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About The Oregon daily journal. (Portland, Or.) 1902-1972 | View Entire Issue (May 20, 1906)
r THE OREGON SUNDAY JQURNAL, PORTLAND. -SUNDAY MORNING. MAY 20. 1808. THE HAPPINESS OF TIE STEPHEN THE SMITH' TIE HEART OF ' . By ANTHONY HOPE . ,Cwrif t by '-CIur. - c-' s TKPHEN.!. Stephen! Stephen! . - To Impatient cry "- -mil UirwigU the narrow., gloomy hr the old. richly 'carved Jfcuss' fronts bowed to " nohflyand If"- ior-in riv . r -----only., bar. gllmps. of Mo meu ssld. th oldest 'street In Strelsau, w th. sign of th. ' ? tho oldest sign known o "' city. , For when Aron Lasarus. th Jew. -came tiiere, TO yr before. h had the tenth man In unbroken I 1m, "at took up' th bualness. And now Stephen Nados. hit spprentlce and successor, wss the eleventh. Old Laaarus had made e, . k..uin... nr it and had spent Ma 4n-tn-buj'UUt -UJL V -Sfil -of -rhort-reeV-but -sine-Jcsva might their hold ao property In Strelssui he had -TwrWhw-da-iB-lhaPMnr4 hi ct.i i NadosT nT whp-e-"jnra-to- die. having no Iclmlrca. ana carina nv - straw ror any-man or woman auve, v . Stephen. b bade Stephen let th deeds bo. and. with a last-curs against the 'Christian of:wrhora Stephen waa: on. : and a oevout ana), ha klBBd'the young ' man and turned- hta fac to th wall and " died. ; Therefore. Stephen- waa, -a- rich man. and had no .need to carry on the k-uafnees though it never entered bis vimhrn steuhenr" cr'ea rnnci "Heoryf impatiently hammering -onxth closed door with hi whip. -Plagu tak jthe man! la ha. dead?" -;- Th men in the quarter went on wlttl their "work; tb women moved Idly to the doors; -tho girls cam out. Into ,ths street! and cluatered her and thsr. l.w.kin. af th orlnce. For although he waa not o handsome aa that scamp Rudolf, hta brother twho had Juat coma back from his travels with half a doaefl - wild atorlaa spurring ,after.Jilm), yst ' Uenrx.-waa a. comely youth, aa ha aat on hla chestnut mare, with hta blu eyes full of Impatience and his chestnut curls ringing- his shoulders. . ? Presently Stephen came, unbolting Ms " door with much deliberation, and greet '" Ing Prlnca Henry- with .a restrained i'iiuKmi, lie was wot vary wall pleased. 'in tun his sum. fui moment with th nose of St. Peter, and Stephen -would hav 1lkd to flnlah tha 'job TintnteirtiptSttn;-thr pTtnca -as -fitpphenwould not b uncivil to. hlra. "rou no eariy iuuji " rvawt nattin the chestnut mar. - ta. have a. good ' reason."., knawered Ttenrvt "The I.lon races today What has vexed Ihe king?" he aaked, ir Tia WneaTlhat "Pflncff Henry spoke of - hla - father, Henry,, surnamed tne iion. now an old man. yet aa fierce aa when he had bB .young,. .Via It your brother arafnf" . For -marvel, nM It Is myself. Stephen. And he la more furious with m than ha has ever been with Rudolf --ay, even mor than he was st all the toTts-thatfollowed- my brother name. anrf how la it in mv Dower to helpf . That rou will find out very soon, a1d the - -prince, with a bitter laugh. - "Tou will b aetlt f of to th palac In an - hour. Steohen. ITVL Is sboufwTta'-Hngr-th:T4S ! not finished." said Stephen. . "It "la not about the ring. Yet. In deed. It Is. In a way. about a ring. For. " voti are to be married. Stephen. TThls ary day you are to be marriea. -T think not. air." said Btephen, mildly. - -7'For It Is a thing thst win himself hears about. If it b true.- ' - - -Bat -th-klna--thlnka -so,- Stephen. : " Have -you rem rked ' nong mjr sister Oara's ladles-a certain dark lady witn -- black hair, and eyes I csnnot descrlb her eyes?" T3ut yon-csn-teir-wt her'nama.-alr," . suggested Stephen, who was a practical --man. ' ---'-j - -Her na m ? - Olv ier nam e la Hilda. . Hilda von Lauengram." " " "Ay. t know th countess' Hilda. I ' hsve mad a bracelet for her." - "Sho la' the most besutlful xreatur . alive!" cried Prince Henry In a sudden rapture, and so loudly (being carried - away--by- hl -paaW) thai -th girls heard hlmt and wondered of whom h , J P"ke with so great an enthusiasm. , "To thoae to whom she aeems such," cbeerved Stephen, "Bu V pray, how am I concerned In all this, sir?" The prince's smile grew mora bitter as he anawered: "Why,- you ar to marry her. It was -an Id! suggestion of Osra'a mad In lest; my father ' taaea s appreve i ef it In asnat rTliert he"bnt .1nhts - saddle, .and - went on - In- -av - hurrledrurgent whlapr ' : lor her-better-than my llfr Stephen; - better than heaven; and my faith and word ar pledged: to her, and last flight I - waa to have fled with her for - I rr- knew better than face th old lion lut Osra found her making prepara tions. . and w were discovered. Then and Rudclf Jaughed. and when - they talked of what was to b don to her. iTT;ammwitn tur muftiing sug ' g-estlon. It caught the king's sngry fancy, and ha swore that It should be so, and sine the archbishop Is away, " ha has bidden th Bishop of Modenstetn -he at the palace at 12 today, and you be married to her. And, by heavens. - I'll have your blood If you are!" And - - wlth-thls sedden- -outbreak of- fury th ; prince ended. Tet moment later he ' put out hi hand to- th smith, saying. ''It's not your fault man." "Thaa's true enough." said the smith. ' "fof I tiav no desire to marry-her. . And it la not fitting that s lady of her birth should mate with a smith; for . she Is of a great house, and -ahe would hate and deple me.-" Prlnc-- Henry was nhout. to assent, . when hla eye chanced to full on Stephen. ' the smith.- Now, the smith was a very handanme mnn, haidnomer, many said, than Prince Rudolf hlmsejf; whom no - lady could look. at . without- admiration; he stood feet and 1 Inchea In hla flat working shoe: he waa very broad, and could lap higher and hurl a atone - farther than any man In Streleau. More yt, he looked kind and gentle, yet was . known' to grow angry at times, and -1hen to b very danneroun. Therefore, Prlno- Hnry r Una why-Mnhlng . that lis knew) the cHpiloes of women. ' and how they aru caught by this. and waauddenly aclxed with a ter. , rlhl fear that the Country Hilda might - not-despise Stephen the smith. Tet he . did not express his fear, but said that . It was an impossible thing that a lady -. of the countess' birth for th house of I.uengram was very noble) should wed a silversmith, even though he' were as -Tina g fetlowiaa hla good fsiend Ste . phen. to which gracious speech Stephen made -no- reply, but stood very thought- -fvl,-'-wWh.-hla hand ti -tha-tiee of th .. - cheatnut mar. But at last he ssld , In ny ejlM lt c,noot b for "t heund already." A wife? Hava you a wlfT' cried (he prtnes esgerly. . . "So. but my heart Is bound." ssld Stephen the smith. , - m "The king will make llt! of thst. . Tel. who Is she? Is ah any of the v ' g'rls whv stsnd looking at ur' -- -- v "NorslK 1 none of these,': answered tphn.-smiling aa though such . an Idea trera very Hud Icroiis. ; i "Add you ar fldd to herT "I to her.' but hot she to me." "But does sh love yoy?" .' -f think It most unlikely," said Bte phen th Smith. , a "The Lion, will car nothing- for lhiZ groaned the. prince, despondlngly. "They will send for you In half an hour. For heaven's sak-spare-bar.- tcphen!" - "Xpars her. alrr-. , ,.-..- Da -ot conaent -tv marry her, how ever urgently th king jnay command you." The smith shook- his head, smiling still Prlnc Henry rod sorrowfully awify. spending not- a glance on the bevy of girls who watched him go. Now, sure enough, when-the clock -n thj cathedral, wanted a quarter of an hour of noon. - two of t h- kteig's- guard came and bade Stephen follow them with all hast to the -palac, and since they were, very urgent and no time wet to b last, he followed them ss h was. In his spron, without washing his hands or get tiny rta"pf the mirt-that-hnng shout him from his work.. The I-Inn sat lit hla great chair. Wt far back la his head, glowed and glowered,- and his fingers pulled his sparse whit bean. On his right Prrnc Rudolf lolled on a low seat... smiling at the play; on his left sat thst wonderfully fair lady,- the Princess Osra, then In th first- bloom of hr young beauty, and ah was smiling scornfully. : Prlnc Henry stood before his father, and some yards from him was the Count Hilda, trembling and fearful, supported by on of . her companions: and. : flnaJIyr sines ths archbishop waa gone to Rom to gat himself a scarlet . hat, th blehop of. Modenstetn; a young . man l of noble family,' was there, most richly arrayed In choicest Isca and handsomest vast menta, rsady to perform th ceremony. Th king's fury had had a night and a morning to grow cool In. and It had now settled Into a cold. Ironical mood, that arguaoTHo less resolution than his first .flerc wrathJTher . was a grim smile on his face as he addressed th smith, who, having bowed to the com pany, was standing between the coun tess and Prlnc Henry. . Th hous of .Elphbarg,'? said - the king,, with mocking graclousness, ""well recognises -your 1 worth. Stephen, my friend, wis as Indebted to you "it i liiuimiiu iiumm in nunc Hum Prlnc Rudolf alone , sir," Interrupted Suphewrwlth bowto the - prince -h named, . ' . "For much faithful service," pursued he king, while- Rudolf laurhej again.' "I hava therefore determined to" reward you with the hand-of a lady who la, It may be, above your station, "but In no way above your worth, 1 jnvy jou,, smith.. Shs Is' beautfrul; yo'ung! high born. " if ou re -lucky.' smtth. - Nay, no thanks. It Is , but. sJ-at you deserve and no mor then she deserves. Take her, and- be happy," and he ended with a snarling laugh. , - : - - - - The bishop -of ModenstelnP-h was of the hous of Hentsau, many of which hava been famous In history lifted up his hands In horror at Rudolf's last with a bow to the king, asked If he wer now to perform his sacred duties, "Ay, get on with tt," growled the Lien, not heeding the . countess' sobs or th entreaty -in his son's fsce. And the Prtnnesr-f)srasat'TinmO'ved,J-the cornfut smile still on h,er lips; It 'seemed as though aha had no pity for a brother who could stoop, or for a girl who had dared to soar too high. . . - "Walt, wait." said Stephen, the' smtth. -vpoee mis iaay K)v me. aire.r-. 'Ay, ah loves yon enough for the pur pose, smith." grinned the king. "Do not be '-uneasy. -.-.-r .-. "May I aak her If she loves me, slreT "Why,, no, smith. -Tour king's word must be enough for you." "And your majesty aaya that ahe loves me?" " '7" .. T do say so, smith." - -"Then." said Stephen. .'I1 am very sorry-for her;- f or.-st there's a heaven above us, slre. l do not love herJ Prince Rudolf laughed; Oara's amlle broadened In greater scorn; the countess hid her face In her companion's bosom; the old kind roared out a gruff burst. "Good, goodi'he chuckled. ''But ft will come with marriage, smith; for" with marriage love either cornea or goes-r eh, son Rudolf? and alnca In this case It cannot go, you must not doubt, friend Stephen,- that Itrwllt rome.' : - "That might well be. sire." admitted Stephen, "were It not what I most pas sionately love another." 'Our affections." said th king, are In repression; Jsft'nor'ao, son RudoifTT "lt should be so, sire," answered the merry prlnc. But th Princess Osrs, whose ' eyes had been scanning Stephen's figure, heie broke suddenly Into th conversation. -"And are you. pledged to her whom you lova ao passionately?" aha asked. -,' 'I have not ventured to tell her of my love, madame," answered he. bowing lowF- "Then ' ther Is no harm done," ob- -aarvad Prlnna Rudolf "Ths harm lies In the telling, not In th loving." Tell us something about her." com manded th prlnoesa; and the king, who loved sport most, when It hurt others. Chimed In: "Ay, let's hear about her hom you prefer to this lady. .. In what shop does she work, smith? Or does she sell flowers? Or Is shs a serving girl? Come, listen,, counteae, and hear about your rival. , Prlnc Henry took one step forward In uncontrolled anger; but he could not meet the aavag mirth In. the old man's eyes. and. sinking Into a -halr. spread hla Hand across his fsee. But Stephen, regarding the king with placid good humor, began to speak of her whom h loved ao passionately., And hla vole was soft as he spoke. ' "She works In no shop, slra." ssld he. "nor does, she sell flowers, nor is she s serving girl; though I would not car If she were. JBut one day. when the clouds hung dark over our street. she came riding down It, and .anothor girl with her. The two stopped before my door; and, aeelng them, I came out" ' I - , It Is more than you do for me," re marked Prince Rudolf. Stephen smiled, but Continued his love gave ma a bracelet to mend. And I. looking at her rather' than at the bracelet, said. 