The Heart of Princess Osra

of Christian

, "and of suitors, and of princes. I will g

men even there,

that, sire?" she

it impossible to avoid

the same thing," obser

such idle musings, and they are hardly conscious till a sudden smile or a beat of the heart betrays them to the abashed thinker. Just in this manner a flush had chanced to rise to Osra's cheek one day as she rode in a reverie, being above ten miles from the Castle and on the very edge of the kingdom's frontier, which skir

as young and handsome, finely dressed, carrying a good sword by his side and a brace of pistols mounted in silver in his b

ill, you can do m

ince fate compelled her to meet a man, she woul

fe to me; and I fear I shall lose him, unless I have yo

hreatens him

from here. There I live with my mother, whom I support. There is a rich fellow there, a farmer, Otho

sked Osra, thinking she had co

I had also drunk a flask of wine) wagered with him my horse against a thousand crowns-though the horse is worth two thousand-that I would bring with me to the feast a girl handsomer than hi

hout your horse?" sh

in some confusion, "his loss wou

andsome that you can fi

me. In the village they call her th

r wager was most improvident and ra

rtain to lose; for there are, I think, only two ladi

es? Who a

true, there is only one lady who could save me. But how shall I, poor Christian Hantz, come at the Princess Osra? And would she put on a cou

ed Osra, playing with her w

for the Princess Osra! For here is a lady more beautiful than all they tell of P

tian also hid a smile; but she thought that he did not know her, whereas he had seen her several

ld the lady who went with yo

e, madame, where my mo

d she be back

rnoon, madame. I wou

cue you from the straits into

s, by a divine miracle, she should

aking of wagers." And she looked at him. For she was very

sra ever ridden thr

r, ma

her face, and then they w

d have seen even a picture of her, for t

tively. But she stopped, blushing and laughing. An

's sake, co

e swore him to secrecy, and agreed to ride with him, blaming herself all the while very greatly, and blaming yet more t

time to lose if they were to come to the feast by one o'clock; and shortly before noon, having struck a bye

madame," said Christian, jumping from his horse

o Osra. The worthy dame, bewildered by the appearance and stately air of the Princess, did nothing but curtsey a

, or we shall

. But the old woman led Osra in, and took her to the bedroom, where lay a dress s

s?" she asked. "And I a

ess, and Osra sighed. Yet as there was no help for it,

un outside, well pleased at the success of his audacious

and over it a jacket of black velvet, and a red skirt hung full from her waist to but a very little below her knee; then came hose of red also-for it was a holiday, and the best of all was worn-and stout square-toed shoes. Osra in her heart l

ll it be done, and I can get rid of these ridiculous clothes. Hea

ed the top Osra saw a small village nestling in the valley below, and the sound of music struck on her ea

they k

the Princess wore, a gem engraved with the Royal Arms. "Not they, if you

hastily plucked the ring from her

do not forget to

ce, for she began from now to s

in the shade near the house, and a company of men and women seated at it. The Princess was somewhat comforted to find that the girls' dresses were

l play it. Come, sir, let us go and ch

a thousand crowns." And his eyes most plainly added th

ttiest girl in the world; in truth she was very pretty, being, although low of stature, most admirably formed, having golden hair, the pinkest of cheeks and large blue eyes that followed a man about in a most appealing and distracting manner. So that Otho had go

Master Christian whose wager you heard-why, thi

s worthy company shall judge." And Christian came from the shelter of the trees leading Osra by the hand, and he set her opposite to Lotta, where all could see her. And all look

w leant from his place and plucked Christian's sleeve, saying, "Is she promised to you?" and at this Christian frowned, answering, "At least she is not for you," while Osra, overhearing, blushed mightily. Then Otho, still saying nothing, suddenly lugged out a great purse of money, and flung it vi

trying to comfort her, though, lover as he was, he could not for the life of him declare that she was more beautiful than the girl whom Christian had brought. And they all moved from their places and came to stand round Osra. But she, after a moment, caught from Christian the bag that he tossed so exultan

prettiest girl in the village always! Otho, Otho, kiss her, Otho! Tell her that you love her, Otho. Don't stand there dumb. Oh, how stupid men are! Don't you see what she wants? Yes, do it aga

she said that Otho still loved her; and in her gratitude for this, she forgot thanks for the bag of crowns, or even to wonder who this girl was that could give away a thous

thought him mad when he shoo

what he wil

and also in some embarrassment from the ardent glances and free comments of the simple countrymen, who were accustomed to say what they thought with more plainne

ns. And the crowd pressed hard on Osra and Christian, being full of eagerness to see where the girl went and what became of her. Thus they reached the top of the hill and came in sight of Christian's cottage. But now Christian suddenly loosed Osra's arm and, turning round, faced the throng of inquisitive

drew a silver-mount

and all turned tail and ran down the hill much quicker than they had come up. But one or two fellows, resentful and

ighwayman! Whom did you last rob?" And Christian went red as th

it is true. I am a robber. That is why I said,

ra, "let us go

t on her own clothes again, and having bidden farewell to the old woman

ide with y

her head

the Princess did not speak.

