Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1897-10-29

"Of heaven, madam, for of heaven
/ dare to ask it.
The bough swayed up and down, and
now Osra's cleaning hair and now her
cheek and always her eyes were seen
through the leaves. And presently the
marquis heard a voice asking:
"Does heaven forgive unasked?'
Indeed, no" said he, wondering.
"And," said She "are we poor NOR
tails kinder than heavenY'
The marquis rose and took a step or
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 will ask it, and if obtain it
shall die happy"
Again the bough swayed, and Osra
said:
NAY, if you will die you may die
unforgiven.
M. de 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.
81 cannot believe that you forgive;
the crime is so great" said he.
1T was great, yet forgive"
81 cannot believe it, >" 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 1 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 1 will forget, and you shall be
forgiven, said she.
The marquis put up his hand and
held leaf aside, and he said again:
81 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 l have sure
warrant of forgiveness. "
"Ah, you try to make me think that. y
"By heavens, it is true" And again
he pointed his sword at 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, ~ wish had not come"
"Then should have been dead by
now-dead, unforgiven.
but you will still die,
Eyes, must still die, unless
"Sheathe your sword, my lord. Tht
sun strikes it, and it dazzles my eyes. :"
"That cannot be, for your eyes are
brighter than sun and sword together.
"Then must shade them with the
leaves. "
eyes, shade them with the leaves, ,
he whispered. Madam, is there no to
ken of forgiveness
An absolute silence followed for {
little while. Then Osra said:
"Why did you swear ON your honor?
Because it is an oath that cannot
break.
Indeed wish that had not come, ;
sighed Princess Osra.
Again came silence. The bough wa
pressed down for an instant, then i
swayed swiftly up again, and its leave
brushed the cheek of NJ. de Merosailles
And he laughed loud and joyfully.
Something touched my cheek, " sale
he.
at must have been Leaf" sale
Princess Osra.
"Ah, a leafr'
81 think so" said Princess Osra.
"Then it was a leaf of the tree o
life, said NJ. de Merosailles
81 wish some one would set me ON m.
horse, said Osra.
"That you may ride back to the cas-
tle-alone?"
eyes unless you would relieve m.
brothers. anxiety"
at would be courteous to do tina
much" said the marquis.
So they mounted and rode bacl
through the forest. In an hour the prin
cess had come and in the space of some
thing over two hours they returned, We
during all this time they spoke hardl,
a word, and although the sun was nov
set yet the glow remained ON the fac,
and in the eyes Of Princess Osra, Will
M. de Merosailles, being forgiven, rod
with a smile ON his lips.
But when they came to the castl
Prince Rudolf ran out to meet them
and he cried almost before he reaches
them:
"HastenI Hastenl There is not mo
ment to lose if the marquis values lif
or liberty" And when he came to then
he told them that waiting woman ha
been false to NJ. de Merosailles, and
after taking his money, had hid hersel
in his chamber and seen the first kis
that the princess gave him, and havin
made some pretext to gain holida,
had gone to the king, who was huntin
near, and betrayed the whole matter t
him.
"And one Of my gentlemen" he con
tinued, "has ridden here to tell me. L
an hour the guards will be here, and
the king catches you, my lord, you viii
hang as sure as live"
The princess turned very pale, bu
M. de Merosailles said haughtily, "
ask your pardon, sir, but the king dare