The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-10-29

When ne saso her, he stood IN astontsh
11lent.
his sword to the ground. IT pray You
madam, leave me alone to die, for
cannot tear myself from the world q
long as I see your face" And as b
spoke he knelt on one knee, as thousl
he were doing homage to her. so vs.
The princess caught alta bough Of tn
tree under which she stood and pullet
the bough down SO, that Its leaves hal
hid her face. and. the marquis saw littl,
more than. her eyes from among the 70
liage., And thus being better able X
speak to him she said softly:
"And dare you die unforgiven?''
II had prayed for forgiveness before
you found me, madam" said be.
"Of heaven, my lordg' "A -,......,
"Of heaven, madam, for Of heaven
dare to ask it,
The Dough swayed up and down, and
now Osra's cleaning hair and now hel
check and always her eyes were seer
through the leaves. And presently the
marquis heard voice asking:
"Does heaven forgive unasked7"
"Indeed, no." said he, wondering.
"And," said she, are we poor NOR.
tails kinder than heaven?"
The marquis rose and took step OF
two toward where the bough swayed up
and down and then knelt again.
"A great sinner said he, cannot
believe himself forgiven.
"Then he wrongs the power Of whom
he seeks forgiveness, for forgiveness is
divine"
"Then Twill ask it, and If obtain 1t
shall die happy
Again the bough swayed, and Osra
said:
Nay, if you will die you may die
unforgiven."
NJ. do Merosailles, hearing these
words, sprang to his feet and came to.
ward the bough until he was so close
that he touched the green leaves, and
through them the eyes Of Osra CLEANED,
and the suns rays struck on her eyes,
and they danced in the sun, and her
cheeks were Redeemed by the same or
some other cause. And the evening was
very still and there seemed no sounds
In the forest.
II cannot believe that you forgive,
the crime is 30 great, +" said he.
ut was great, yet forgive
II cannot belieyeit, said he again,
and he looked at the point Of his sword,
and then he looked through the leaves
at the princess.
II can do no more than say that if
you will live l will forgive, and we
will forget.
by heaven, no." he whispered. "If
1 must forget to be forgiven then Twill
remember and be unforgiven.
The faintest laugh reached him from
among the foliage.
"Then I will forget and you shall be
forgiven, said she.
The marquis put up his hand and
held leaf aside, and he said again:
II cannot believe myself forgiven Is
there no other token Of forgiveness"
pray, my lord, do not put the leaves
aside
II still must die unless have sure
warrant Of forgiveness.
"Ah, you try to make me think that. "
"By heavens it is true" And again
he pointed his sword ct his heart, and
he swore on his honor that unless she
gave him token he would kill himself.
"Oh," said the princess with great
petulance, II wish I had not come.
"Thon l should have been dead by
now-dead, unforgiven.
"But you will still die"
Eyes, must still die, unless
"Sheathe your sword, my lord The
sun strikes it, and it dazzles my eyes. "
"That cannot be, for your eyes are
brighter than sun and sword together.
"Then I must shade them with the
leaves
"Yes, shade them with the leaves"
he whispered. MADAM, is there no to-
ken of forgiveness?'', '''
An absolute silence followed for a
little while. Then Osra said
Why did you swear on your honor?"
Because it is an oath that I cannot
break
Indeed Iwish that had not come"
sighed Princess Osra.
Again came silence. The bough was
pressed down for an instant, then it
swayed swiftly UP again, and its leaves
brushed the cheek of M. de Merosailles.
And he laughed loud and joyfully.
Something touched my cheek" said
be-.
ut must have been a Leaf" said
Princess Osra
"Ah, leafl'
II think SO, said Princess Osra.
Then 1t yes a leaf of tho. tree Of
life, said M. de Merosailles.
II wish some one would set me on my
lorse," said Osra.
"That you may ride back to the cas-
Eyes, unless you would relieve my
'rother's anxiety"
ut would be courteous to do that
nuch," said the marquis.
So they mounted and rode back
through the forest In an hour the prin.
ess had come, and in the space Of some.
hing over two hours they returned, yet
Turing all this time they spoke hardly
word and although the sun was now
ct yet the glow remained on the face
nd in the eyes Of Princess Osra, while
4. de Merosailles being forgiven, rode
With smile on his lips
But when they came to the castle
'rince Rudolf ran out to meet them,
nd he cried almost before he reached
hem: l.
= Hastent Hasteni There lie not mo.
lent to lose if the marquis values life
! liberty" And when he came to them
9; told them that q waiting woman had
cen false tn NJ de Merosailles and