The age-herald., 1897-08-15
fcopvrigbt. 1897. by tho Author.l

 Ludwig, prince of Glottenberg, came counting the Princess Osra, for his fla ther had sought the most beautiful lady of a royal house in Europe and had found none to equal Osra. Therefore the prince came to Strelsau with great retinue and was lodged in the White palace, which stood on the out skirts of the city where the public gar dens now are, for the palace itself was sacked and burned by the people in the rising of 164S. Here Ludwig staid many days, coming every day to the king's palace to pay his respects to the king and queen and to make his court to the princess. King Rudolf had re- ceiyed him with the utmost friendship and was, for reasons of state then of great moment, but now of vanished in terest, as eager for the match as was the king of Glottenberg himself, and he grew very impatient with his sister when she hesitated to accept Ludwig's hand, alleging that she felt for him no more than kindly esteem, and, what was as much to the purpose, that he felt no more for her, for, although the prince possessed most courteous and winning manners and was very accom- plished both in learning and ill exer- cises, yet he was grave and pensive young man, rather stately than jovial, and seemed i'll the princess eyes (accus- toned as they were to catch and check ardent glances) to perform his wooing more as duty of his station than on &l,< leo # .,, herself also no such sweet ashamed emotions as had before now crossed her heart on account of lesser men, she grew grave and troubled, and she said to the king:
 Brother is this love? For had as lief he were away as here, and when he is here and kisses my hand as though it were statues hand, and-I feel as though it were They say you know what love is. Is this love?
 "There are many forms of love- smiled the king. "This is such love as a prince and princess may most prop erly feel. '"
 T do not call it love at all, '" said Osra with A pout
 When Prince Ludwig came next day to see her and told her with grave cour- tesy that his pleasure lay in doing her will, she broke out:
 ''I had rather it lay in watching my face," and then, ashamed, she turned away from him.
 He seemed grieved and hurt at her words, and it was with sigh that he said, My life shall be given to giving you joy"
 She turned round on him with flush ed cheek and trembling lips.
 "Yes, but I had rather it were spent in getting joy from me. "
 He cast down his eyes for a moment nnd then, taking her hand, kissed it. but she drew it away sharply, and so that afternoon they parted, he back to his palace, she to her chamber, where she sat asking again, ''Is this love?' aud crying, He docs not know love-" and pausing now and again before her mirror to ask her pictured face why it would not unlock the door of love-
 On another day she would be merry Br feign merriment, rallying him on his somber air and formal compliments, protesting that for her part she soon grew weary of such wooing and loved to be easy and merry, for thus she hoped to sting him, so that he would either tIisc1ose more warmth or forsake alto gether his pursuits But he made many apologies blaming nature that had mado him grave, but assuring her of his deep affection and respect.
 Affection and respectl' murmured N % H., l,...l "Oh, that I had not been born prin- cessr And yet, though she did not love him, she thought him a very noble gen. tlelnan and trusted to his honor and sincerity in everything. Therefore when he still persisted and Rudolf and the queen urged her, telling her (the king mockingly, the queen with a touch of sadness) that she must not look to find in this world such love as romantic girls dreamed of, at last she yielded, and she told her brother that she would marry Prince Ludwig, yet for little while she would not have the news pro- claimed So Rudolf went. alone and privately, to the White palace and said to Ludwig:
 Cousin. you have won the fairest lady in the world. Behold, her brother says itl''
 Prince Ludwig bowed low, and talk ing the kings hand pressed it, thanking him for his help and approval and ex- pressing himself as most grateful for the boon of the princess favor.
 And will you not come with me and find herr" cried the king, with a merry lcok.
 II have urgent business now," an swered Ludwig. Beg the princess to forgive me. This afternoon I will crave the honor of waiting on her with my humble gratitude. i"
 King Rudolf looked at him, smile curling on his lips, and he said in one of his gusts of impatience:
 By heaven, is there another man in the world who would talk of gratitude and business and the afternoon when Osra of Strelsau sat waiting for him?"
 T mean no discourtesy," protested Ludwig, taking the kings arm and l. frta l l1xv