The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1898-04-19


sneoze, and by this sound tho priest also
was awakened. Osra came forward and
stood between them The miller looked
at her and tilted his red cap forward in
order that he might scratch his head.
Then he looked across to the priest and
said
ut is she, father. She has como"
The priest rubbed his hands together
and smiled uncomfortable.
''Wc waited two hours" said he,
glancing at the clock "See, it is 3
o'clock now"
II am sorry you waited SO long,"
said Osra, "but l could not come be-
fore. And-and now that am como |
cannot But here she paused in great
distress and confusion, not knowing
how to break her sad tidings to the mill
er of Hofbau.
The miller drew his legs up under his
chair and regarded Osra with grave
air.
You should have been here at II. +"
said he. Il went to tho church at II,
and the priest was there, and my cous-
In Hans to act as my groom, and my
cousin Gertrude to be your maid And
there we waited hard on two hours, and
you did not come"
II am very sorry" pleaded Princess
Osra, and the king laughed low to him
self behind tho water butt, being much
amused at her distress and her humility.
And now that you arc come" pur-
sued the miller, scratching his head
again, Il do not know what wo are to
do" And he looked again at the priest,
seeking counsel
At this the Princess Osra, thinking
that an opportunity had come, took the
purse of 600 crowns from under her
cloak a. laid it on tho table.
What is this?" said the miller, for
the iirst timo showing some eagcrncss.
"They arc for you," said Osra, and
she watched him while he unfasteued
the purse. Then he poured the crowns
out on tho table and counted them one
by one till he had told all tho 600.
Then he raised his hands above his
head, let them fall again, sighed slight
ly and looked across at the priest.
II warned you not to bo in such q
hurry, friend miller remarked the
priest.
II waited two hours" said the mill
er plaintively, land you know that she
Is handy wench and very fond Of me. {"
And he began to gather up the crowns
and return them to the purse.
II trust l am handy wench, " said
Osra, smiling, yet still very nervous,
land indeed l have great regard for
tho miller, butt
May, he does not mean you, inter
rupted the priest.
"Six hundred" sighed tho miller
land Gertrude has but 200 Still, sho
is handy wcnch and very sturdy.
doubt if you could lift sack by your
self as she can" And he looked doubt
fully at Osra's slender figure
Il do not know why you talk of Cor
trude, said tho princess petulantly.
"What is Gertrude to me?"
why, take 1T that she is nothing
at all to you, answered tho priest,
folding his hands on his lap and smiling
placidly. Still, for my part bado
him wait little longer"
/ waited two hours" said tho mill =
er, land Gertrude urged mo, saying
that you would not como and that she
would look after me better than YOU
being one of the family, and she said
that it was hard that she should have
no husband while her own cousin mar.
ried stranger, aud since it was all the
samo to me, provided got n handy and
sturdy wcnch'-
"What?" cried tho Princess Osra,
and tho king was so intcrcstcd d that he
rose up from behind the water butt and,
leaning his elbows on tho window sill,
looked in and saw all that happened
1T being" pursued tho millor of
Hofbau, "all the same to me so that
got what | wanted-why, whCn you did
not cOme''-
EIo married his cousin" said the
priest
a sudden loud burst of laughter camc
round. but the king dnckcd his head
and crouched again behind the water
butt before they saw him.
"Who was that cricn nc priest.
"a lad that came TO held my horse, -
answered Osra hastily, and then sh,
turned ficrcely on the miller.
"And that" she said, "was all you
wanted? | thought yon loved mo- -
"Ayo, liked you very well, - sait
} the miller. "You arc handy a
stamp Of her foot drowned tho rest
but you should have como in time, y
} he went on.
"And this Gertrude, is she prctty?'
} demanded Osra.
Gertrude IS well enough" said The
} miller, "but she has only 200 crowns >
And he put the purse, now full again
Oh tho table, with resigned sigh.
And you shall havo no morcl' criet
Osra, snatching up her purse in grca
rage. "And you and Gertrude may
"What Of Gcrtrude?" came at thi
moment from tho door Of the room
where the sacks were. Tho princes
} turned round swift as tho wind and saw
IL the doorway short and very broad
Girl, with very wide face and strag
Cling hair. The girls nose was very
fiat and her eyes were small, but he
great mouth smiled good humoredly
and as the prinooss !aolsed sha Lot ali,