Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-30

I Don't stand. don't stand! No. you
here?'
She made me sit on sofa. and put her
hand on my forehead.
How hot your head is!' she said. sink
Ing on her knees by me. Then she laid
her head against me, and heard her muir
mur: MY darling. how hot your head
Somehow love gives even to dull man
the knowledge of his lovers heart. I had
come to humble myself and pray pardon
for my presumption: but what I said now
was:
II love you with all my heart and souli''
For what troubled and shamed her? Not
| her love for me- but the fear that had
i counterfeited the lover as I had acted the
king. and taken her kisses with a smoth-
cred SMILE
with all my life and hearth said I. as
| she chung to mo. always. from the first
moment saw you in the cathedral! There
| has been but one woman in the world to
| me-and there will be no other. But God
| forgive me the wrong I've done your
| ly: and she added. raising her head and
| looking in my eyes. ut might have made
| no difference II I'd known 1t. 1t was al
ways you. never the king!" and she raised
herself and kissed me.
Il meant to tell YOU" said I. II was
going to on the night Of the ball in Strel-
sau. when Sapt interrupted me. After that
I couldn't-I couldn't risk losing you be-
| nearly left the king to der
I know. | know! What are we to do
now. Rudolf"
put my arm round her and held her up
while I said:
II am going away tonight"
"Ah. no. nor she cried. Not tonight"
Il must go tonight. before more people
have seen me. And how would you have
me stay sweetheart. except
"If could come with your she whis-
pered very low.
NV Codp
about that!" and thrust her little back
from me-
why not? I love you. You are as
good a gentleman as the king!'
Then I was false to all that should
have held by. For 1 caught her in my
arms and prayed her, in words that I will
| not write. to come with me. daring all
Ruritania to take her from me. And for
a while she listened. with wondering daz-
zled eyes But as her eyes looked on me
grew ashamed. and my voice died away
In broken murmurs and stammerings and
at last I was silent.
She drew herself away from and
stood against the wall, while sat on the
| edge of the sofa, trembling in every limb.
knowing what I had done-loathing it, OBJ
| stinate not to undo it. So we rested
long time.
Il am mad" said sullenly.
Il love your madness. DEAR" she an
swered.
Her face was away from me, but I
caught the sparkle of a tear on her cheek.
I clutched the sofa with my hand and held
us love the only thing?' she asked. in
| low sweet tones that seemed to bring a
calm even to my wrung heart. "If love
were the only thing I could follow you
| in rags. II need be-to the worlds end; for
| you hold my heart in the hollow Of your
| hand! But is love the only thing?"
I made her no answer. 1t gives me
her.
She came near me and laid her hand on
my shoulder. I put my hand up and held
hers.
II know people write and talk as If It
| were. Perhaps, for some, Fate lets It be.
All, II were one Of them! But II love
h, had .s been It, the only thing you would have
I kissed her hand.
Honor binds a woman. too, Rudolf
| My honor lies in being true to my country
| let me love you: but I know that I must
isstayr'
Still I said nothing: and she. pausing
| while, then went on:
''Your ring will always be on my finger,
your heart in my heart the touch of your
lips on mine. But you must go and must
stay. Perhaps 1 must do what it kills me
\ to think of doing"
I knew what she meant, and a SILVER
ran through me- But l could not utterly
fail beside her. rose and took her hand.
DO you what you will what you
| must I said. II think God shows his
purposes to such as you. My part is
| lighter for your ring shall be on my fin
ger and your heart in mine and no touch
| save of your lips will ever be on mine
| So. may God comfort you, my darlingr'
There struck on our ears the sound of
| singing. The priests in tie chapel were
| singing masses for the souls of those who
| lay dead They seemed to chant a requiem
| over our buried JOY, to pray forgiveness
| for our love that would not die. The soft,
| sweet. pitiful music rose and fell as we
! stood opposite one another, her hands In
| mine.
my queen and my beauty!' said l.
| my lover and true knight! she said
Perhaps we shall never one another
| again. Kiss me. my dear. and got"
I kissed her as she bade me: but at the
last she chung to me. whispering nothing
! but my name, and that over and over again
| Rapidly 1 walked down to the bridge.
| Sapt and Fritz were waiting for me. Under
| their directions changed my Dress and
| muffiing my face. had done more than
| once before. I mounted with them at the
| door of the castle, and we three rode
| through the night and on to the breaking Of
/ day, and found ourselves at little roadside
station just over the border of Ruritania.
| The train was not quite due. and I walk
| ed with them in meadow by little
| brook while we waited for it. They prom
| ised to send me all news; they overwhelm-
| ed with kindness-even old Sapt was
| touched to gentleness while Fritz was half
unnamed. l listened in a kind of dream
| dolf!' still rang In my ears-a burden Of
| sorrow and of love. At last they saw that
could not heed them, and we walked up