Evening star., 1895-08-03

, 1895-TWENTY PAGES
Of the sun. striking through the tree-trunks
REDEEMED her face as she rode along, spur
ring her horse and following hard on the
track of the forlorn gentleman. But what
she did not think
When she had ridden an hour or more,
she saw his horse tethered to a trunk; and
there was a ring Of trees and bushes near,
encircling an open grassy spot. Herself dis
mounting and fastening her horse by the
marquis horse, she stole up and saw NJ. de
Merosailles sitting on the ground. his drawn
sword lying beside him; and his back was
toward her. She held her breath and waited
for a few moments Then he took up the
sword and felt the point and also the edge
OF 1t, and sighed deeply; and the princess
him better than any SHE hail seen him in
before. Then he rose to his feet, and took
his sword by the blade beneath the hilt and
turned the point of it toward his heart.
And Osra, fearing that the deed would be
done Immediately. called out eagerly, "My
lord, my lord!' and M. de Merosailles
turned around with great start. When
he saw her, he stood in establishment. his
hand still holding the blade Of The sword.
And. standing just on the other side Of the
trees, she said,
rs your offense against me to be cursed
by adding an offense against heay ven and
the church," And she looked on him with
great severity; yet her cheek was flushed,
and after while she did not meet his
glance.
How came you here. madam"' he asked,
IT heard" she said. that you meditated
this great sin. and 1 rode after you to for
Can you forbid what you cause:" he
asked.
II am not the cause of it, she said. ''but
your own trickery."
10
cried the marquis. shifting the hiit Of his
sword to the ground. Il pray you, madame,
leave me alone to die, for cannot tear my
self from the world. so long as see your
race And as he spoke he knelt on one
knee, as though he were doing homage to
her.
The princess caught at bough Of the
tree under which she Stood and pulled the
bough down so that its leaves half hid her
race, and the marquis saw little more than
her eyes from among the foliage. And,
thus being better able to speak to him. she
said softly:
"And dare you die unforgiyen?'
I had prayed for forgiveness before you
found me, madame" said he.
"Of heaven. my lord?'
dare to ask it,
The bough swayed up and down; and now
Osra's cleaning hair, and now her cheek,
ana always her eyes, were seen through tha
voice asking:
does heaven forgive unasked?"
indeed, no." said he. wondering
Anu, saio she, are We poor mortals
KINDER than heaven?"
The marquis rose and took step or two
toWafd where the bough swayed up and
down, and then knelt again.
great SINNER, said he, cannot believe
himself forgiven"
Then he wrongs the power of whom he
vine"
Then I will ask it. and if 1 obtain it I
shall die happy"
Again the bough swayed, and Osra said:
Nay; if You will die you may die unfor-
NJ de Merosailles, hearing these words
sprang to his feet and came toward the
bough until he was SO close that he touched
the green leaves; and through them the
e3"s OF Osra cleaned; and the suns rays
struck on her eyes, and they danced in the
sun; and her cheeks were Redeemed by the
same or some other cause. And the even
ing was very still. and there seemed no
sounds in the forest.
Il cannot believe that you forgive; the
crime Is SO great" said he.
1t was great; yet forgive"
Il cannot believe It," said he again. and
he looked at the point of his sword. and
then he looked through the leaves at the
princess.
Il can do no more than say that IL you
VIII live I will forgive. And we will for
get"
by heaven, no." he whispered. 'If I
must forget to be forgiven then I will re-
member and be unforgiven."
The faintest laugh reached him from
among the foliage.
Then will forget, and you shall be for
given," said she.
The Marquis put up his hand and held a
leaf aside, and he said again:
Il cannot believe myself forgiven. Is
there no other token of forgiveness:"
Pray, my lord, do not put the leaves
aside.''
..J st,u ro,,st ,7fa ,,nlass T how. ,,,ro ,,,,,,
rant of forgiveness
''Ah, you try to make me think thatr'
by heavens it is true!' and again he
pointed his sword at his heart, and he
swore on his honor that unless she gave
him a token he would kill himself.
"Oh,' said the princess, with great petu-
lance, Il wish 1 had not Gomez
''Then, I should have been dead by low
dead, unforgiven."
But you will still die!'
Yes. 1 must still die, unless
"Sheathe your sword, my lord. The sun
strikes it and it dazzles my eyes"
THAT cannot be; for your eyes are bright
er than sun and sword together"
"Then I must shade them with the
leaves"
"Yes. shade them with the leaves" he
whispered. Madame, is there no token Of
forgireness?'
An absolute silence followed for a little
while. Then Osra said:
why did you swear on your honor?'
Because it is an oath that 1 cannot
break"
Indeed. wish that I had not come" |
sighed Princess Osra. |
Again came silence. The bough was
pressed down for an instant; then it sway |
ed swiftly up again; and its leaves brushed |
the cheek of NJ. de Merosailles. And he |
laughed loud and joyfully.
Something touched my cheek" said he |
at must have been a leaf" said Princess !
Osra. |
"Ah, leaf."
81 think so." said Princess Osra.
''Then it was a leaf of the tree Of life," |
said NJ. de Merosailles
Il wish some one would set me on my |
horse" said Osra.
That you may ride back to the castle
alone?"
Yes, unless you would relieve my broth
er's anxiety"
ut would be courteous to do that much"
said the MARQUIS.
So they mounted and rode back through
the forest. In hour the princess had |
come, and II, the space of something over
two hours they returned; yet during all this
time they spoke hardly a word; and al
though the sun was now set, vet the glow
on the face and in the eyes of [
Princess Osra while M. de Merosailles, be-
ing forgiven, rode with smile on his lips
But when they came to the castle, Prince
Rudolf ran ont tn meet them and he ,riad |