'But already It Is per f ect.Bul haidotrllearTToFrwheri she itkd glvsn me the bracelet, she rort'i on 'again and took no more notice of me than bf th flies that were crawling up my wall. And that waa- th first, snd is ths last, time that I have spoken to her until this day. But she waa e beautiful that there snd then I swore thst until I had found means and raur age to tell her my love, and until he hsd thrlea refused-IfTwonldmarrT no, other maiden nor speak a word of love." "It seems to m," said Prim Rudolf, "that th oath haa some prodnc In It; for. If ahe proves obdurate, friend Sfr-phen, you will then he able to go elsewhere. Many lovers swear mor rnlemperstely." - - ... , "But they do not keep'thSIr oaths,' ssld Stephen, with a shrewd look st in prince.. -' - "Ton hd bast -let him alone, my'son. ssld th old king. "He knows what th country knows of Its futur king." "Then h msy go and hang with all the Country," aald th prince, peevishly. But th Princess Osra leant a little forward toward Stephen, and the Crran from th folds of her friend's dress at Stephen. And th princess sa,ld: "Wss she, then, so beautiful, this ginr- . .... , ;: . : . ... ?Aa the sun In heaven, madam," aald th smith. - x .. ... - -'-. ."As beautiful a myprlty sister?" ald Rudolf, in careless Jok. ' ' "Yes, aa . beautiful, sir," answered Stephen. ' "Then," aald th cruel old king, "very much mora beautiful than thla count- ess."- -. -j ;- ; "Of that you must ask' your aon Henry, sir," said Stephen, discreetly. "Nvertheles." said th king, "you must put - up with th countess. ; Ws cannot all have what we .want In this world, can we, son Henry?" And he Cllttckle-J it gain-most -malletouely, . 'N-t, sir, till my lady haa thrice re Xuaed ma." the irnLthrejplndedtJieJting.. -qatek aaeut It, For w all, and my lord bishop herr-r waiting. Send for her, Stephen. By heaven. X hav a curiosity to see her!" " "And, by heaven,: so hav I!" added Prince Rudolf., with ... a . jnerry ... smile. "And poor Henry her may be cured by th sight. And th Princess Osra leant a little farther forward-ond aald -gentlyr-?- -"Tell us her. nam, and we will send for her. IndeedLI also would llketo se her." "But if sh refuses, I shall be worse off then I am now. And If she says yes, still I must marry th countess, objected the smith. - Nay."l4 th kmgrnralianaoes'nOf refuse vou thre times, you shall not marry the countess, but shall be free to try your fortutte) with th glrL" For th smith had put the old Lion In bet ter temper, and he thought he was to witness more sport. 'Since your msjesty Is so good, I must tell her name," said Stephen; "thoughTadTitherTiav declared my love to herself alone. "It " Is " the pleasantesfway. said Princ Rudolff "but' th thing "rah be done In th presence of others sJao." "Tou must tell u her name that we may . send for her," said th princess, her eyes wandering from -t hs countess to the smith, and back to th countess again. ' ' "Well, then." ' said Stephen, sturdily. street and took away my heart with her waa . oalled Osra, snd bat father 1 named Henry A moment or two passed before they understood - What - th smith had -said. Than the old king fell Into a (It of laugh ter, half choked by coughing. Prince Rudolf clttpp mockery, and a deep flush spread over the face of the princess. Tha old king, having recovered from hla fit of laughing, .looked round on the amlth with Infinite ' amusement, and turning to bis daughterhe aaldr-'"Com. Osra, you hav heard the declaration. It r.naina only for you to satisfy our good friend's consclenc by. refusing him thre times, for thsn bs will b fre to do our pleaaur and maks the Countess Hilda happy." Th heart of woman' Is, aa It would seem, a Strang thing; for th Princess Oara, bearing what the smith bad said, and learning that he had1 fallen pasalon ately In love with her on the mere sight of her beauty, suddenly felt a tender Mas for him, and a greater admiration than ah had entertained before; and, although ahe harbored no absurd Idea of listening ti his madness, or of doing anything in the world but laugh at it aa lt deserved, yet she suddenly experi enced a curious dlsllk of tha project Sh- had hereeelf, in sports suggested. Accordingly, when th king spoke - to hr, she said fret fully t -W- "Am I to b put to refus th hand of such a fellow as thla? Why, to refus him Is a stain on my dignity!" "Tet you must grant him so much, be cause of Ms oath," nld th king. - "Well, then, I refuse him," said ah tartly. "That la once," said 1 Stephen - th smith calmly, snd hs Used his eyes on - th-- prlnoess' -fac.