Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1897-11-04
"But are found NJ. de Merosatllcs' clothes
IN the cnStle.n

Dut ICG JOUUU III. Qe lHGrOSutltCS' clothes
IN the castle"
and their horses stood at the end of the
bridge, and by the horses stood the
princess.
"Quick, I" said she, ''for peasant
who came in, bringing load of wood
saw troop of men coming over the hill,
and he says they are the kings guard. /"
Mount, mani" cried the prince to
M. de Merosailles, who was now dressed
as groom. Perhaps we can get clear,
or perhaps they will not dare to stop
me-"
But the marquis hesitated little,
for he did not like to run away, and the
princess ran little way forward and,
shading her eyes with her hand, cried
See there! see the CLEAN of steel in
the dark. They have reached the top Of
the hill and are riding down.
Then Prince Rudolf sprang on his
horse, calling again to M. de Nero
sailles: "Quick! Quickl Your life hangs
on it'll"
Then at last the marquis, though he
was most reluctant to depart; was about
to spring on his horse, when the prin-
cess turned and glided back swiftly to
: them. And let it be remembered that
evening had fallen thick and black. She
came to her brother and put out her
hand and grasped his hand and said:
"My lord, I forgive your wrong, and
I thank you for your courtesy, and
wish you farewell"
Prince Rudolf, astonished, gazed al
her without speaking, but she, NOV.
ing very quickly in spite of the dark.
ness, ran to where M. de Merosailles
was about to spring on his horse and
she flung one arm lightly about his
neck and she said:
Farewell, dear brother. God pre-.
serve you. See that no harm comes tc
my good friend M. de Merosailles. .
And she kissed him lightly on the
cheek. Then she suddenly gave loud
cry of dismay, exclaiming: "Alas
what have done? All, what have
done?n And she hid her face in her two
hands.
Prince Rudolf burst into loud, short
laugh, yet he said nothing to his sister,
but again urged the marquis to mount
his horse. And the marquis, who wal
in sad tumult Of triumph and Of woe,
leaped up, and they rode out, and, turn
ing their faces toward the forest, sci
spurs to their horses and vanished al
brealneck speed into the glades Anc
no sooner were they gone than thu
troopers of the kings guard clattered
at canter up to the end of the bridge
where the Princess Osra stood. Blu
when their captain saw the princess b,
drew rein.
"What is your errand, sir2" she ask
ed most coldly and haughtily.
Madam" said the captain, Eve ar,
= ordered to bring the Marquis de Nero
sailles alive or dead into the king
presence, and we have information tina
he is in the castle, unless indeed h,
were one of the horsemen who rod,
away just now.".
The horsemen you saw were m,
brother the prince and his groom, /" sait
Osra. "But if you think that M. d,
Merosailles is in the castle pray searcl
the castle from keep to cellar, and i
you find him carry him to my father 40
cording to your orders"
Then the troopers dismounted in grea
haste and rausacked the castle from keel
to cellar, and they found the clothes o
the marquis and the white powder will
which he had whitened his face, bu
the marquis they did not find. And TIN
captain came again to the princess, VIII,
still stood at the end of the bridge, an,
said:
Madam, he is not in the CASTLE"
Is he not?" said she, and she turnet
away, and, walking to the middle o
the bridge, looked down into the waite
of the moat.
"Was it in truth. the prince,s groom
who rode with him, MADAME asket
the captain. fol'",uin-