Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-28
the INDIFFERENCE OF THE
MILLER OF H0FBAU,
BY ANTHONY HOPE,
Author Of 1.-The Prisoner of Zenda," 1.-THE
Dolly Dialogues" etc.
Copyright, 1895, by A. H. Hawkins)

Copyright, 1895, by A. H. Hawkins)
There is a swift little river running by
the village Of Hofbau, and on the river
ia a mill, kept, in the days Of King Ru-
dolf III, by a sturdy fellow who lived
there all alone. The king knew him, nav
ing alighted at his house for drauEht
Of beer as he rode hunting; and it was
Of him the king spoke when no said to
the queen, There Is. 1 believe. but one
man in the country whom Osra could not
move and that is the miller of Hofbau.'
But, though he addressed the queen, it was
his sister at whom he aimed the speech.
The PRINCESS herself was rittihg by. and
when she heard the king. she said:
"In truth. 1 do not desire to move any
man. What but troubles come of it? Yet
who is this miller?'
The king told her where the miller might
be found, and he added: IF you convert
him to the love of women. you shall have
the finest bracelet in Strelsau."
There is nothing. sire, SO remote from
my thoughts or desire as to convert your
miller" said Osra, scornfully.
And in this at TN nlomcn., she spoke
truthfully; but being left alone for some
days at the Castle of Xenda, which IS but
& few miles from Hofbau. she found time
did not know what to do with herself for
WEAKNESS; and so, for this reason and none
other at all. one day shs ordered her horse
and rode off with single groom into the
forest. Coming, the morning went on,
to a wide road, she asked the groom where
II led. ITO Hofbau, madame he answer
ed. 1T is not mora than mile further
on" Osra waited for few moments; then
she said: II will rida on and see the vii
lage for l have been told that IL is pretty.
Wait here till 1 return" and she rode on
smiling a little and with delicate tint
Of color in her cheeks.
Before long she saw the river and the
mill on the river: and, coming to the MILL
she saw the miller sitting before his door,
smoking a long pipe, and she called out to
him, asking him to sell her a glass of
milk.
"You can have 1t for the asking" said
the miller. He was a good-lookins, fair
fellow. and wore scarlet cap. ''There is
q pail of it just inside the door behind me-"
Yet he did not rise but lay there, iolling
luxuriously In the sun. For he did not
know Osra, never having been TO Strelsau
In his life and to Ienii three OF four
times only, and that wnen the princess was
not there. Moreover-though this, as must
be allowed Is not 20 the purpose--le had
sworn never again to so SO far aiield.
Being answered in this manner, and at the
seme time desiring the milk, the princess
had no choice but to dsmount This she
did, and passed by the miller, pauSing a mo-
meEt to look at him with bright. curious
eyes that flashed from under the brim Of her
wide-rimmed feathered hat; but the miller
blinked lazily up at the sun, and took no
heed of her.
Osra passed on, found the pail. poured out
Q cup of milk and drank 1t. Then. rehlHng
the cup. she carried it to the miller.
"Win you not have some?' said she, with
. smile.
II was too lazy to get it," said the miller;
and he held out his hand but did not other
wise change his position.
Osra's brow was puckered and her cheek
flushed as she knelt down, holding the cup
Of milk so that the miller could reach it.
He took and drained it, gave it back to her
and put his pipe In his mouth again. Osra
sat down by him and watched him. He
pulled and blinked away. never SO much as
looking at her.
What have you for dinner?" asked she
presently.
enough for two, If you're hungry"
would you not like 1t better hot?''
"Oh, aye; but 1 cannot weary myself with
heating it."
II will heat it," said the princess; and. rs-
ing, she went into the house and made up
the fire, which was almost burnt out; then
she heated the pie. and set the room in order,
and laid the table, and drew large jug of
beer from the cask. Next she placed an
armchair ready for the miller, and put the
jug by 1t; then she filled a pipe from the
bowl of tobacco. and set a cushion in the
chair. And all this while she hummed a
tune, and from time to time smiled gaily
Lastly she arranged a chair by the elbow of
the miller's chair; then she went out and
told him that his dinner was ready; ard he
stumbled to his feet with sigh Of .aZiness
and walked before her into the house.
MAY / Gomez" cried she.
AYE, there is enough for two said the
miller of Hofbau, without looking round.
So she followed him in. He sank into the
armchair and sat there for moment sur
Veying the room, which was SO neat, and
the table so daintily laid. and the pie SO
steamng hot. And he sighed, saying:
ut was like this before poor mother died."
and he fell to on great portion of pie with
which Osra piled his plate.
When he had finished eating-which thing
did not happen for some timc-she held the
jug while he took long drausht; then she
brought coal in the tongs and held 1t while
he lit his pipe from it; then she sat down by
him. For several moments he puffed, ard
then at last he turned his head and looked
at Princess OSra, and she dropped her long
lashes and cast down her eyes, and next she
lifted her eyes and glanced for an instant
at the miller, and finally she dropped her
eyes again and murmured shyly: What Is
1t. sir? Why do you look at me?'
You seem to he a handy wench," observed
the miller. THE pie was steamng hot and
yet not burnt the beer was we'll frothed, but
hot shaken nor thickened. and the pipe
draws well. Where does your father dwell?"
HE is dead, SIR said the Princess Osra
very demurely
And your mother?" pursued the miller.
"SEe also is dead"
There is small harm in that" said the
miller, thoughtfully, and Osra turned away
her head to hide her smile.
Are you not very lonely, living here
all by yourself?' she asked a moment
later.
Indeed have to do everything for my
self" said the miller, sadly.
And there Is nobody toto care for
you?"
"No-nor to look after my comfort" said
the miller. Have You any kindred"'
81 have two brothers. sir, but they are
married now, ard have no need of me-
The mille. llii down his pipe. and, set