Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-10-05
Copyright, 1895, by A. n. Hawkins.)

Copyright, 1895, by A. Il. Hawkins)
1t was In the spring of the year that
Ludwig, Prince of Gutenberg, came court
ing the Princess Osra; for his father had
sought the most beautiful lady of royal
house In Europe. and had found none to
equal Osra. Therefore. the prince came to
Strelsau with great retinue and was
lodged in the White Palace which stood on
the outskirts of the city, where the public
gardens now are Gor the palace itself was
sacked and burned by the people in the
rising of 1879. Here Ludwig stayed many
days, coming every day to the kings palace
to gay his respects to the king and queen
and to make his court to the princess. King
Rudolf had received him with the utmost
friendship and was for reasons of state
then of great moment, but now Of vanished
interest, as eager for the match as was the
King of Glottenberg himself, and he grew
very impatient with his sister when she
hesitated to accept Ludwig's hand, alleging
that she felt for him no more than kindly
esteem and. what was as much to the pur-
pCse that he felt no more for her. For al
though the prince possessed most courteous
and winning manners and was very accom-
plished both in learning and In exercises,
yet he was grave and pensive young man,
rather stately than jovial, and seemed In the
princess eyes accustomed as they were to
catch and check ardent glances) to perform
his wooing more as duty of his station
than on the impulse of any passion. Find
Ing In herself also no such sweet ashamed
emotions as had before now crossed her
heart on account of lesser men, she grew
grave and troubled; and she said to the
king:
he were away as here, and when he is here,
and kisses my hand as though 1t were a
statues hand; ard-and 1 feel as though it
were; They say you know what love is. Is
this love?'
There are many forms of love-" smiled
the king. This Is such love as a prince
and princess may most properly feel
Il do not call 1t love at ALL" said Osra
with pout.
When Prince Ludwig came next day to
see her and told her, with grave courtesy,
that his pleasure lay In doing her will, she
tloke out:
Il had rather 1t lay in watching my face"
and then ashamed she turned away from
him.
ard 1t was with a sigh that he said: MY
life shall be given to giving you joy"
She turned round him with flushed
cheek and trembling lips.
Yes, but / had rather 1t were spent in
getting joy from me-
He cast down his eyes for moment and
tEen, taking her hand, kissed 1t. but she
drew 1t away sharply. and SO that after
she to her chamber. where she sat, asking
again, rs this love?" and crying, He does
not know love-" AMI pausing now and
again, before her mirror, to ask her pic
tured face why 1t would not unlock the door
of love.
On another day she would be merry, or
feign merriment, rallying him on his som
Der air and formal compliments, protesting
that for her part she soon grew weary of
such wooing. and loved to be easy and
merry, for thus she hoped to sting him, so
that he would either disclose more warmth
or for5ake altogether his pursuits. But he
made many apologies. blaming nature that
had made him, grave. but assuring her of
his deep affection and respect.
Affection and respectr murmured Osra,
with little toss of her head. "Oh. that
I had not been born a princessv' And yet,
though she did not love him. she thought
him very noble gentleman and trusted
Therefore, when he still persisted and
Rudolf and the queen urged her, telling
her (the king mockingly, the queen with a
touch of sadness) that she must not look
to find in this wcrld such love romantic
girls dreamu of, at last she yielded, and
size told her b: other that she would marry
Prince Ludwig, yet for little while she
would not have the news proclaimed. So
Rudolf went, alone and privately, to the
White Palace and said to Ludwig:
Cousin, you have won the fairest lady
In the world: Behold. her brother says itE'
Prince Ludwig bowed low, and, taking
the kings hama, pressed it, thanking him
for his help and approval, and expressing
himself as most grateful for the boon of
the princess favor.
And will you not come With me and find
her?' cried the king with merry look.
Il have urgent business now" answered
Ludwig. Beg the princess to forgive ME.
This afternoon l will crave the honor of
waiting on her with my humble gratitude"
King Rudolf looked at him, smile curl
ing on his lips, and he said, in one Of his
gusts of impatience:
"By heaven, is there another man in the
world who would talk of gratitude. and
bt siness, and the afternoon, when Osra of
Strelsau sat waiting for him?"
Il mean no discourtesy, protested Lud-
wig, taking the kings arm and slancing
at min with most friendly eyes. Indeed,
dear friend, 1 am rejoiced and honored.
But this business of mine Will not wait.
So the king, frownlng. and grumbling
ami laughing, went back alone and told
the princess that the happy Wooer was
most grateful and would come after his
business was transacted, that afternoon.
But Osra, having given her hand, would
now admit no fault in the man she had
chosen and thanked the king for the mes
sage with great dignity. Then the king
came to her, and, sitting down by her,
strokad h T hair. saying softly.
You have had many lovers, sister Osra-
ard Eow comes a husband
"Yes, now husband" she murmured,
catching swiftly at his hand, and her
voice was half caught in sudden sob
80 goes the world-our world" said the
fall for moment into sad reverie.
II am frightened" she whispered. Should
I be frightened If 1 loved him?"
II have been told So" said the king,
smiling again. But the fear has way
of beng mastered then" And he drew
her to him and gave her hearty brother
kiss, telling her to take heart. you'll
thaw the fellow OUT said the king.
Though 1 grant you he is icy enough.
For the king himself had been by no
cans what he called an icy man.
But Osra was not satisfied and sought 10
assrIace the pain of her heart, by adjoining
herself most carefully for the princes COM
ing. hoping to fire him to love. For she
thought that If he loved she might al,
though since ne did not she could not AND
urcIy he did not, or all the tales OF rove
we're false! Thus she came to receive MIN
;ery magnifcently arrayed. There was a
f,sh on her cheek, and an uncertain, ex-
iectant. fearful look in her eyes, and thus
he stood before him, as he fell on MS
nee and kissed her hand Then he rose,
.nd declared his thanks and promised his
,eyotion; but as he spoke, the flush faded
md the light died from her eyes; and
hen at last he drew near to her and Of
fered to kiss her cheek, her eyes were dead
and her face pale and cold as she suffered
: i'm to touch it. He was content to touch
t but once and seemed not to know how
.old it was; and So after more talk of his
fathers pleasure ard his pride he took his
leave, promising to come again the next
day. She ran to the window when the door
was closed on him, and thence watched him
hor 70 SLOWLY