The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-10-28

UAOl40A "a hASA At4AAA tsAAN 6AV1V Rs1oS
siops and endowed with many accom-
plishmenta He came to visit Prince
Rudolf, whose. acquaintance he had
made while the prince was at Paris in
the course Of his travels. King Henry
received N. de Merosailles-for such
WAS his name-most graciously and
sent q guard of honor to conduct him to
the castle Of Zenda where the prince
was then staying in company with his
sister Osra. There the marquis on his
arrival was greeted with much joy by
Prince Rudolf, who found his sojourn
in the country somewhat .irksome and
was glad Of the society Of friend with
whom he could talk and sport and play
OF cards. All these things he did with
N. do Merosailles, and great friend
ship arose between the young men, SO
that they spoke very freely to one an.
other at all times, and most Of all when
they had drunk their wine and sat to-
gether in the evening in Prince Rudolf
chamber that looked across the moat to-
ward the gardens, for the new chateau
that now stands on the site Of these
gardens was not then built. And one
night M. de Merosailles made bold to
ask the prince how it fell out that his
sister the princess, lady Of such great
beauty, seemed sad and showed no
pleasure In the society Of any gentle
man, but treated all alike with GOODNESS
and disdain. Prince Rudolf, laughing,
answered that girls were strange crea-
lures and that he had ceased to trouble
his head about them-of his heart he
said nothing-and he finished by ex.
claiming, ION my honor, I doubt il she
10 much as knows you are here for she
has not looked at you once since your
arrival" And he smiled maliciously,
for he knew that the marquis was not
accustomed to be neglected by ladies
and would take 1t i'll that even prin-
cess should be unconscious Of his pres.
ence. In this he calculated rightly, for
M. de Merosailles was greatly vexed,
md, twisting his glass in his fingers, he
said:
IF she we're not princess and your
sister, sir, would engage to make her
look at mo-"
II am not hurt by her looking at
you" rejoined the prince, for that even
ing he was very merry. "A look is no
great thing"
And the marquis. being also very
merry and knowing that Rudolf had
less regard for his dignity than prince
should have, threw out oarelessly:
IA kiss Is more, sir.
ut is great deal more" laughed
the prince, Juggling his mustache.
"Are you ready for o wager, sir2"
asked M. de Merosailles, leaning across
the table toward him.
"I'll lay you 1000 crowns to 100
that you do not gain kiss, using what
means you will save force
"I'll take the wager, sir" cried the
marquis. "but 1t shall be three. not
opel"
"Have . care" said the prince
Don't 60 too near the fame, my lordI
There are some wings in Strelsau singed
at that CANDLE
Indeed the light is very bright, /"
assented the marquis courteously, THAT
risk must run, though, If am to win
my wager. 1t is to be three, then, and
by what means will save force1"
even So" said Rudolf, and he
laughed again, for he thought the
wager harmless, since by no means
could IA. do Merosailles win so much as
one kiss from the Princess Osra, and
the wager stood at three But he did
not think how he wronged his sister by
using her name lightly, being In all
such matters man Of careless mind.
But the marquis, having made his
wager. set himself steadily to win it,
for no brought forth the choicest clothes
from his wardrobe and ornaments and
perfumes, and he laid fine presents at
the princess feet. and he waylaid her
Wherever she went and was profuse Of
glanees, signs and hints and he wrote
sonnets as fine gentlemen used to do in
those days, and lyrics and pastorals,
wherein she figured under charming
namcs These he bribed the princess
waiting women to leave in their mis-.
tress' chamber. Moreover. he looked
now sorrowful, now passionate. and he
ate nothing at dinner, but drank his wine
In wild gulps as though be sought to
Danish sadness
So that, In a word, there was no de-
vice in Cupid'a armory that the Marquis
do Merosailles did not practice in the
endoavor to win look from the Prin.
cess Osra. But no look came and he got
nothing from her but cold civility Yet
she had looked at him when he looked
not-for prinoesses are much like other
maidens-And thought him very
pretty gentleman and was highly
amused by his extravaganza, yet she
did net believe it to witness any true
devotion to her. but thought 1t mere
gallantry,
Taen one day NJ. do Mernsailles.
having tried all else that he could think
G., took to his bed. He sent for ply.
stefan and paid him a high fee to tlnd
tho seeds of u rapid and fatal disease In
him, and he made his body servant
whiten his face and darken the room,
snd no groaned very pitifully. saying
that he was sick and that he was glad
Of 1t, for death would b. bstter far than
the continued disdain OF the Princess
Ora And all this, being told by the
marquis servants to the princess wait.
ing women, reached Osra's cars and
caused her much perturbation. for she
now perceived that tho passion Of the
marquis was real and deep, and she be.
came very sorry for him, and the longer
the face Of the rascaliy physician grew
tho more sad the princess became, and
she walked up and down. bswailing tho
terrible effoots Of her beauty, wishing
that she wero not SO fair and mourning
very tsnderly for the sud plight of the
unhappy marquis Through all Prince
Rudolf looked on, but was hound by his
wager not to undeceive her. Moreover,
hs found much entertainment in the
matter and swors that 1t wac worth
three times 1000 crowns.
Az last the marquis sent, by the
n,ou1b Of the physician, a very humble
and pitiful message to the princess, in
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