Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1898-08-20
THE WAGER OF THE
Marquis De MerOSailleS

Continued from Bird psge)


'It was great, yet forgive.
ct cannot believe it, said he again,
and he looked at the point of his sword, |
and then he looked through the leaves
at the princess.
81 can do no more than say that if |
you will live will forgive, and we
will forget
"By heaven, nc" he whispered. IF |
1 must forget to be forgiven then will |
remember and be unforgiven.
The faintest laugh reached him from
among the foliage.
''Then will forget, and You shall be
forgiven, said she.
The marquis put up his hand and
held leaf aside, and he said again:
81 cannot believe myself forgiven Is
there no other token of forgiveness?''
PRAY, my lord, do not put the leaves
aside"
II still must die unless have sure
warrant of forgiveness.
"Ah, you try to make me think that. !"
''By heavens, it is true" And again
he pointed his sword at his heart, and
he swore on his honor that unless she
gave him token he would kill himself
"Oh," said the princess with great
petulance, II wish had not come. "
''Then 1 should have been dead by
now-dead, unforgiven."
'But you will still die"
eyes, / must still die, unless
'Sheathe your sword, my lord The
sun strikes it, and it dazzles my eyes"
THAT cannot be, for your eyes are
brighter than sun and sword together. "
'Then 1 must shade them with the
leaves
eyes, shade them with the leaves, !"
he whispered Madam, is there no to-
ken of forgiveness?'
An absolute silence followed for a
little while. Then Osra said:
"Why did you swear on your honor?''
Because it is an oath that cannot
break"
Indeed 1 wish that had not come, -
sighed Princess Osra-
Again came silence. The bough was
pressed down for an instant, then il
swayed swiftly up again, and its leaves
brushed the cheek of NJ. de Merosailles.
And he laughed loud and joyfully.
Something touched my cheek, " said
he.
cit must have been a Leaf" said
Princess Osra.
"Ah, leafr'
81 think So" said Princess OsraA
"Then it was a leaf of the tree Of
life, said NJ de Merosailles.
at wish some one would set me ON my
, horse" said Osra.
"That you may ride back to the cas-
I tle--alone?''
2 Eyes, unless you would relieve m,
. brothers anxiety"
at would be courteous TO do tina
much, said the marquis
So they mounted and rode bacl
|, through the forest. In an hour the prin
cess had come, and in the space of some
thing over two hours they returned, We
Q during all this time they spoke hardl.
word, and although the sun was nov
s set yet the glow remained on the fac
t and in the eyes of Princess Osra, Will
8 NJ. de Merosailles, being forgiven, rod
with a smile on his lips.
y But when they came to the castl
q Prince Rudolf ran out to meet them
q and he cried almost before he reache
Is them:
e "Hasteni Hastenl There is not a mS
II ment to lose if the marquis values liz
a or liberty" And when he came TO ther
he told them that a waiting woman la
r been false TO M. de Merosailles, anC
g after taking his money, had hid herse
in his chamber and seen the first XII
J. that the princess gave him, and havin
e made some pretext to gain a holida
y had gone to the king, who was huntin
near, and betrayed the whole matter
"A him.
r And one OF my gentlemen, he col
IL tinued, has ridden here to tell me.
nn hour the guards will be here and
3 the king catches you, my lord, you wi
ID hang as sure as live. "
The princess turned very pale, bl
IN ~ de Merosailles said haughtily,
o. ask your pardon, sir, but the king dar
&C not hang me, for / am a gentleman al
~ = subject of the king Of France.
n "'Man, man." cried Rudolf, "tl
vi hon will hang you first and think
Ill that afterward. Come now, it
dusk You shall dress yourself as n
groom, and will ride to the frontie
and you shall ride behind me, and tn
you may get safe away. l cannot ha
you hanged over such a trifle. "
'r- 81 would have given my life willin
1y for what you call trifie, sir" sa
the marquis with bow to Osra.
"Then have the trifle and life, too
IL said Rudolf decisively. Come in wi
n me, and will give you your livery. .
al When the prince and M. de Me-
u. sailles came out again on the drawbrids
SO the evening had fallen and it was dan
s: \L.AlIsg! q