenly gave a loud cry of
dlsmay, eXclaiming, ALAS, what have |
done All, what have | done ~ And
she hid her face in her two hands.
Prince Rudolf burst into a loud short
laugh yet he said nothing to his sister,
but again urged the Marquis to mount
his horse. And the Marquis, who was in
a sad tumult of triumph and of woe,
leaped up, and they rode out, and, turn
ing their faces towards the forest, set
spurs to their horses and vanished at
breakneck speed into the glades And no
sooner were they gone than the troopers
of the Kings Guard clatteTed at a canter
up to the end of the bridge, where the
Princess Osra stood. But when their
captain saw the Princess, he drew rein
What is your erraad, sir p she asked
most coldly and haughtily.
Madame, " said the captain, 1--WE are
ordered TO bring the Marquis de Nero
sailes alive or dead into the King pres
enee, and we have information that he is
in the Castle, unless indeed he were one
of the horsemen who rode away just
now.n
The horseman you saw were my
brother the Prince and his groom I' SAID
Osra. But if you think that M. de
Merosailles is in the castle, pray search
the castle from keep to cellar; and if you
find him, carry him to my father accord
ing to your orders"
Then the troopers dismounted in great
haste and ransacked the castle from keep
to cellar; and they found the clothes Of
the Marquis and the white powder with
which be 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"
SIS he not 2" said she, aud she turned
away and, walking to 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
Captain following her
"In truth, sir, it was so dark, - an
swered the Princess, "that l could not
myself clearly distinguish the mans face.
Zone was the Prince, for I saw you
embrace him, madame"
"You do we'll to conclude that was my
brother" said Osra, smiling a 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
fathers servant, why not to my broth
er's 2" 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 we'll have left something of
his in the CASTLE" said the Princess.
II will ride after Them" cried the
Captain.
~ doubt if you will catch them, 4"
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 off with his men and
pursued till he met Prince Rudolf re-
| turning alone, having seen M. de Nero
sailles safe on his way. And Rudolf had
paid the sum of 1000 crowns to the
Marquis, so that the 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 long
time looking down at the water in the
moat. And sometimes she sighed
and then again she frowned, and, al
though nobody was there and it was
very dark into the bargain, more than
once she blushed. And, at last she
turned to go in to the castle. Aud, as
she went, she murmured softly to her
self.
why kissed him the first time l
know; it was in pity; and why / kissed
him the second time | know; it was in
forgiveness. But why l kissed him the
third time, or what that kiss meant, y
said OSra, "Heaven knows"
And she went in with smile on her
lips.