Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1897-05-01

"
A man sat at a table and t,oo others stood
before him. |
kept his temper (Which, by the way, |
the king had not done, though none
dared say SOY he could bring any foolish
girl to reason in good time, for, in the
softest voice and with the strangest
smile fitting to her face, the Princess
Osra was pleased to bid the embassy
come OH the fifth day from then.
"And they shall have their answer,
then, - said she, flushing and smiling.
cit is as much as any lady could
say" the court declared. And it was
reported through all Strelsau that the
| match was as good as made, and that
| Osra was to be Grand Duchess of Mitten-
helm.
"She is a sensible girl after all"
cried Rudolf, all his anger gone.
The dream began then, before they
came to the cottage. Those days she
lived in it's golden mists that shut out
all the cold world from her, moving
through space that held but one form,
and time had stood still waiting for one
divine amending moment And the en-
bassy drew near TO Strelsau.
1t was night, the dead of night, and
all was still in the palace. But the sen
tinel by the little gate was at his post,
and the gate warden stood by the west
ern gate Of the city. Each was now
alone, but to each, an hour ago, man
had come stealthily and silently through
, the darkness, and each was richer by a
bag of gold than he had been before.
The gold was Osra's. How should poor
student, whose whole fortune was two
horses, scatter bags Of gold? And Other
gold Osra had-aye, 500 crowns. Would
: not that be brave surprise for the poor
student? And she alone, of all awake,
stood looking round her room, entranced
with the last aspect of it.
Over the city also she looked, but i'll
D the selfishness Of her joy did no more
than kiss hasty farewell to the good
CITY folk who loved her. Once She
9 thought that maybe some day he ano
she would steal together back to Strel,
sau, and, sheltered by some disguise,
I watch the king ride in splendor through
the streets. But if not-why, what was
Strelsau and the people and the rest
Alb, how long the hours were before
o those two hcrses stood by the little gate
Q and the sentry and the gate wardel
earned their bags of gold! So she passe(
: the hours, the last long, lingering hours
There was little tavern buried IL
# the narrowest, oldest street of the city
Here the poor student had lodged. Here
II in the back room man sat at a table
and two others stood before him. Thes'
n two seemed gentlemen, and their al
Is spoke of military training. They stroke(
long mustaches and smiled with al
a amusement that Difference could no
4 hide. Both were booted and wore spurs
and the man sitting at the table CAV
rs them orders.
a "You will meet the embassy" h
said to one, "about 10 O'Clock. Bring i
to the place 1 have appointed and wal
,e there. Do not fail
The officer addressed bowed and re
h tired. A minute later his horses hoof
clattered through the streets. Perhap
10 he also had bag of gold, for the gat
I'd warden opened the western gate TO
him, and lie rode at gallop along tn
at river banks till he reached the grea
woods that stretched to within ten mile
is of Strelsau.
can hour after we are gone" sal
a the man at the table to the other officer
ego warily, find one of the kings sery
id ants and give him the letter. Give n
account of how you came by it and sa
ID nothing of who you are. All that
necessary is i'll the letter When yo
II have given it, return here and renal
ct in close hiding till you hear from m
w sgain.
" The second officer bowed. The man a
o the table lose and went out into tn
to street. He took his way to where tn
on palace rose and then skirted along til
as wall of its gardens till he came to til
90 little gate. Here stood two horses, an
he at their heads man.
n cit is well You can go, said til
he student. And he was left alone with tt
ly horses. They We're good horses for
RS student to possess. The thought perhal
it, crossed their owner S mind, for he laugl
fe ed snftly as he looked at them. Then
in also fell to thinking that the hours we
long, and a fear came suddenly upe
lie. him that she would not come. 1t w;
ce in these last hours that doubts crept II
d. and she was not there TO drive the
ad away Would the great trial fail? Won
he she shrink at the last? But he won
in not think it of her. And he was smiliI
ng again, when the clock of the cathedr
ed struck and told him that no more tn;
sr- ore bcur now parted her from him, f
she would come. The princess won
come to him, the student, led by t