The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1897-10-02
at am on watch. madam" said Lord

IT am ON watch, madam, " said Lord
Harry Culverhouse.
As the princess sat up the ruby neck
lace fell FROM her neck into her lap.
Seeing it, she held it up TO him, saying:
Take it again and go to your w
home. | am sure you gave too great a
price for it,"
He smiled, for she did not know how
great the price was, and he asked:
"And must /, in my turn, give back
the pin that fastened your hair?"
"No; keep the pin. 1t is worth moth
ing, she smiled. SIS it safe for me to
20 to sleep for a little longer?:"
who would harm you, madam?
Even / have not harmed you"
"You!" said she, with a little laugh.
"You would not harm me. And she
lay down and closed her eyes.
Then Lord Harry C%ulverhouse sat
down on the ground and rested his
chin ON his knees and clasped his hands
about his shins, and he cursed himself
bitterly, not now because he meditated
any harm to her-for his mad fury was
past and he would have died before a
hair of her head should be hurt-but
because of the evil that his wild and
reckless madness had brought upon her.
For he knew that soon there would be
a pursuit, and that if she and he were
found there it would become known
who he was, and her fame would suffer
injurious rumors by reason of what he
had done. Therefore he made up his
mind what he must do next, and he
abandoned all dreams that had led him
into the foolish adventure on which he
had embarked and put from him the
wickedness that had filled his heart
when first he carried her to the bluff
over the river. And he rose on to his
knees and prayed that if his deed were
a sin-for it seemed TO him rather a
necessary thing-then it might be for
given, but that, in any case, no hurt
or harm should befall the Princess
Osra by reason of anything that he had
done. Finally he commended his soul
to God. And then he took the ruby
necklace in his hand, and, holding it,
walked to the edge of the bluff.
But at this instant the sound of the
hoofs of a horse struck ON his ear, and
the sound was loud and close, and he
had no more time than to turn round
before a horse was refined in suddenly
near him, and a man leaped from it and
ran at him and grappled with him. And
then Lord Harry perceived that the man
was the king, for when Osra did not
return search parties had been sent out,
and the king himself headed one, and,
having the best horse and being urged
OH by love and fear for his sister, he
had outridden all the rest and had
CHANGED to come alone where Osra and
Lord Harry were. And he gripped Lord
Harry ~furiously, cursing him for a
s%coundrel and demanding what he had
done to the princess. Then Lord Harry
said:
"Do you not know me, sire? l am
Lord Harry Culverhouse."
Greatly astonished, the king loosed
his hold and fell back a pace, for he
did not understand what he heard, but
yet knew the voice of his friend. Then,
looking down, he beheld Osra sleeping
peacefully as a child on the ground,
with her cloak spread under her that
she might take no harm from the damp.
And Lord Harry caught him by the
arm, crying, "Are there others coming
after you?'
AYE" said the king, many others.
The whole of the guard are reused and
seek her high and low in the city and
outside. But how come you here, man?''
Then Lord Harry told the king what
he had done, speaking very briefly and
hastily, but yet sparing nothing, and
when he told him how he had carried
off the princess the kings hand flew to
the hilt of his sword. But Lord Harry
said, "Not yet" and continued to tell
the king how Osra had pitied him and
how he had watched by her and how
she had 81 IT again, bidding him keep
the pin. Then, glancing at Osra, he
lowered his voice and spoke very quickly
and urgently, and the king held out his
hand and shook Lord Harry's hand,
asking, lis there no other way?" But
Lord Harry shook his head, then he
kissed the kings hand, and next he
went and kissed Osra's hand very softly
and looked for the last time ON her
face, and he drew the golden pin from
his purse and he put it gently and deft-
ly among her hair. And he took the
ruby necklace in his own hand and
clinohed it tight, and he said to King
Rudolf:
Sire, there are some in the city that
knew me before, but have not known me
since 1 have been in your guard, because
I have altered my face. Take care that
you so alter it that they do not know me
again."
Then the kings breath caught in his
throat, for he had loved Lord Harry
Culverhouse, and he asked again, sis
there no other way?'
"Harkr' said the other. ~ hear the
horses of your guard drawing near. ]
hear them to east and west and north,
and do you not see shapes riding there
to the south, across the river? If l ride
from here alive, l shall be taken and the
truth must he known. For my sake ant
hers, strike, sire"
Then the king took Lord Harry Cul.
verhouse by the arm and drew him tc
him, saying:
Must it be SO, Harry? And we have
lived as friends together"
"The sound of the hoofs is very neal
sire"
The king drew himself up to hi
height and he raised his hat from hi
head and bowed low to Lord Harry Cul
%verhouse, and he said:
srNOyp prni sa ha IN Cod for +bo raStoro