The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1905-08-11

THE FLIGHT OF THE PRINCESS.

news and bid you to Mittwalden My throne has
faengreat was the fall of it and your good friends
OF the Phoenix bear the rule.
The red-faced miller looked supreme astonlshment
and your HighnesS? he gasped.
My Highness is running away, replied Otto straight
for the frontier
Leaving GruneWald? cried the man. Y our father S
son? It's not to be permitted!
DO you arrest us, friend? asked Otto smiling.
Arrest you? L? exclaimed the man. For what
does your Highness take me? Why, sir | make
there is not In GruneWald would lay hands upon
you
%, many many, said the Prince but from you,
who were bold with me in my greatness, should even
look for aid in my Distress.
The miller became the colour of beetroo You may
say SO indeed, said he. And meanwhile will you and
your lady step into my house?
We have not time for that, replied the Prince; but
if you will obige with cup of wine without here,
you will give pleasure and service, both in one.
The miller once cooured to the nape. He hast
ened to bring forth wine in pitcher and three bright
crystal tumbers. Your HghneSs must not suppose,
he said, as he filled them, that | am an habltual
drinker. The time when | had the misfortue to en-
counter YOU | trie overtaken, allow; but
more sober man than am IN my ordinary, 90 not
know where you are to look for and even this glass
that drink to you and to the LADY, quite an unusual
recreation.
then refusing further hospitality Otto and Serephina
once more proceeded to decend the glen, which now
began to open and to be invaded by the taller trees,
i owed that man reparation, said the Prince; for
upon him. Judge by myself, perhaps; but begin to
think that no one is the betrer for humiliation
But some have to be taught so, she replied
Well WE'LL he said, with painful embarrassment.
We'll well. But let us think of safety. My miller is
all very good, but do not pin my faith to him. To
follow down this stream will bring u.s. but after nnum-
there lies cross-cut- the worlds end for solitude the
very deer visit it. Are you too tired, or could
you pass that way
Choose the path, Otto will follow you, she said.
n1 ItN nf ms
and appearance but meant the path was rough. 1t
lies all the way, by glade and dinge, and the dinges
are both deep and thorny.
Lead on she said Are you not Otto the Hunter?
They had now burst across veil of underwood, and
were come into lawn among the forest, very green
and innocent, and solemnly surrounded by trees Otto
paused Margin looking about him with delight; then
his glance returned to Seraphina as she stood framed
in that sylvan peasantneSS and looking at her husband
with undecipherabe eyes. weakness both OF the
body and mind fell on him like the beginnings OF sleep;
the cords of his actively relaxed his eyes cng to
her. Let us rest, he said and he made her sit down,
and himself sat down beside her on the slope of an IN
considerable mound
She sat with her eyes downcast, her slim hand dab
bling in grass like maid waiting for loves summons.
The sound of the wind in the forest sweed and sank,
and drew near them with running rush. and died
away and away in the distance into fantng whispers
Nearer hand bird out OF the deep covert uttered
broken and anxious notes. All this seemed but halt
ing prelude to speech. To Otto it seemed as if the
whole frame of nature waiting for his words and
yet his pride kept nm SILENT Inc longer ne waIcned
that slender and pale hand puckng at the grasses the
harder and rougher grew the fight between pride and
its kindly adversary.
'Seraphina, he asid at last, it is right you should
know one thing: ever. He was about to say
doubted you but was that true? And, if true, it
generous to speak of it? Silence succeeded.
4 pray you, tell it me, she said; tel it me, in pity
4 mean only this he resumed that understand
all, and do not blame YOU understand how the
brave woman must look down on the weak man.
think you wrong in some things; but have tried
to understand it, and do do not need to forget or
to forgive, Seraphina, for have understood.
Il know what | have done, she said i am not so
weak that can be deceived with kind speeches.
know what have been-I see myself. nm not worth
your anger how much less to be forgiven! In all this
downfall and misery, | see only me and YOU: you as
you have been always me, as | as-me, above all!
o yes, see myself; and what can think?