-- Sh - fait -bis gase, her eyes wer drawn back to hla, and sh exclaimed angrily: .;. "Tea, I refuse him!" and again ahe looked away. But ha looked still more Intently at her, waiting for th third refusal. - " ... - "It la as eaey to say no three'-tlmes aa twice,", said tha king. 'Tor a man, sir," murmured Prlnc Rudolf, for he wss very learned In the perilous knowledge of a i woman's whims, snd ms'ybe resd something of what waa passing In his 'Staters heart. Certainly he looked at her and laughed; and aald to the king: "Sirs, I think -hls smith la a clsvsr ,- r""-- ) i i u a j i n -- --Th King Thrut lh Smith Through tha Chett : man. For what hf really desires Is To wed the countess and to do it wunoui disobliging my brother. Therefor h profesaes this ridiculous passion, know tas well that Onra will refus him. snd, that h will eajoy the great good fortune of marrying th countess gainst hlswtll. -"Ther is no craft, slr.sald: Stepherl. "I hava told nothing but th truth. " But tha 1ng swore a loud oath, cry ing, "Ay. that there Is! Rudolf hss hit th mark. Yet I do not grudge him hla good luck. Refus Mm. Osra, and make htm happy." . . ' But th'dark flush cam again on ths princess,' face, for now sh did not know whether tha smith rally lov4 hr or whether ha had bn making a jest of her In -order-to ' ssv himself tn th eyes of her brother Henry. So that her mind was very greatly disturbed, and sh was dsvoursd with interest to know th reality of tha smith's feelings to ward-bar, Formal though, -sa.waa omy a emtth,-yt- he was a ; wonderfully hsndsom man. Thus sh Waa reluctant r.f.,.. 1,1m a Ihlnl time. WheypTWT Bishop of Modenstetn stood there, wait ing only for her word to marry him to tha countess. And ...she ros suddenly from her seat and . walked, toward the door of the room;, and when she had almost reached the door shs turned her head over her. shoulder and cast. one smile at Stephen the smith. As shs glanced th - blush again mounted on her face, making her so lovely that even her-father-wondered;- and -aha said in arch softness "I'll refuse- him .tha third time some other day; two denials are enoush for one day." "But the marriage can't go on," crlel Rudolf. "It-lt--rat-for-tolayj:,said..theJklnK,.l whose anger was passed."" "Let lt rest. Ths countess shall be guarded; and since this young fool (and he pointed to his son Henry) will not wander while she-is caged.-let him go where he will. Then- aa soon aa Osra has refused the amlth a third time w will send again for the bishop." "And what am I to do. sir?" asked Stephsw th smith, "Why. my son-ln-.aw that would be," chuckled tha-klngZ2youmay:d: lacK to where you came from till I send for you again." ' j So SteDhen. having thanked th king, went back hom, and sitting down- to the chasing - of a cup.-bcam vry thoughtful. For lt seemed to him that the countess bad been hsrdly treated, and that the prince deserved happiness. ahdaTTr1ncTss-wsrTt - mor loyely than she hsd seemed to him na tions the afternoon wor away fast. II.- I - Th Princess era walked restlessly -Up and down the length of her bedchamber. Dinner waa done, and it was s o'ciock, snd, the season being 1st In October, lt had grown dark, Sha had come hither to be alone; yet, now that sh- was, alone, ahe could Tiot rest. - H was an absurd fellow, -thst smith. Yss. she thought him fully aa handsome as her brother Rudolf. But what did Henry find to love tn th black-brown - Hilda? Bh could not understand a man caring for such a' color; a blackamoor would serve as well. And what had that Silly smith mesnt? It must have been a trick, as Rudolf said. Tet, when he first spoke of her riding down th street, there when he first spoke of her riding down the street,, there waa a look In his eyes that a man can hardly put ther of - his own will. Did the silly fellow then really? "I can't reat till I know!" shs cried, as she cams to a atand before a long mirror let Into the panel-of the waiTTand ssw herself at full length In It. As she looked, a smile cam parting her lips, and sh threw her head back aa she said: "I will go and aak th smith what he meant."' And sh smiled again at her ownfac-in triumphant daring, y Stephen, th smith, aat alone In hla house; his apprentices wer gone, and h himself neither worked nor supped, but sat -still and Idle by his hearth. The street was silent also, for It rained, and -nobody was about. Then, suddenly csm a light, timid