Middletown transcript., 1898-04-23
CONTINUED FROM Last WEEK.
The Indifference Of
The Miller Of HQfbau.
By ANTHONY HOPE.

ssPoor man, he will be half mad with
waiting and with anxiety for me, cried
Osra. 81 must give him another 100
crowns on account Of it." And she add
ed, after pause, 81 pray he may not
take it too much to heart, Rudolf. "
"We must try to prevent him doing
himself any mischief in his despair,
smiled the king.
"Indeed it is a serious matter, y pout-
ed the princess, who thought tne kings
smiles out of place.
"It was not SO when you began it, "
said her brother, and Osra was silent.
Then about half past 2 they came IN
sight of the mill. Now, the king dis
mounted while they were still several
hundred yards away and tied his horse
to tree in clump by the mill. he
made circuit and approached from the
side, and, creeping along the house. hid
himself behind large water butt which
stood just under the window, and from
that spot he could hear what passed IN
side the house, although he could not
see. But Osra rode up to the front OF
the mill, as she had been accustomed to
do. and, getting down from her horse,
walked up to the door. The miller's
cart stood in the yard of the mill, but
the horse was not in the shafts, and nei-
ther the miller nor anybody else was to
be seen about, and the door Of the house
was shut.
"He must be waiting at the church, !"
said she. "But I will look in and make
sure. Indeed, feel half afraid to meet
him." And her heart was beating rap
idly and her face was rather pale as
she walked up to the door, for she fear
ed what the miller might do in the pas
sion of his disappointment on learning
who she was and that she could not be
his wife. 81 hope the 600 crowns will
comfort him." she said as she laid her
hand on the latch Of the door, and she
sighed, her heart being heavy for the
miller, and maybe little heavy also
for the guilt that lay on her conscience
for having deceived him.
Now, when she lifted the latch and
opened the door, the sight that met her
eyes was this: The table was strewn
with the remains Of brave dinner.
Two burnt cut pipes lay beside the
mates. A smaller table was in front OF
the fire. On it stood a very large jug,
entirely empty, but bearing signs OF
having been full not SO long ago, and
on either side Of it, each in an arm
chair, sat the priest of the village and
the miller of Hofbau, and both Of them
were sleeping very contentedly and
snoring somewhat as they slept. The
princess, smitten by remorse at this
spectacle, said softly:
"Poor fellow, he grew weary OF wait
ing and hungry and was compelled tc
take his dinner, and, like the man be
Is, he has entertained the priest and
kept him here SO that no time should be
lost when arrived. Indeed, lam afraid
the poor man loves me very much. Well
miller or lord or prince, they are all the
same. Heighhol Why did deceive
him?'' And she walked up to thu
miller's chair and leaned over the bacl
Of it and lightly touched his red cal
with her fingers, and he put up his hant
and brushed with it as though ht
brushed away fly, but gave no othel
sign of awakening.
Then the king softly called from be
hind the water butt under the window
"Is he there, Osra? Is he there?"
"The poor man has fallen asleep il
| weariness,n she answered. "But tn