The Heart of Princess Osra

the Grand Duk

. For since she was irrevocably determined to live and die unmarried, of what use or benefit was it to trouble her with embassies, courting, or proposals from either the Grand Duke of Mittenheim or anybody else? She was utterly weary of this matter of love, and her mood would be unchanged though this new suitor were as exalted as the King of France, as rich as Cr?sus himself, an

gave money, and then ran on in unexplained confusion, laughing and blushing as though she had done something which she did not wish to be seen. Then without reason her eyes filled with tears, but she dashed them away and burst suddenly into singing. And she was still singing when, from the long grass by the river's edge, a young man sprang up, and, with a very low bow, drew aside to let her pass. He had a book in his hand, for he was a student at the Univ

, with a low bow, drew asid

day here by the river with your book, and that you sigh

ered, "of Helen of Troy, and I

said Osra, smiling. "Will non

nce," said he, "

, s

he said, wit

well,

e, far

interval when she saw him not, and the interval was no less than twenty-four hours; yet still he read of Helen of Troy, and

ces and Princesses have their share of sighs." And with a very plaintive

uld go to Strelsau

sau now!" she cried w

no Prince, mad

alone-forget

stood close, looking down into her face. Without a word she turned and left him, going through the mea

t am I to do? I wish I were a peasant girl; but then perhaps he would not-ah, yes, but he would!" And her low long laugh rippled in triumph through the night, blending sweetly wit

in in order to rebuke him. Yet all this while she must be pestered with the court of the Grand Duke of Mittenheim! And when she would not name a day on which the embassy should come, the King flew into a passion, and declared that he h

ncess, nor of Queens, save of his heart's queen; and when his eyes asked love, they asked as though none would refuse and there

e seemed to shut the whole world from her, leaving nothing but her and him; and in a world

ho I am," she

he kissed her hand-a matter about which she could make no gr

f the world,' he answe

that day, having declared again to the King that she would live and die unmarried. But the King had laughed cruelly. Surely she needed kindness and consolation that sad day; yet Fate had kept for her a crowning sorrow

eek I return to

r her life she could not speak; but the sun grew dark

omes the awakening. But if life wer

ed, "if life were

am was one, and in that dream I should see the

?" she m

But the dream ends. If it

" a breathless long

, it should not end ev

your dream? You

hey two alone, through the mor

r face for something that ye

gs them at last to a small co

y li

. "For she keeps his

asked Osra, with smi

he comes home weary in the eveni

et him at the door! Oh,

worked hard a

y," cried Osra. "It

this is silly

e fools then

uld please you,

t golden dream; she entered her home as though it had been some strange Palace decked with unknown magnificence, and she an alien to it. For her true home seemed now rather in the cottage of the dream, a

denly he sprang forward; for she had sobbed. The summons had sounded; he was there; and who could sob again whe

u go a

idently in his eyes as

shall not

how,

e two

have two

But we will sell them wh

ottage! T

d but one for

es

ld not go qu

N

rom her waist and

not come

bt of my coming! For there is a great hoard of fears and bl

keep it shut

y Prince," said she;

done, though none dared say so), he could bring any foolish girl to reason in good time. For in the softest voice, and wit

answer then," said sh

it was reported through all Strelsau that the match was as go

after all," cried Rud

that shut out all the cold world from her, moving through space which held but one form, and ti

ne was two horses, scatter bags of gold? And other gold Osra had, aye, five hundred crowns. Would not that be a brave surprise for the poor student? And she, alone of all awake, stood looking round her room, entranced with the last aspect of it. Over the city also she looked, but in the selfishness of her joy did no more than kiss a hasty farewell to the good city folk who loved her. Once she thought that ma

at a table, and two others stood before him. These two seemed gentlemen, and their air spoke of military training. They stroked long moustaches

"about ten o'clock. Bring it to the place I

Perhaps he also had a bag of gold, for the gate-warden opened the Western Gate for him, and he rode at a

ts, and hand him the letter. Give no account of how you came by it, and say nothing of who you are. All that is necess

He took his way to where the Palace rose, and then skirted the wall of its gardens

t the hours were long; and a fear came suddenly upon him that she would not come. It was in these last hours that doubts crept in; and he was not with her to drive them away. Would the great trial fail? Would she shrink at the last? But he would not think

more. That night she had wept and she had laughed; now she neither wept nor laughed; but there was a high pride in her face and gait. She opened the door of her room, and walked down the great staircase, under the eyes of crowned Kings who hung framed upon the walls. And as she went she seemed indeed their daughter. For her head was erect, and her lips set firm in haughty dignity. Who dared to say tha

