The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-09-24

sword on the floor and sprang upon her.
A shrek rang out, hut he pressed his
hand on her mouth and seized her in his
arms. She had no strength to resist, and
he carried her swiftly across the room to
a door in the wall. He pulled the door
open-it was very massive and heavy and
he flung her roughly down on the stone
floor of little chamber, square and lof-
ty- having but one small window high up
through which the moonlight scarcely
pierced. She fell with moan OF pain.
Unheeding he turned on his heel and shut
the door. And as he turned, he heard
man throw himself against the door Of
the room. 1t also was strong; and twice
the man flung himself with all his force
against it. At last II strained and gave
way; and the Bishop OF Modenstein burst
into the room breathless. And he saw no
trace OF the princess presence, but only
Count Nikolas standing sword in hand
in front of the door in the wall with q
sneering smile on his face.
The Bishop of Modenstein never loved
to speak afterward OF what followed,
saying always that he rather depiored
than gloried in 1t. and that when a man
of his sacred profession was forced to use
the weapons of this world il was q matter
of grief to him, not OF vaunting. But
the king compelled him by urgent re-
quests to describe 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
Modenstein. Yet the bishop blamed him
SELF perhaps, If the truth were known,
not for the necessity that drove him to
what he did, az for a secret and ashamed
Joy that he detected in himself For GER
tainly, as he burst into the room now,
there wss no sign of reluctance or of un-
willingness in his face; he took off his
festhered 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
your" cried the count, with blasphSm-
Gus oath.
when we were boys together, you
knew Frederick of Hentzau. Do you not
now know the Bishop of Eodenstein?'
Bishop! This is no place for bishops.
Get back to your prayers, my lord.
1t wants some time yet before mathis"
answered the bishop. "My lord, where
Is the princess?'
"What do you want with herr"
az 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 Festenburg.
MY lord, you lie, said the Bishop of
Modenstein.
The count had wanted nothing but an
excuse for attacking the intruder. He
had II now, and an angry flush mounted
in his cheeks as he walked across to where
the bishop stood. Shifting his sword to
his 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 dull red
under the skin of his face. But he still
smiled, and he bowed, saying:
find nothing about the third blow
in Holy Scripture"
CONTINUED TOMORROW