The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1898-04-19
The Indifference Of
The Miller Of HOfbau.
Copyright, 1893, by A. H. Hawkins.l
By ANTHONY HOPE.

Copyright, 1893, by A. II. Hawkinsl
There Is swift littlc river running
by the village Of Hofbau, aud ON the
river Is MILL kept in the days cf King
Rudolf III by sturdy fellow WI. lived
thoro all alone. Tho king know him,
having allghted at his house for q draft
OF beer as he rode hunting, and it was
OF him the king spoke when he said to
the queen, There is, believe, but one
man III the country whom Osra could
not move, and that is the miller Of Hof.
bau." But, though he addressed the
queen, it was his sister at whom he
aimed the speech. Tho princess herself
was sitting by, and when she heard the
king she said:
I'm truth, do not desire to move
any man. What but troubles como Of
ttp Yet who is this millor?"
The king told her where the miller
might be found, and he added, IF you
convert him to the love of women, you
shall have the finest bracelet in Strel-
sau."
There is nothing sir, so remote
from my thoughts or desire as to con-
vert your miller" said Osra scornfully
And in this at the moment she spoke
truthfuMy, but being left alone for
some days at the castle of Zenda, which
Is but few miles from Hofbau, she
found time hung very heavy on her
hands. Indeed sho did not know what
to do with herself for WEAKNESS, and SO
Tor this reason and none other at all one
day she ordered her horse End rode off
with single groom into the forest.
Coming as the morning went on to
wide road, she asked the groom where
1t led. "To Hofbau, madame, " no an
swered. ut is not more than a mile
farther on.
Osra waited for few moments. Then
she said: II will ride on and SEQ the
village, for ] have byen told that it is
pretty Wait here till l return =" And
She rode on, smiling little and with
delicate tint Of color in her cheeks.
Before long she saw the river and the
mill on the river, and, coming to the
mill, she saw the miller sitting before
his door, smoking a long pipe, and she
called out to him, asking him to sell
her glass of milk
You can have it for tho asking" "
said tho miller. He was q good looking,
fair fellow and wore scarlet cap.
There is pail Of it just inside the
door behind me. >" Yet he did not rise.
but lay there, lolling luxuriously in the
sun For he did not know Osra, never
having been to Str2 !Sau III his life and
to Zenda three or four times only, and
that when the princess was not there.
Moreover-though this, as must be al
lowed, Is not to the purpose--he had
sworn never again to go so far afield.
Being answered in this manner and
at the same time desiring the milk, the
princess lad no choice but to dismount.
Ihls sho did and passed by the miller
pauslng moment to look at him with
bright, curious eyes that flashed from
under the brim Of her wide trimmed
feathered hat, but the miller blinked
lazily up at the sun and took no heed of
her.
Osra passed on, found the pail, pour.
ed out cup of milk and drank it.
Then, rcfilling the cup, she carried it
to the miller
Will you not have somep" said she,
with u smile.
II was too lazy to get it," said the
miller, and he held out his hand, but
did not otherwise change his position.
Osra's brow was puckered and her
check flushed as she lnclt down, hold
ing tho cup Of milk so that the miller
could reach it. EIe took and drained it,
gave it back to her and put his pipe in
his mouth again. Osra sat down by
him and watched him. He puffed and
bllnked away, never SO much as looking
at her.
What have you for dinncr?" asked
she presently.
"a piece Of cold pie, said he
There s enough for two if you're hun
Cry"
Would you not like it better hot?"
"Oh, aye. but cannot weary myself
with heating itl''
II will heat it," said the princess,
and, rising, she went into the house and