Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-17

seen how he bore himself. and knew that
it was in her cause, for her honor and
life, might well have done the same.
The bishop of .Modenstein made no i'm
mediate answer; his head was still bowed
over her hand and after a while he kissed
her hand again; and he felt her hand
press his. Then suddenly, as though in
alarm, she drew her hand away. and he
let it go easily. But then he raised his
eyes and met the glance of hers and he
smiled; and Osra also smiled. For an in
slant they were thus Then the bishop
rose to his feet. and he stood before her
with bent head and eyes that sought the
ground in becoming humility.
1T is by Gods infinite goodness and d.
vine permission that I hold my sacred
office" SAID he. Il would that were more
worthy of it! But today have taken pleas
ure in the killing of man.
And in the saving of lady, sir" she
added softly, who will ever count you
among her dearest friends and the most
gallant Of her defenders. Is God angered
at such a deed as that?''
May he forgive all our SINS" said the
bishop gravely: but what other sias he
had in his mind he did not say, nor did
the princess ask him.
Then he gave her his arm and they two
walked together down the stairs into the
hall; and the bishop. having forgotten al
together both his hat and his sword, was
bareheaded and had no weapon in his hand.
The counts men were all collected in the
hall, being crowded round a table that
stood by the wall; for on the table lay the
body of Count Nikolas of Festenburg, and
it was covered with a horsecloth that one
of the servants had thrown over it. But
when the men saw the princess and the
bishop, they made way for them and stood
aside, bowling low as they passed.
You bow now" said Osra. But before,
none of you would lift finger for me. TO
my lord the bishop alone 1 owe my life;
and he is a churchman, while you Were
free to fight tor me. For my part, do not
envy your wives such husbands and with
most scornful air she passed between
their ranks, taking great and ostentatious
care not to touch one of them even with
the hem of her gown. And they grew red
and shuffled on their feet; and one Two
sWore under their breath and thanked God
their wives were not shreWS, being indeed
very much ashamed of themselves and
very uneasy at thinking what these same
wives of theirs would say to them when
the thing came to be known. But Osra
and the bishop passed over the bridge, and
he set her his horse. The summer
morning had just daWncd, clear and fair,
so that the sun caught her rudy hair as
she mounted in her white gown. But the
bishop himself took the bride of the horse
and led it at a foots pace down the hill
and into the town.
Now by this time the news of what had
CHANGED had run all through the town,
and all the people were out in the streets.
gossiping and guessing. And when they
saw Princess Osra safe and sound and
smiling, and the bishop in his shirt-for
he had given his cloak to her-leadng the
horse, they broke into great cheering. The
men cheered the princess while the wo-
men thrust themselves in the front rank
of the crowd, and blessed the bishop of
Modenstein. But he walked with his head
down and his eyes on the ground, and
would not look up even when the women