rap at th door; so light wss It thst ths smith doubted if h had really heard, but- It camo-agaln, and h ros leisurely and opened the door. Even as he did so. a slight, tall figure slipped by him, an arm pulled him back, th door was pushed close sgaln, and hs was alon inside th houss with a lsdy wrspped in a long riding cloak, and so veiled that nothing of her fac could be seen. . . - i . "Welcom. madam," ssld Stephen, h smith; and h drew a ehalr forward and bowed la. hla visitor. Hs wss not wear ing his apron now. hut was dressed In a well-eut eult'tof brown cloth, kind had put on a pair of silk stockings. ' - - ' "Do yon know, who I am?" aaksd th vailed lady ' ' , 4 x. J uBgne'a""l'"waa' a'CTyTmame.w" Ari- swered the smith. "I hava known tha sun when I saw It, evenJhough clouds dimmed Its face." A corner of the veil was drawn down, and one eye gleamed la frightened mirth ' "Nobody knows I have com," aald Osra. "And .you, do pot knowwhjrI hava come." "Is It to answer me for th third llmef asked he. drawing a, step nearer. yet observing great deference In? bis manner, - . . "It la not to answer at all. but to ask, But I am very-silly to have com. What la It to ma what you meant r "X cannot conceive" that It could be anything, madam,'.' said Stephen, smll tng. --'Tet some think - her bautlf ul-my brother Henxyfor eiamDl.' "We must respect the opinions ' of princes." observsd the smith. "Must wa share them?" she asked, drawing the veil yet a little mor aside. . -"W can aLiare npthlng we bumble folk with - princes or princesses, maa- snie.' nnmes, thouga numoior ones wouiu serve well." - ' - -v- ?No other would hav served ,t all madams.' "Then you meant Itr ah cried In Sudden, half -serious aagerneas. "Nay, but. what, madame r - "I don't car whether you meant It or not." , - '- - 'Alas! ' I know that ao well that I marvel that you .hav com to tall It to me." .'"...!.:".:' .... . ... The princess rose and began to walk up and down as she had don In her own chamber, Stephen stood, regarding her aa though God had mad hla eyes for that one purpoa; "Th thing la nothing." sn declared petulantly, "bt I hava a fancy to aak it, Stsphen, was 'it a trick, or or was It really ao? ; Com, answer ma! -1 can't spend much time on It." . "It Is not wortn a tnougnt. xo-you. If you say no a third time, all will b well." - "TOU "will marry the countssr' "Can I dlsobay th king. JnadamaT "I am vry sorry for her." said th princess. "A lady of hrrank ahould not b-forced to marry a uversmiin. "Indeed, I thought ao ' an along. Therefor " , . . . v., ri.r tt, trick?" sh cried, in Stephen made no answer for a time; then he aald softly: ' why should thsy not marry?" ; -- - Because his birth Is above hers." I am glnd, then, :thtam of .no birth, for I can marry whom I will. Are you so happy and., so rree. Blephen?" sighed i-ha princess; and there was no more of the veil left than served to frame tha picture ;'of "her-facer r So soon as you have refused me th third time, madame," bowed th amlth. Will you not answer met" cried. ths princess; and she smiled no more, but was aa eager aa though sh war ask ing soma Important question. - Bring the countess here tomorrow at this time," aald Stephens-tad I will You wish, perhaps, to compare us?" she asked, haughtily. . . : "I cannot be compelled-to anawer. ex cept on my own terms," said the amlth. 'Yet If. you will refuse me once, again, thg thing-"WllHwefrnlshtrd." " '' ' "I will refus youv- he-ittadr-"whn i pleas." . . . , - "And' you . will bring th countess, madams?"-.. - . "I sm very sorry for her. I have be havsd ill to heiv " Stephen though .1 meant only to Jest." - "Ther Is room for amends, madame," said hs. - -" -::: ' " - The princess looked long and curiously In bis face; but ha met her glance with a quiet amlle. . . ... . , "It grows late, said he. "and you should not be longer here. - madame. Shall I escort you to th palace?" r -And hav everjron-asklng-wlth whom Btephen the smith walks? No, I win go wfI-came. You hs v -not an-' swered me, Stephen." ' yy "And you t have not refused me, madams." - -'-'Will you answer me tomorrow, when I com with' the countess?" es. I will answrr-ttrenT 7 Th princess had drawn near to the door, and now Stephen opened lt for her to pasa out; and aa she crossed ths threshold she said: , "And I will refuse , you then