The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1899-02-03

and mind. with b,ly an Sou"'
The next day thu negotiations were
completed. The Princess Ilsc gave her
forest for Ottmar. and the lords of
Stollber! 'lcpartcd we'll pleased to have
made good bargain. The wound on
Ottmar's temple was well healed, when
Lady Isle, rs they were riding one day,
noticed that it was crossed by another
scar She questioned him about it,
and he told her that he was bondman
of the house of Stollberg. and that he
was commanded to be cudgeler for the
young heirs. 1t was not very pleas
ant position.
1.-The blows which the young lords
deserved fell upon my back" he said,
land the kicks and cuffs which had
to bear from them were rs innumcrable
as the sands of the seashore. Once the
old lord had received present of 4
splendid sword from the abbot. To
test its edge he aimed it at my head.
For days lay unconscious; but one
who is born under life 5 darkest shadow
does not die of the first sword ro.Ne"
Lady liSrs heart bat fist. IL
hope she said. that Your life will
know more of peace and contentment
now"
''Oh, gracious princess. to be here
with YOU is indeed to be i'm paradise;
but the load of misery which | have
borne in the past lies upon me like 4
mountain. and almost cruShes me with
its weight
after Il time You will forget. 1t
will grow better with you,' she sail,
cheerfully.
But it did not grow better with Ott-
mar Every day he looked more sor-
rowful: every day he grew thinner,
and his face looked more haggard. At
last the castellan spoke to Lady Isle
about the matter There is some
thing the matter with Ottmlr, but
none of us know how to help him.
The princess was deeply grieved,
but, feeling that she dare not speak to
Ottmar on the subject just now, she
kept silent. One morning a maid came
running in with the news that Ottmar
was lying on the floor of his room, I'M
conscious, and that no one could revive
him. though they had been trying for
some time.
Lady Use went as if she had wings.
On .he floor lay Ottmar, as pale and
still as if death had claimed him for his
own. \ strange feeling came over
Lady Ilse. as her hand touched the
scar on his brow That strange, mex
plicablc thrill which always passed
over her W hen she looked at the mark
was intensified now that she touched it.
Under Lady Ilses ministrations,
more skilful than those of her servants,
Ottmar revived at last. With Il sigh
he slowly opened his eyes, and looked
wonderingly at Lady Ilse. She spoke
to him soothingly, rs one would speak
to weary child.
"You are i'll, Ottmar, but Will
nurse you well again. You are sad.
but will make you happy. O..ly yo,.
must not dare disobey my orders
Ottmar shook his head.
"Let me die, my lady; it will he
sweet to pass over to that place where
all earthly things are at an end. Very
sweet
Lady Ilse contradicted him decidedly
at is cowardly to wish to die before
your time has come. Besides, you dc
not know how much grief your death
might cause others.
He laughed wildly.
MY death cause grief to others! Tc
whom, wonder? You could easily
get some one else to ride your horses
Besides, my sutirrings are unbearablc'
lyon speak wickedly. Ottmar,
thought that you were happy here will
me-
"Only too happy. Every day see
more clearly how worthless am. Al
my life | have been tormented, and
have borne it as one damned Since
have lived this pleasant life in youl
service, | have found out my true self
found out how full of vain wishes anC
foolish ambition | am. 1t is wild il
lusion," he said, with great bitterness
''every day | realize it more and more
That is what makes my life so worth
less. 1t is the thought of one withou
reason, for | am a bondman.
The princess heard him with a bleed
ing heart.
"What you say may be true, sh'
said ''but have you never thought tina
your death might leave a gap tha
could never be filled in some one:
lift-in minc:" very softly she adde,
this. You do not know, perhaps
what JOY it gives me to see You noun
the horses; you do not know wha
pleasure you have brought into my lone
iv life: for one who stands upon tn
heights of life is often lionel ly-hoy
lonely | will tell You when you ar
we'll again. However, your only dut,
now is to recover your lost strength
and that is my only command for yo