; she would not veil her proud face, it was his to look on now when he would; and thus she stood f

d; for though he had be

not the word of a Princess su

"day dawns in royal purple for

ortune!" said she, pointing to them. "But I also have brought a dowry. Fancy, five hundred crowns!"

ed now and he

turn back?

e me angry," said

e. "For if we were found he

ir enterprise seemed to strike into

iness I forgot. Mount, mo

ed hands; then they rode sw

id, and since he bade h

ee you throu

ng air blew cold and pure over the meadows from the river. The horses stretched into an eage

" she cried,

one, my Princ

begun, my Pri

it is begu

bsolute joy, and for a

ace grew grave

may never gr

onder; for an instant she seemed puzz

said she, between

y towards a Prince whose alliance he ardently desired, he was ready to submit to much inconvenience. But his astonishment was great, when, instead of any tidings from the embassy, one of his gentlemen handed him a letter, saying that a servant had received it from a stranger with instructions to carry it at

ay for the last three weeks by the river bank." (The King started.) "This morning she has fled with him on horseback along t

the letter; yet the King,

. And in the meanwhile saddle my horse, an

st of all men in the world save one, I have left you to go with that one. You will not forgive me now, but some day forgive me. Nay, it is not I who have don

the environs to the rest of the city. For it was reported that a sentinel who had stood guard that night was missing, and that the gate-warden of the Western Gate was nowhere to be found, and that a mysterious letter had come by an unknown hand to the King, and lastly, that Princess Osra-their Princess-was gone, whether of her own will or by some bold plot of seizure and kidnapping, none knew. Thus a great stir grew in all Strelsau; men stood about the streets gossiping when they should have gone to work, while women chattered instead of sweeping their houses and dressing their children. So that when the King rode out of the courtyard

to the Princess, "we must let them rest

," she urged, "and if he came

other three hours," smiled he. "And he

ance, so that she could not see where he had posted them; and he returned to her, smiling still.

st here; so we shall

began to eat, and cried directly: "How delicious this bread is! I wou

nd he put his arm round her; and they sat for a little while in silence listening to the soft sounds th

to her lover. "Don't you hear them? They ar

sweet?" he asked; he himse

all the world to-day is softly whispering, 'Love, love, love.' What else should the great world whisper but my love? For my love is greater than the worl

opped, and she leant forw

she asked, apprehensio

ther whisper,

me like-ah, like the no

stream, beati

s' hoofs! Ah, merciful God, it is the King!" And she caught him by the han

know yet. It is some one else. Hide you

gallop on the road! It is my brother. Love

" said he, "I ha

!" she cried. "By your

east, and fearful eyes, awaiting his return. Minutes passed and he did not come. She flung herself on h

d he, "the hor

cried, gripp

are gone. Yet what matter? For the King-yes, sweet, I think now it is the King-will

kill you,

" sai

her arms about his neck, and, for the firs

back a little, but took his arm and set it round her waist. And

will die," said she, and her voice was quiet and happy. "Indeed, m

u obey?"

that," s

r. But she looked up at him and he looked at her; then she

rm round me

and kissed her on

ess, it i

hough life was sweet that day, yet such a death, with him, and to prove her lov

fugitives whom they sought. Of these four parties one found nothing, another found the two horses, which the student himself, who had hidden them, failed to find; the third party had not gone far before they caught sight of the lovers

rds the King, uncovering his head and bowing profoundly; for he chose to assume that the King had ridden to meet him out of excessive graciousness and courtesy towards the Grand Duke; so that he began, to the impatient King's infinite annoyance, to make a very long and stately speech, assuring his Majesty of the great hope and joy with which his master awaited the result of the embassy; for, said he, since the King was so zealous in his cause, his master could not bring himself to doubt of

making speeches, that rascal

wished the Grand Duke's ambassador to know was that the Princess, whom his master courted, had run away that morning with a student of the University of Strelsau. Accordingly he began, very hastily and with more regard for prudence than for truth, to tell Count Sergius how a noted and bold criminal had that morning swooped down on the Princess as she rode unattend

men to scour the woods, and, mounting his horse, himself set out with them, showing great zeal in the King's service, but still t

go also, sir?"

man galloped up at

them, sire, we

and he lugged out his sword, adding: "The moment I set my eyes on h

hastened after the King, who had at once dashed away in the direction in which the man had pointed; but th