per haps," with which she darted awlftly down th dark, silent, shining street and waa gone; - and Stephen, having cloaed th door, passed his hand-twice over -his about the preparation of his supper. Now, th night next-as ths cathedral clock struck ther arosa a suddsn tu mult snd commotion In th palac. -King Henry th Lion was in such a rage aa no man- had ever een-nim-tn- oerorer even Rudolf his son did not dare to" laugh st him; courtiers, guards, attendants, lscksys, ran wildly to and fro In Im mense fear and trepidation. A. little later ni a large company ct the-king a guards filed out. and. under the com -mand of 'vailuus iifflueH.'gegttered"Thehi selves through ther whole of Btrelaau, while five mounted men rode at a gallop to each of th five gatea of tha olty, bearing commands that the gatea ahould be closed, and no man, woman or. child b allowed ta pssa out without an order under the hand of the king's marshal. And the' king swore by heaven, and by much else, thst he would lay them that is to say, th persons whoso disappear ano. caused all - this hubbub by th heals, and that they should know that ther waa ltfs in the Lion yet.- And th reason of th whole thing was no other than this, that the room of th Princess Osra was empty, and th room of ths Countess Hilda wss also smpty. snd nobody had set eyes on Henry, the king's son, for the last two hour Or more. - ' Through all the city went th guards. They ransacked every, crevice-, and cranny of every bouse, and displayed the utmost seal Imaginable. And thus having traversed nearly all th city, and set th whola place In tumult and com motion, they came at last to the street where Stephen lived, and & th sign ot th Sliver Ship. ''Rat, tat, tat!" cam thundering on the' door from ths swordhllt of th ser geant In command ot th party. There waa no answers noJIght shon from-thr house, for ths window was closely shuttered. Again th sergeant hammered on the door. Thla pestilent smith Is gone to bed!" he cried In vexation. "But wJ must leav no hous unsearched. Coma, w must break In the door!'' and he began to examine the door and found that it was a fine, solid door of good oak and clamped with Iron. "Phewl we shall hav at job with this door." he sighed. "Why in th devil's nam ' doesn't : the fellow answer? Stephen! Stephen! Ho there, Stephen!" Yet no answer cam from th inside of the house, . . But at this moment another sound earn smiting oa ths ear of th sergeant and hs men. It waa th sound of flames crackling. From th hous next to Stephen's (which belonged to him,- but was Inhabited by a fruit seller) there welled out smoke In volume from every window, snd th fruit seller snd hi fsmlly sppesred at the windows, calling for aid. Seeing thla, th sergeant blew very loudly the whistle that he carried and -cried ."Fie! and had hi snn run and prour a, ladder; for p7atnTTHa fire, and Jt waa a mor urgent matter to rescue men and women from burning than to find th countess and the prlnc. Freaently th ladder cam, and a great crowd of people, roused by the whistle and tha cries of fire, csme also; and then the door of Stsphso'e house was opened,- and Stephen hlmseir, looking out, asked what was the matter. Be ing told that th next hous wss on fire, he ;- looked very grave for th house was his and waited for a moment to watch the fruit seller and his family being bronght down the ladder, which task waa aafoly and prosperously aocora pushed. But the sergeant said to him: "Ths . fir may well spread, and If ther is any on Jn your hous. It would p prudent to get .them out," ... Then three lads one being very tall cam out of Stephen's house, clad In their leather breeohea, their aprons and the closs-flttlng caps . that apprentices wore, ana ror a moment they stood watching th fir" at th fruinenera. Then aeelng that th fir was burning nnwnwhlch it did very otilcklyinthry did net stay AiU Uis allsutluu n ths sergeant wa reloaaed from iti but, ac companied by Stephen, turned down th street, and; going along at a brisk rata, turned th corner and earn into th open space in front of the cathedral, in gates win t shut. I rear," aaia the tallest apprentice. - "How cam th tire, Stephen? It waa thre or four trusses of bay. sir: and sv few crowns to .repair his scorched paint. . Shall w go to ' th gataT".