Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1898-10-21

the woman held out TO him a box of
red morocco leather, saying, ut is for
you" But he answered, ut is not for
me, and, turning away, left her. And
this happened on three evenings. Then
on the fourth day it was again his turn
to mount guard at the palace, and
when he had sat there on his horse for
an hour the Princess Osra rode out from
under the portico. She rode alone, and
the ruby necklace was on her neck, and
she said
81 am going to ride outside the city
by the river bank. Let a trooper follow
me some way behind" And she signed
with her hand to Lord Harry, and he
rode after her through the streets and
out OF the western gate, and they turned
along the bank of the river. When they
had gone three or four miles from the
city, Osra halted and beckoned the Lord
Harry to approach her, and he came
But when she was about to speak to
him and tell him that she knew him a
sudden and new madness came on to
him, and he seized her bride and dug
his spurs deep into his horses hanks,
and both the horses bounded forward at
gallop. In alarm the princess cried
out, but he did not heed her. Along The
bank they galloped and when they met
any one, which happened seldom for
the place was remote and it was now
evening" he babe her cover her .ce,
ard she obeyed, twining her lace h ,nd-
kerchief over her face. Thus thew rode
till they came at nightfall to a bluff of
rock high above the stream. Here Lord
Harry Suddenly checked the horses.
| flung himself from the saddle and babe
the princess dismount. And she obeved
and stood facing him, pale with fear
and apprehension, but wearing a proud
and scornful air. And he cried
us it not well you should diel For
| you live but to madden men and drive
them to sin and folly"
Nay" said she, Ito men of good
heart beauty leads to goodness FIR m
yourself come the sin and folly. nv
lord" And she laid hold of the ruby
necklace and broke the clasp of it and
flung it on the ground before him, but
he took no heed of it, but seized her hand
and drew her to the edge of the
bluff, saying:
The world will be safer if l fling
you down"
Then she looked in his face, and a
sudden pity entered her heart, and she
said very gently:
"Sit down, my lord, and let me put
|
are in a fever"
And he sat down, all trembling and
| sinking, like a man with ague, and she
stripped off her gauntlets and took his
forehead between her hands, and he lay
there quiet with his head between her
hands. And presently his eyes closed
and he slept. But Osra did not know
what to do, for darkness had fallen and
She dared not leave HIM alone there by
the river. Therefore she sat where she
was, and in an hour the night being.
6ne and not cod, she grew weary, and
her hands fell away from his brow an1
abe sank back on the green turf, pillow
ing hel head on a curved arm, and there
she slept with the mad lord by her and
the ruby necklace lying near them.
At midnight Lord Harry Culverhousa
Awoke and saw Princess Osra sleeping
peacefully with smile on her lips such
as decks child's lips in sleep. He rose
and stood up on his feet, looking at her,
and he heard nothing but the sound of
the horses cropping the grass a little
way off. Then he drew near her and
gazed long on her face, and she opened
her eyes and saw him. But she showed
no fear of him. She smiled at him, and
she said:
even here am guarded by one of
the gentlemen who guard me in the
palace" And she closed her eyes again
sud turned to sleep.
Then shiver ran through him. And
be dug his nails into the palms Of his
hands and, turning, walked swiftly up
and down on the bluff by the side of the
river while Osra slept. And presently
he fell ON his knees beside her and be-
gan to murmur in a rapid rush of words,
but he did not now curse her beauty,
but blessed God for it and blessed him
also for the preservation Of his own
honor Thus he spent the night till day
was near, and then be bent over Osra
and looked once more on her, and he
took up the ruby necklace and laid it
lightly about her neck. And, feeling
the touch of it, cool and wet from the
dew, she again opened her eyes and,
putting her knuckles in them, she rubbed
gently, and she gasped little yawn,
saying, "Heigh no. am sleepy" and
sat up. And she said, care you not
sleepy, my lord?"
az 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 own
home. 1 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 l, in my turn, give back
the pin that fastened your hairP"
| "No; keep the pin. 1t is worth moth
ing" she smiled. sis it safe for me to
go to sleep for a little longer3'
"Who would harm you, MADAME
Even l have not harmed you.
"Youp' said she, with little laugh.
"You would not harm me-" And she
lay down aud closed her eyes.
Then Lord Harry Culverhouse sat
down on the ground and rested his
chin ON his knees ard 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