The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-08-11

tated this great sin, and I rode after
you to forbid it
Can you forbid what you cause ?'
he asked.
4 am not the cause of it, she said
"but your own trickery"
1T is true. l am not worthy tC
live" cried the marquis, shifting the
hilt of his sword TO the ground. Il
pray you, madame, leave me alone to
die, for | cannot tear myself from
the world so long as 1 see your face
And as he spoke he knelt on one knee
as though he were doing homage 10
her
The princess caught at a bough of
the tree under which she stood, and
pulled the bOugh down so that it's
leaves half hid her face, and the mar
quis 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, unforgiven?"
81 had prayed for forgiveness before
you found me, madame said he.
"Of heaven, my lord?'
"Of heaven, madame. For only of hea-
ven l dare to ask it,
The bOugh siwayed up and down;
and row Osra's cleaning hair, and
now her cheek, and always her eyes
were seen through THE leaves. And
presently the marquis heard voice
asking:
Does heaven forgive unasked?"
Indeed, no." said he, wondering.
And" said she, ARE we poor NOR
tails kinder than heaven?"
The marquis rose ard took step
or two towards where the bough
swayed up and down, and then knelt
again.
"A great sinner" said he, cannot
believe himself forgiven
Then he wrongs the power OF
whom he seeks forgiveness; for for
giveness is divine"
Then l will ask it. and, if 1 obtain
it, l shall die happy"
Again the bough sWayed, and Osra
said:
Nay, if you will die, you may die
unforgiven.'
NJ. de Merosanles hearing these
words. sprang to his feet, and came
towards the bough. until he was so
close that he touched the green.
leaves; and through them the eyes of
Osra CLEANED; and the suns rays
struck on her eyes, and they danced
in the sun; and her cheeks were red
dened by the same, or some other
cause. And tine evening was very
still, and there seemed no sounds in
the forest.
u cannot believe that you forgive.
The crime is 50 great" said he.
1T was great; yet I forgive"
Il cannot believe it," said ne 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
if you live I will forgive. And we
will forget"
BY heaven. no. he whispered. IF
| must forget to be forgiven, then l.
will remember and be unforgiven.
The fairtest laugh reached him
from among the foliage.
Then [ will forget and you shall
be forgiven said she.
The marquis put up his hand and
held leaf aside. and he said again:
L cannot believe myself forgiven.
Is there no other token of forgive
ness?"
Pray. my lord, do not put the
leaves aside"
Il stin must die, unless have sure.
warrant of forgiveness.
ooh, you try to make me think
that"
by heavens, it is truew and again
he pointed his sword at his heart,
and he swore on his honor that unless
she gave him token he would kill
himself.
petulance. 81 wish 1 had not Gomez
Then ! should have been dead by
unforgiven."
But you will still dieD'
Yves, l 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
brighter than sun and sword to-
gether"
''Then I must shade them with the
leaves
yes. shade them with the leaves"
he whispered. Madame, is there no
token of forgiveness"
An absolute silence followed for a.
little while. Then OSra said:
why did you swear on your hon
Dr?"
because it is an oath that I cannot
Indeed, I wish that I had not
come" sighed Princess Osra.
Again came silence. The bough was
pressed down for an instant; then it
leaves brushed the cheek of NJ. de.
And he laughed loud.
and joyfully.
Something touched my cheek"
said he.
TT must have been leaf" said
Princess Osra.
''Ah, a leafr'
ST think So said Princess Osra.
'~Then it was a leaf of the Tree of
Life said NJ. de Merosailles.
ST wish some one would set me on.
my horse" said Osra.
THAT you may ride back to the
castle-alone ?"
Eyes, unless you would relieve my
brothers ANXIETY"
TT would be courteous to do that
MUCH" said the marquis.