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

Meditating suicide.
slanting rays of the sun, striking through
the three trunks, redeemed her face as
she rode along, squirting her horse and
| following hard on the track of the for
lorn gentleman. But what she intend
ed to do if she came up with him, she
did not think.
When she had ridden an hour or more,
she saw his horse tethered to trunk
and there was ring Of trees and bushes
near, encirCiDg an open grassy spot.
Here dismounting and fastening her horse
| by the Marquis's horse, she stole up and
saw NJ de Merosailles sitting on the
ground, his drawn sword lying beside
him; and his back was towards her.
She held her breath and waited for few
moments Then he took up the sword
and felt the point and also the edge of it,
and sighed deeply; and the Princess
thought that this sorrowful mood became
him better than any she had seen him in
before. Then he rose to his feet, and
took his sword by the blade beneath the
hilt and turred the point of it towards
his heart. And Osra, fearing that the
deed would be done Immediately, called
out eagerly, my Lord, my Lord" and
NJ. de Merosailles turned round with q
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.
sis your offence against me to be
cursed by adding an offence against
heaven 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, Madame 2" he
asked in wonder.
81 heard" she said, "that you medi-
tated this great sin and rode after you
to forbid it."
"Can you forbid what you cause r. he
asked.
~ am not the cause Of it," she said,
"but your own trickery."
1T is true. am not worthy to 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 / see your face 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 face and the Marquis saw little
more than Der eyes from among the
foliage And, thus being better able to
speak to him, she said softly:
"Aud dare you die, unforgiven r.
81 had prayed for forgiveness before
you found me, madame, said he.
"Of heaven, my Lord ?"
"Of heaven, madame. For of heaven
| dare to ask it. d"
The bough swayed up and down; and
now Osra'S cleaning hair, and now her
cheek, and always her eyes were seen
through the leaves. And presently the
Marquis heard voice asking:
docs heaven forgive un4sked r.
Indeed, no, said the wondering.
"And said she, are we poor mortals
kinder than heaveb y
The Marquis rose and took a step or
two towards where the bough swayed
up and down and then kntlt again.
"a great sinner, said he, cannot be-
Iieve himself forgiven"
Then he wrongs the power of whom
he seeks forgiveness; for forgiveness is
divine"
Then I will ask it, and, if I obtain it,
| shall die happy"
Again the bough swayed; and Osra
said:
may, if you will die, you may die un-
forgiven"
NJ. de Merosailles hearing these words
sprang to his feet and came towards the
Dough 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
Redeemed by the same or some other
cause. And the evening was very still
and there seemed no sounds in the for
est.
II cannot believe that you forgive.
The crime is so great, said he.
ut was great; yet | forgive"
II 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.
81 can do no more than say that if
you will live, l will forgive. And we
will forget"
by heaven, no." he whispered. eff
| must forget to be forgiven then | will
remember and be unforgiven."
The faintest 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,
II cannot believe myself forgiven.
Is there no other token of forgive
ness?n
"Pray, my va, do not put the leaves
aside" -
! * =