" And he added some very impatient words, concerning th

irs), came straight to where Osra and her lover stood together; a few yards behind the Guards came the officer; and he also had by now drawn his sword. But he rode so eagerly that he overtook and passed the King's Guards, and got within thirty yards of

having reached them, the King leapt from his horse and ran at them, with his sword raised to strike. Osra gave a cry of terror. "Mercy!" she cried, "mercy!" But the King had no thought of mercy, and he would certainly then and there have killed her lover, had not the officer, gaining a moment's t

hem; for the fury that he had been in before was as nothing to that which now possessed him. After his sword was snatched from him he stood in speechless anger for a full minute, but then had turned to pursue the man who had dared to treat him with such insult; and now, in his desire to be at the officer, he had come very near to forgetting the student. Just as the officer came to where the King's sword

the Grand Du

ed short in su

he asked. "Who i

killed him if I had not snatched your sword," said the officer, and

t him be who he will," said the King. "

st trusted himself so close that he could speak to the King in a very low voice; and what he said seemed to ast

! on my life, a

ith his sword, she still supposed that her lover must die; so she turned and flung her arms round his neck, and clung to him for a moment, kissing him.

agger for, my

you kill him

yourself, then,

ve a moment aft

nly, if you cannot live without him, you must live with him. He

and looking at the student. Presently the student began to laugh also, and he had just advanced a step towards King Rudolf, when Count Sergius of Antheim, the Grand Duke's ambassador, came out from among the trees, riding hotly and with great zeal after the noted robber. But no sooner did the Count see the s

the student, running in be

and servan

ides?" s

band," laughed the King, t

and, but turned at once

have no

?" she whisp

re ready to die, my Prin

taking Count Sergius by the arm walked off with him; and presently they called the officer and learnt fully how the Grand Duke

of jokes and hugely delighted with a trick that suited his merry fancy. But before they had ridden far they met the great crowd which had come out from Strelsau to learn what had happened to Princess Osra. And the King cried out that the Grand Duke was to marry the Princess, while his Guards, who had been with him, and the ambassador's people, spread themselves among the crowd and told the story; and when they heard it, the Strelsau folk were nearly beside themselves with amusement and delight, and thronged round Osra, kissing her hands and blessing her. The King drew back and let her and the Grand Duke ride alone to

soul in the city that none might be sad or hungry or thirsty in all the city that night; so that there was no small uproar. The King himself sat in his arm-chair, toasting the bride and bridegroom in company

ere you eve

re," said

King. "Was it with th

es twinkled demure

at it must have been

e King, "that it must ha

t to the terrace of the Palace, on to which the room where they were opened. For Princess Osra and her

d the King, "it wil

iscreetly interrupted C

d the King, and with a laugh

n the terrace

and on the third and the fourth and every day I loved you. Yet the first day was not like the second, nor the second lik

e. "For while you were with the Q

ed," said O

ed was forearmed, told me very strange and pretty

ou came to

thers I had

not have com

ing these questions, pro

he, "is very various.

s," cried Osra, prete

the smith in another, and-the

ler of Hofbau. But can one heart love in many differ

rt love in differen

ut then she suddenly looked up at him with a mischievous sparkl

t wa

d, with a blushing laugh. And looking up at him again she

f Modenstein; and after the Bishop had been presented to the Grand Duke, the King beg

ke you understand what love was. I take it you have

ooking at the Bishop with friendliness

ill," answer

id Osra, "shall I

ow and now to be loved. For the years roll on, and youth goes, and even the most incomparable beauty will yield its blossom when the season wa

is as you say; to-day in the wood it seemed to me that I had lived enough, and that even

d you, madame, and some yet live

ve for both, my l

ave gained peace, and they who l

not be happier

h the Grand Duke; the King took him by the arm and walked on with him; but Osra's face lost the brief pensiveness tha

while I made ready for you at the cottage, and then ran fa

, a palace will not be too large,"

rounded on fact, as are those which have been here set forth, but the fabric of idle imaginings, wrought to please the fancy of lovers or to wake the memories of older folk. So that, if a stranger goes now to Strelsau, he may be pardoned if it seem to him that all mankind was in love with Princess Osra. Nay, and those stories so pass all fair bounds that if you listen to them, you will come near to believing that the Princess also had found some love for all the men who had given her their love. Thus to many she is less a woman who once lived and breathed, than some sweet image under whose name they fondly group all the virtues and the charms of her whom they love best, each man fashioning for himself from his own chosen model her whom he calls his Princess. Yet it may be that for some of them who so truly loved her, her h

Ruby kindles

arden by the

ourteously; or like the Bishop of Modenstein (for so some say), with courage and self

riber

ords used to mimic accents of the spea

xt they illustrate. Thus the page number of the illustration might not match the page number in the List of I

sistent hyphenation were not co

added after "Indeed I als

the single quotation mark was repl

as added after "the on

r "Yet she uttered no sound

was added after "he

ated" was replace

aud" was repla