Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1898-08-20
COPYRIGHT. 1897 er a X HAWKINS }

pllShmcntS@ DE 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 Nj. de Merosailles-for such /
was his name-most graciously and /
sent guard of honor to conduct him TO I
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 irl<sorne and
was glad of the society of a friend with
whom he could talk and sport and play
at cards. All these things he did with
M. de Necessities, and a great friend
ship arose between the young men, so
that they spoke very freely to one an
other at ali 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 NJ. de Merosailles made bold to
ask the prince how it fell out that his
sister the princess, a lady of such great
beauty, seemed sad and showed no
DACdcQkC III tAC cOCAtNN III any AOnlAt-
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 "On my honor, doubt if she
so much as knows you are here, for she
has not looked at you once since your
AID l,r 1oI ,ol, f.t,
for he knew that the marquis was not
accustomed TO be neglected by ladies
and would take it i'll that even a prin-
cess should be unconscious of his pres
ence. In this he calculated rightly, for
M. de Mercsailles was greatly vexed,
and, twisting his glass in his fingers, he
said:
eff she were not princess and your
sister, sir, 1 would engage to make her
look Mt me. -
Il 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 alsb very
merry and knowing that Rudolf had
less regard for his dignity than a prince
should have, threw out carelessly:
"a kiss is more, sir. ~
cit is great deal more. " laughed
the prince, Juggling his mustache.
Are you ready for a wager, sit?'
asked NJ. de Merosailles, leaning across
the table toward him.
"I'n lay You 1000 crowns TO 100
that you do not gain kiss using what
means you viii save force.
"I'n take the wager. SIR cried the
marquis, ''but it shall be three, not
oner'
"Have, a care,'' said the prince.
Don't go too near the fame, my lord
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 Co win
my wager. 1t is to be three, then, and
by what means viii save force?''
even so, said Rudolf, and he
laughed again, for he thought the
wager harmless, since by no means
could Nj. de Merosaillcs win so much as
one kiss from the Princess Osra, and
the wager stood at three. But he die
not think how he wronged his sister by
using her name lightly, being in al
such matters a man OF careless mind.
But the marquis, having made hi
wager, set himself steadily to win it
for he brought forth the choicest clothes
from his wardrobe and ornaments anC
perfumes, and he laid fine presents a
the princess feet, and he Waylaid he
wherever she went and was profuse o
chances signs and hints, and he wrot1
sonnets as fine gentlemen used to do il
those days, and lyrics and pastorals
wherein she figured under charmin,
names. These he bribed the princess
waiting women to leave in their mis-
tress' chamber. Moreover, he lookea
now sorrowful, now passionate, and b
ate nothing at dinner, but drank his win
In wild gulps as though he sought &
Danish sadness
So that, in a word, there was no dc
vice in Cupid's armory that the Marqui
de Merosailles did not practice in tn
endeavor to win a look from the Prin
cess Osra. But no look came and he &c
nothing from her but cold civility. Ye
she had looked at him when he locke
not-for princesses are much like othe
maidens-and thought him a yer
pretty gentleman and was highl
amused by his extravaganza, yet st
did not believe it to witness any trU
devotion to her, but thought it mel
gallantry.
Then one day M. de Merosaille
having tried all else that he could thin
of, took to his bed. he sent for phi.
stefan and paid him high fee to fin
the seeds of a rapid and fatal disease
him, and he made his body servaI
whiten his face and darken the room
and he groaned very pitifully, sayiI
that he was sick and that he was gls
of it, for death would be better far ths
the continued disdain of the Prince
Ora- And all this, being told by Il
marquis servants to the princess wal
ing women, reached Osra's ears al
caused her much perturbation, for 81
now perceived that the passion of IL
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