Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1907-06-26

presently | discerned wOman's figure
standing by the window. / knew it
was the princess, and | walked up to
her. fell on one knee and carried the
hand that hung by her side to my lips
She neither moved nor spoke. rose
TO my feet and. piercing the gloom
with my eager eyes. saw her pale face
and the CLEAN Of her hair, and before
| knew / spoke softly:
"Flavia,"
She trembled a little and looked
round Then she darted TO me. taking
hold OF me-
Don't stand, don't stand. No. you
mustn't You're hurt! sit down
here here"
She made me sit on a sofa and put
her hand on my forehead.
"IIow hot your head isr' she said
sinking on her knees by me. Then she
laid her head against me, and heard
her murmur. MY darling, how hot
your head is"
Somehow love gives even to a duh
man the knowledge OF his lovers heart
| had come to humble myself and pray
pardon for my presumption. but what
| said now was:
II love you with all my heart and
soul"
For what troubled and shacled her?
Not her love for me. Dut the fear that
| had counterfeited the lover as had
acted the king and taken her kisses
with a smOthered smile
with all my life and heart" said
| as she chung 10 me. always. from
the first moment | saw you In the ca
thedral. There has been but one wo-
man in the world to me, and there will
be no other. But God forgive me the
wrong I've done you"'
"They made you do it, she said
quickly. and she added. raising her
head and looking In my eyes: 1T might
have made no difference If I'd known
II. II was always you. never the king"
And she raised herself and kissed me-
II meant TO tell you" said l. II was
going 10 on the night OF the ball I'm
Strelsau when Sapt interrupted me-
After that | Couldn't couldn't risk
losing you before before-I must, My
darling for you I nearly left the king
to die"
81 know. | know What are we 10
do now. Rudolf?"
put my arm round her and held her
up while | said:
II am going away tonight"
"Ah. no. no. she cried Not to-
night"
II must 90 tonight before more peo-
pie have seen me. And how would
you have me stay, sweetheart. ex-
cept''-
IF | could come with you" she
whispered very low.
"My God" said roughly don't
talk about that And thrust her a
little back from me.
why notf | love you. You are as
good gentleman rs the king
Then | was false TO all that should
have held by. for / caught her In my
arms and prayed her In words that I
will not write 10 come with me- daring
all Ruritania TO take her from me.
And for awhile she listened. with won
derlng. daZzled 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 me and
stood against the wall. while I sat on
the edge Of the sofa. trembling In ev-
Fry limb. knowing what l had done,
loathlng il. obstinate not to undo 1t.
So we rested a long time.
Il am mad" / said sullenly
81 love your madness. dear" she an
swered.
Her face was away from me. but l
caught the sparkle OF IA tear on her
cheek. | clutched the sofa with my
hand aud held myself there.
rs love the only thing?" she asked
/ In low, sweet tones that seemed TO
bring a calm even to my wrung heart.
'Tf love were the only thing. I could
I follow you-in rags. if need be-to the
worlds end, for you hold my heart In
the hollow Of your hand But is love
the only thlngT
| made her no answer 1t gives me
shame now to think that | would not
help her
She came near me and laid her hand
on my shoulder. I put my hand up and
held hers.
Il know people write and talk as IL
II were. Perhaps for some fate lets it
be. All. II were one OF them, But II
love had been the only thing you
would have let the king die In his
cell"
kissed her hand.
"Honor binds a woman, too, Rudolf.
My honor lies In being true 10 my
country and my house. I don't know
why God has let me love you. but !
know that must stay"
Still | said nothing. and she, paus-
ing awhile. then went on:
"Your ring will always be ON nv