The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-10-06

eyes ana lHeH she smiled IalDLly, press
ing the Princes hand and whispering.
"Yet she is so beautful% and she
seemed now wonderfully happy, so that
they three all watched her, and were
envious, although they were to live and
she to die.
CHOW God pardon her sin w said the
Princess Osra suddenly, aud she fell on
her knees beside the couch, CRYING
"Surely God has pardoned her r.
''Sin size has none, save what clings
even to the purest in this world said
the Bishop. "For what she has said to
me | know to be true.
Osra answered nothing, but gazed i'm
questioning at the Prince, and he, still
holding the lady's hand, began to speak
in a gentle voice;
"Do not ask her name, madame. But
from the first hour that we knew the
meaning of love, we have loved one an
other. And had the issue rested in my
hands, I would have thrown to the
winds all that kept me from her. re-
member when first / met her-ah, my
sweet, do You remember And from that
day to this in soul she has been mine,
and hers ia all my life But more could
not be Madame, You have asked what
love is. Here is love. Yet fate is
stronger Thus I came here to WOO, and
she, left alo-e, resolved to give herself
to God "
Chow comes she here then 2" whis-
pered Osra, and she laid one hand tim
idly on the couch near the lady,
yet not so as to touch even her gar
ments.
"She came here, he began, but sud
denly, TO their Amusement, the lady
who had seemed dead, with an effort
raised herself on her elbow, and spoke
in quick, eager whisper, as if she feared
time and strength would fail
''He is a great Prince" she said, "he
must be a great king. God means him
for greatness. God forbid that | should
be his ruin Oh, what q sweet dream
he painted But praise be to the blessed
saints that kept me strong. Yet at the
last was weak. could not live with
out another sight of his face; and $3.50
| came. Next week / AMI was to take
the veil; aud | came here to see him once
again Cod pardon me for it. But I
could not help it. All, madame. know
yon, and see now your beauty. Have
ycu known love r.
"No," said Osra; and she moved her
hand near to the lady's hand
"And WheE he found me here, he.
prayed me again to do what he asked,
ana was half killed in denying it. But
prevailed, and we were even then part
ing when you came. Why, why did /
come r. And for a moment her voice died
away in low, soft moan But she
made one more effort; clasping Osra's
hand in her delicate fingers, she whis-
pered, II am going. Be his wife"
"No, no, no." whispered Osra, her
face now close to the lady's. 'You
must liye-you must live and be happy"
And then she kissed the lady's lips.
The lady put out her arms and clasped
them round Osra's neck; and again she
whispered softly in Osra's ear. Neither
Ludwig nor the Bishop heard what she
said, but they heard only what Osra
sobbed. Presently, the lady's arms re-
Taxed little in their hold and Osra,
having kissed her again, rose and signed
to Ludwig to come nearer, while she,
turning gave her hand to the Bishop
and he led her from the room, and find
ing another room near, took her in there,
where she sat silent and pale,
Thus half an hour passed; then the
Bishop stole softly out and presently
returned saying:
"God has spared her the long painful
path, and has taken her straight to His
rest
Osra heard him, half in trance and
as if she did not hear; she did not know
whittier he went nor what he did, nor
anything that passed until, as it seemed
after long while, she looked up and
saw Prince Ludwig standing before her.
He was composed and calm; but it seem
ed as if half the life had gene out of his
face. OsTa rose slowly to her feet, sup
porting herself on an arm of the chair on
which she had sat- and, when she had
seen his face, she suddenly threw herself
on the floor at his feet, crying:
Forgive me! Forgive mer
"The guilt is mine, said he; "for
did not trust you and did by stealth
what your nobility would have suffered
openly. The guilt is mine" And he of
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