The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-10-06
THE LOVE or THE PRINCE OF
GLOTTENBERG.
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fered to raise her. But she rose, unaid-
ed, asking with choking voice:
SIS she dead2'
"She is dead" said the Prince, and
Osra, hearing it, covered her face with
her hands and blindly CROPPED her way
back to the chair, where she sat painting
and exhausted.
''To her | have said farewell, and
now, madame, to yo1. Yet do not Think
that am a man without eyes for your
beauty, or heart to know your worth.
seemed to you fool and churl. |
grieved most bitterly, and | wronged
you bitterly My excuse for all is now
known. For though you are more beau
tiful than she, yet true love is no wan
derer; it gives beauty that it does not
find and weaves chain no other charms
can break. Madame, farewell"
She looked at him and saw the sad
Joy in his eyes, an exultation over what
had been that what was could not de-
stroy; and she knew that the vision was
still with him, though his love was dead.
Suddenly he seemed to her a man she
also might love and for whom she also,
if need be, might gladly die. Yet not
because she loved him, for she was ask
ing still in wonder, "Who.t is this love?"
Madame, farewell" said he again,
and, kneeling before her, he kissed her
hand.
II carry the body of my love-" he
went on ''back with me to my home,
there to mourn for her; and shall come
no more to Strelsau."
Osra bent her eyes on his face as he
knelt and presently she said to him in a
whisper that was low for awe, not shame;
"You heard what she hade me do2'
cs, madame, know her wish"
"And you would do it 2" she asked.
Madame, my struggle was fought be-
fores he died. But now you know that
my love was not yours"
"That also knew before, sir" and
slight, bitter smile came on her face. But
she grew grave again and sat there,
seeming to be bordering, and Prince
Ludwig waited on his knees. Then she
suddenly leant forward and said
IF loved | would wait for you to
love. Now what is the love that can
not feel
And then she sat again silent, but at
last raised her eyes again to his, saying
in voice that even in the stiffness Of
the room he hardly heard.
Nov / do dearly love you, for / have
seen your love and know that you can
love; and think that love must breed
love, so that she who loves must in Gods
time be loved. Yet" She paused here,
and for moment hid her face with her
hand. "Yet cannot, she went on. SIS
it Our Lord Christ who bids us take it2
He does not so reign in my heart. For
to my proud heart-ah, my heart SO
proudi-she would be ever between us,
could not bear it; even though she is
dead, could not bear it. Yet / believe
now that with you might one day find
happiness"
The Prince, though in that hour he
could not think of love, was yet very
much moved by her new tenderness, and
felt that what had passed rather drew
them together than made any separa-
ton between them. And it seemed to
him that the dead lady's blessing was on
his suit, so he said:
Madame, / would most faithfully
serve you and you would be the nearest
and dearest TO me of all living women"
She waited while; then she sighed
heavily, and looked in his face with an
air of wistful longing and she knit her
broWs as though she were puzzled. But
at last, shaking her head, she said:
sit is not enough"
And with this she rose and took him
by the hand, and they two went back
together to where the Bishop of Modem
stein still prayed beside the body of the
lady.
Osra stood on one side of the body
and stretched her hand ont to the Prince
who stood on the other side.
"See, said she. 'She must be be
tween us" And having kissed the dead
face once, she left the Prince there by
the side of his love, and herself went
out, and, turning her head, saw that the
Prince knelt again by the corpse Of his
love.
"He does not think of me, she said to
the Bishop.
ellis thoughts are still with her,
madame" be answered.
Il was late night now, and they rode
swiftly and silently along the road to
StTelsau. And on all the way they spoke
to one another only few words, being
both sunk deep in thought. But once
! Osra spoke, as they were already near TO
Strelsau. For she turned suddenly to
the Bishop, saying:
my lord, what is it ? Do you know
itw
eyes, madame; have known it, =" an
swered the Bishop.
''Yet you are churchmanl'
"True, madame" said he, and he
smiled sadly.
She seemed to consider, fixing her eyes
| on his; but he turned his aside.
"Could you not make me understands"
| she asked.
Your lover, when he comes, will do
| fhaf madame y said he and still he