your horse maybe you would have ceased from your way o

ak prudently. Yet I had rat

, she wrote for him an order for a thousand crowns, and she signed it wi

all the tim

They had now come to whe

ive by robber

thing that made you come

ind what you love in

madame," said Christia

oment, and then sa

t endure my s

d die, madame," said he, and

had grown dark, and presently the lantern in the tower

" said she, "

adame, is my law. An

n serve you, you shall send it back to me

ow, and looking away from her, "tha

h?" she asked as lightly as she could,

sed her hand to his lips. And, still bareheaded, he turned away and rode back at a canter into the

ld be happy, and she thought that one man was, after all, as good flesh and blood as another, and then that s

ld be a robber," sighed the Prin

n she put her head out of the window and asked the officer who ro

a throng of people hasten

he, saluting. "It is only that t

come to-day." And she drew her head back in disgust. Then she called: "Go slowly, and do

age proceeded slowly towards Strelsau. But presently the

be hanged

y pursued him over the frontier and tracked him to the cottage of the other rogue, who had a part in many previous robberies, thoug

hang the one who only sheltered

retty too, they say. Now he can give no account of what has become of her; but they have found all the clothes she wore hidden away in his house, and he says his mother bought the clothes. But they are a girl's clothes, not an

kings? And the mother

e people think, for when the pair were brought into the city, though the rascals cheered Koh

e sank back, murmuring "Christian Han

our is the

; that is, half

ss cried in a l

at the thought that Christian Hantz was to be hanged, not for any new robbery but because he had sheltered his friend. And she knew how the red skirt and the red stockings came in his house; her breath caug

h leads from the West Gate to the Cathedral, and could see the gibbet that had been raised before the prison, between the Cathedral and the Palace. But here the whole street was blocked with people, and the officer could n

t get through them." Osra sprang

, gentlemen, bring me through to the foot of th

. And the two men went ahead, while Osra followed with the officer; and pushing and struggling, and dodging in and out, aye, and when need was,

a man shot from the scaffold to the top of the gibbet and hung there.

o is it?" aske

Kohl, madame,"

ught forward on the scaffold, in his shirt and breeches. A priest was with him, holding a crucifix before his eyes. King R

will not confess to the murder of the girl, and therefore cannot rece

s his conscience act quickly," said t

ner of the square? There is a

past the Guards, exclaimed: "The Princess Osra, the Princess!" Then the blows ceased, and the crowd began slowly to give back, making way for Osra. And she walked between walls of people, yet did not seem

w that there was a smile on his lips, and, as the hangman took hold of him, he kissed a little packet which he held in his right hand. But the people sh

I did not touch a

he, where is she

n his graciousness send her joy." And he turned to the executioner, saying, "Get on, man." But then he looked

w also, and he rose from his c

et us see why she will not have this rascal hanged. Run, some

ing the people before him; and Osra, seeing him coming, stood now quite st

nothing, but lifting his eyebrows and smi

re a man in th

ut ask Christian Hantz what is in the packet w

but a murderer also, tho

erer," said she. "

he sight of all the people, who wondered and laughed; for they always laughed at the ways of the Princ

found her order for a thousand crowns and the gem engraved with the R

the order? Yet my name is

t was better than

; "you should have sent the

ept it in return for

bargain," said Osra, w

red to die with it rathe

foolish

e man is foo

the girl?' And you do not answ

no answer at all, unless it w

have taken from me

and went to the King, who had stood regardin

his man. He did but shelter his

robberies, if he would

giment of Guar

ainly guilty? For where, sister, is the pretty girl, of whom n

you, sire, let your gentl

en, gentlemen,"

e, in the little parcel that the poor man kis

owns, and also the gem engraved with the Roy

ous gentleman in your dominions. For he prized my ring above his life a

d to his offic

st this man. For he might not in honour tell who or where she was. And, for the rest, he

and some cried, "Who is the girl?" and laughed merrily, conceiving that it was a love affair on which Christian had been engaged; and because he preferred to die under an imputation of murder rather than endang

tian, and bade the hangman

f Guards, sir?" she asked. "Or i

you, madame,"

nt, get money for this order," a

y you, madame, th

, sir," and she bowed slightly, and turned as if to leave him. And he said

you have those

, and, raising himself a

eld out her hand to him. He knelt and kissed the ring and then her hand; but he looked very glum. And the Princess laughed openly at him, her eyes dancing in delight

ooks as though he were sorry not to b

ftly and rubbed the ring on

all that the be