The age-herald., 1897-08-15


 would suffer you to kill me and me to
 take death at your hands. But neither
 for you nor for me is the blow lawful.
 Let mo speak to the princess. !"
 The bishop still grasped his sword,
 for Osra's face and hand still command
 ed him. But at the instant of his hesi-
 tation, while the temptation was hot in
 him, there came from the couch where
 the lady lay low moan of great pain.
 She flung her arms out and turned,
 grooming, again on her back, and her
 head lay Imply over the side of the couch. The bishops eyes met Ludwig's,
 and with "God forgive mel' he let
 the sword slip back, and, springing across the room, fell on his knees beside
 the couch~ He broke the gold chain
 round his neck and grasped the crucifix
 which it carried ill one hand, while
 with the other he raised the lady y's head,
 praying her to open her eyes, before
 whose closed lids he held the sacred i'm
 age, and he, who had come so near to
 great sin, now prayed softly but fer vently for her life and Gods pity on her, for the frailty her slight form huONcu COu1u uOG NitHSbaHU Vne silOck of this trial
 ''Who is she?" asked the princess But Ludwig's eyes had wandered back to the couch, and he answered only: My God, it will kill her'' "I care not" said Osra. But then came another low moan. 1T care not" said tho princess again. "Ah, she is in great suffering" And her eyes follow | sd the prince's.
 There was silence, save for the lady's low means and the whispered prayers of the bishop of Modenstein. But the
 lady opened her eyes. and in an instant,
 answering the summons, the prince was l by her side, kneeling and holding her l hand very tenderly, and he met glance from the bishop across her prostrate body. The prince bowed his head, and | one sob burst from him. Aa ..t "Leave mo alone with her for a lit
 tie. sir," said the bishop, and the 1 prince, obeying, rose and withdrew iin-, to the bay of the window, while Osra
 stood alone near the door by which sine | had entered. s s- l \ few minutes passed; then Osra saw | the prince return to where the lady was and kneel again beside her, and she saw
 that the bishop was preparing to perform his most sacred and sublime office. The lady's eyes dwelt on him now in peace and restfulness, and held Prince Lud- wigs hand in her small hand. But Os- "a would not kneel She stood upright still, and cold as though she neither saw nor heard anything of what passed. She would not pity nor forgive the woman, even if, as they seemed to think, she lay dying. But sho spoke once, asking in a harsh voice: t,. ''Is there no physician in the house. or nearf''
 ''None, madame," said the prince. The bishop began the office, and Osra stood, dimly hearing tho words of con- fort, peace and hope dimly seeing the smile on the lady's face, for gradually her eyes clouded with tears..s Now her ears seemed to hear nothing save tho sad and piteous sobs that had shaken the girl as she hung about Ludwig's neck. But she strove to drive away her
 softer thoughts, flaming her fury when it burned low and telling herself again of the insult that she had suffered. | Thus she rested till the bishop had per- formed the office But when he had fln- ished it ke rose from his knees and came to where Osra was.
 ''It was your duty," she said. 'sBut l 1t is none of mine"
 ''Ehe will not live an hour, " said he. ''For she had an affection of the heart,
 and this shock has killed her. Indeed, l think she was half dead for grief be-
 fore we came" l ''Who is sbe?" broke again from Os- ra's lips.
 l "Co1ne and hear," and she followed
 him obediently, yet unwillingly, to the
 couch and looked down at the lady. The lady looked at her withwondering eyes,
 and then she smiled faintly, pressing
 the prince's hand and whispering:
 "Yet she is so beautiful, and she
 seemed now wonderfully happy, So that
 they three all watched her aud were en-