The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-09-29

There is a swift little river running by
the village of Hofhau, and on the river
is a mill, kept, in the days of King Ru
dolf Ill, by sturdy fellow who lived
there ali alone. The King knew him,
having alighted at his house for q
draught of beer as he rode hunting; and
it was of him the King spoke when he
said to the Queen, "There Is, belleve,
but one man in the country whom Osra
could not move, and that is the miller OF
Hofhau." But, though he addressed the
Queen, it was his sister at whom he
aimed the speech. The Princess herself
was sitting by, and when she heard tbs
King, she saiG:
''In truth, do not desire to move any
man. What but troubles come Of if? Yet
VINO is this millel2'
The King tod her where the miller
might be found, and he added; III You
con vert him to the love of woman, vol
shall have the finest bracelet in Sire
sau"
"There is nothing, sire, SO remote
from my thoughts or desire as to convert
your miller" said Osra, scornfully.
And in this, at the moment, she
spoke truthfully; but being left alone for
some days at the Castle of Zeuda, which
is but few miles from Hofbau, she
found time hang very heavy on her
hands; indeed she did not know what
to do with herself for WEAKNESS; and SO,
for this reason and none other at all.
one dav she ordered her horse and rode
off with single groom into the forest.
Coming, as the morning went on, to
wide road, she asked the groom where
it led. "To Hofbau, madame" he an
swered. sit is not more than a mile
further on Osra waited for few mo-
ments then she said: 81 will ride on
and see the village, for / have been told
that it is pretty. Wait here till | re-
turn" and she rode on, smiling little
and with delicate tint of color in her
cheeks.
Before long she saw the river and the
mill on the river; and, coming to the
mill she saw the miller sitting before
his door, smoking long pipe, and she
called out to him, asking him to sell her
glass of milk.
ssYou can have it for the asking, " said
the miller. He was a good looking, fair
AGllJ@y Glu NDIS a SCoIlSb AAC4
is pail Of it just inside the door behind
me-" Yet he did not rise, but lay there,
lolling luxuriously in the sun. For he
did not know Osra, never havicg b en- to
Strelsau in his life, and to Zenda three
or four times only, and that when the
Princess was not there. Moreover
though this, as must be allowed, is not
to the purpose had sworn never
again to 90 SO far atield,
Being answered in this manner, aud a.
the same time desiring tie milk, the
Princess had no choice but to dismount.
This she did, ard passed by the miller,
pausing moment to look at him witt,
bright, curious eyes that flashed from
under the br'm of her wide-rimmed
feathered hat; but the miller blinked
lszily up at the sun, and took no heed OF
her.
Osra passed on, found the pail, poured
out cup of milk and drank it. Then,
reflling the cup, she carried it to the
miller.
evil ysn not have ?" said she,
Hith a smile.
~ was too lazy to get it," said tbs
miller; and he held ont his hand, but did
not otherwise charge his position.
Osras brow was puckered and her
cheek flushed as she knelt down, holding
the cup Of milk so that the miller could
reach it. He took and drained it, gave
it back to her, and put his pipe in his
mouth again. Osra sat down by him
and watched him He pulled and blinked
away, never so much as looking at her.
What have you for dinner2' asked
she presently
"There's enough for two, if you're
hungry"
"Would you not like it better hot2"
Oh, aye, but / cannot weary myself
with heating it.
II will heat it," said the Princess;
and, rising, she went into the house and
made up the fire, which was almost
burnt out; then she heated the pie, and
set the room in order, and laid the table,
and drew large jug of beer from the
cask. Next she placed an armchair
ready for the miller, and put the jug by
it; then she filed pipe from the bowl
of tobacco, and set cushion in the
chair. And all this while she hummed
= tune and from time to time smiled
gaily. Lastly she arranged chair by The
elbow of the miller's chair; then she
went out and told him that his dinner
was ready; and he stumbled to his feet
with sigh of laziness and walked before
her into the house.
1sMay | Gomez" cried she.
ssAye, there is enough for two," said
the miller of Hofbau, without looking
round.
So she followed him in. He sank into
the arm chair and sat there, for a mo
ment, surveying the room which was so
neat, and the table so daintily laid, and
the pie SO steaming hot. and he sighed,
saying:
ssIt was like this before poor mother
died." and he fell to on great portion
of pie with which Osra piled his plate
When he had fnished eating which
thing did not happen for some time she
held the jug while he took long draught;
then she brought coal ia the tongs and
held it while he lit his pine from il; then
sns sat down By aim For several mo
Ynents he pulled, and then at last ha
turned his had and looked at Princess
Osra; and che dropped her long jashes
and east down her eyes, aid mex sne
lifted her eyes and glanced Tor an instant
al the NIL r, and finally sre dropped
I,ar eyes again aud murmured sh}iy:
What is If, sir2 Why do you look al
IA r.
lyon seem to be a handy wench, >" OF
served the miller. The pie was steam