Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-28

sorry for what l have doner'
Girls are always mighty sorry after it
is DONE remarked the king. Wake him
up, Osra.'
At this moment the miller of Hofbau sat
up in his chair and gave a great sneeZe, and
by this sound the priest also was awaken
ed. Osra came forward and stood between
them. The miller looked at her, and tilted
his red cap forward, in order that he might
scratch his head. Then he looked across to
the priest, and said:
1T is she, father. She has come"
The priest rubbed his hands together, and
smiled uncomfortably.
We waited two hours" said he, glancing
at the clock. See, it is o'clock now
Il am sorry you waited SO long," said
Osra, but could not come before. And
ard now that l am come, l cannot"
But here she paused in great distress and
ccl fusion. not knowing how to break her
sad tidings to the miller of Hofbau.
The miller drew his legs up under his
chair and regarded Osra with a grave air.
You should have been here at H." said
Re. Il went to the church at IL, and the
priest was there and my cousin Hans to
act as my groom, and my cousin Gertrude
to be your maid. And there We waited hard
on two hours, and you did not come"
4 am very sorry pleaded Princess Osra;
aid the king laughed low to himself behind
the water butt, being much amused at her
distress and her humility.
And now that you are come" pursued
the miller. scratching his head again, Il do
O..
locked again a the priest, seeking counsel
At this the Princess Osra, thinking that
an opportunity had come, took the purse of
6OO crowns from under her cloak and laid
it on the table
What is this?" said the miller, for the
first time showing some eagerness.
They are for you.' said Osra, and she
watched him while he unfastened the purse
Then he poured the crowns out on the table
and counted them one by one, till he had
told all the 600. Then he raised his hands
above his head, let them fall again, sighed
slightly. and looked across at the priest.
Il warned you not to be in such a hurry
friend miller" remarked the priest.
Il waited two hours" said the miller.
pl&lr lively, land you know that she is a
handy wench and very fond of me- And
he began to gather up the crowns and re-
turn them to the purse.
i trust am a handy wench" said Osra.
smiling. yet still very nervous. land indeed
| have a great regard for the miller,
but"
Nay, he does rot mean you," interrupted
the priest.
SIX hundred" sighed the miller land
Gertrude has but 2oO! Still she is a handy
wench and very sturdy. 1 doubt if YOU
could lift sack by yourself. as she can"
and he looked doubtfully at Osra's slender
figure
Il do not know why you talk of Ger
trude,' said the princess, petulaEtly What
is Gertrude to me?"
why, l take it that she is nothing at all
TO you, answered the priest folding his
bar ds on his lap and smiling placidiy.
still, for my part, babe him wait little
longer
Il waited two hours said the miller
Ard Gertrude urged me, saying that you
would not come, and that she would look
after me better than you, being one of the
family. And she said that it was hard that
she should have no husband, while her own
cousin married stranger And since it
was all the same to me, provided 1 got
handy and sturdy wench-'
''What!' cried the Princess Osra; and the
kiEg was SO interested, that he rose up
from behind the water butt and leaning
his elbows on the windowsill, looked in and
saw all that happened
ut being" pursued the miller of Hofbau
AL the same to me, so that 1 got what 1
wanted, why, when you did not come
'He married his cousin said the priest.
A sudden. loud burst of laughter came
fro m the window. All three turned round
but the king ducked his head and crouched
again behind the water butt before they
saw him.
who was that?" cried the priest.
"a lad that came to hold my horse" an
swered Osra hastily, and then she turned
fercely on the miller
And that" she said, was all you want
ed. l thought you loved me-"
"Ay, liked you very WELL" said the mil
Ter. You are handy" A stamp Of her
foot drowned the rest. But you should
have come in time" he went on.
And this Gertude-is she pretty?" de-
Gertrude is well enough" said the miller.
But she has only 200 crowns" And he
put the purse now full again, on the table,
with resigned sigh.
And you shall have no more" cried
Osra, snatching up her purse in great rage.
And you and Gertrude may"
"What Of Gertrude?" came at this mo-
ment from the door Of the room where the
sacks WERE The princess turned round
swift as the wind, and saw in the doorway
a short and very broad girl, with very
wide face and struggling hair: the girls
nose was very f1at,and her eyes were small;
but her great mouth smiled d-humored-
ly, and, as the princess looked she let slip
to the ground a sack of flour that she had
been carrying on her sturdy back.
GAY, Gertrude is well enough" said the
miller, looking at her contentedly. "She is
very strong and willing