-, - - r-. ; ,. - "T. w must. try-th gatV-aald Prince Henry: Catherine the hand of tha countess Into his; and tha third ap prentice walked silently by Stephen's side. Yet one, aa sh want, sh aald softly:-. . .. "Bo It was no trlok. Btephen?" "No trick, but th truth, madam. said Stephen. I do not know." said Osra, "how I am to return to th palac in these Clothes." . "Let us- get - your HbrOtber and th countess away first," counseled - the smith. - - . Now.' whan they cam to th nearest gat, It was shut; but at th moment a troop of mounted men rod up, hav ing been sent by th king to .scour th country - round. In case - th fugitives should hava slrsady ascspad frnm tha aityj amt She pany bore an order from tha king's marahal for th opening of .th gate. seeing this." Stephen tn smith wen to him snd begsn to talk to him, th three apprentices standing closg by. The commandant, fenewBtephen well, and waa pleased to talk with hlra while the gates worevopewed and the- troopers fHed through. Stephen kept doe by him till the troopers wer all through Then-Ae turned and spoke to the apprentices, and they nodded assent. The commandant checked his horse for sn Instant, when he was half way through th gate, and bent down and took Stephen's hsnd to shake In farewell. And Btephen took his hand . with marvelous frlendllneas, and held it. and would not let htm go; nearer and nearer tha gate. - Enough, man, enough, laughed th commandant.- "W ar not parting for ever.". . I trust not ,slr: I trust tiot." aald Stephen eamesyyBtlll holding his hand. "come, let me go. see, tns gatekeeper wants to abut th gate." --- , True." - aald , Stephen "Good-bye, then, sir. - Hallo, hallo) Stop!- stop! Oh, tha young rascals!" For, - aven as Stephen - spoke, two of ths apprentices bad darted through th half-closed gat and run swiftly for ward into th gloom of th night.1-And Stephen swore an oath, - - The rogues!" h cried. "They wer to have worked "all night to flnlah an Image" of Our Lady; An now I shall seajio.more of them till tomorrow. They. shall pay for their .prank, -then, by heaven, they ahall!". -But th command ant laughed. "Lam sorry I can't catch them for you, friend Stephen, said hs, "but I hav other fish to fry Well, boys will be boys. Don't b too hard on them when they return.11" "They must anawer for what they doT" saldT Stephen; and Ihe commandant rod on, and the gates were shut. Then the Prtnceaa Osra ssld: "Will they escape, Stephen?" - -"They hava money In their nurses, love in their hearts, and an angry king behind them. I should travel quickly, madam, if I were so placed." Th princess looked through the grab. ing oflhe sate. nTes7T' she said, ''they hav all those. How happy they must be, Stephen! But what am J ta dor .Stephen made- no. answer. 'and they walked back In silence to his houss. It may be that they were wondering whether Prince Henrynn4 the countess would escape. Yet lt may be that they thought of aomathlng else. When they reached - the. bouse, Stephen bad th princess ao Into the- tnner room and I resume her own-dreaa, that shs might I re tlim tO the nl.c; nt hn ah, St 111- strsngely silent, went in aa he bade her, he took hla great staff in his hsnd and stood on tha threshold of the house. ' - Now. when ha had stood there a llttl, while, tha earn sergeant of th guard, recollecting (now that th fir at th f rullselier's waa out) that h had never searched th hous of th smith, cams again with his four men. . and told Stephen to stand es!J,e. and allow hlra to enter th house. .- 'Those whom you seek ar not here," said Stephsn. , "That I must se for myself." an swered th sergeant. "Come, smith, stand aside." When th princess heard tha voices outside, shs put her head round th door of th inner room, and cried in great alarm to Stephen: "They must not com In. Stephen. : At any -cost, they must not corns In!',' ' "Do not be afraid, madame; they will not come In," said ha. "I heard a vole in th hous," cried the sergeant. - "It is nothing uncommon to besr in a house," said Btephen, -and he grasped firmly his great staff. 1 "Will you make wsv for us?" demand ed the sergeant.' "For th last time, will you make way?" "Overmy deatt body you can come Then th sergeant oVw hla sword, andi his men set their halberds In rest, and the sergeant orylnav "In 4h kind's name!" cam art : Stephen with drawn sword and struck fiercely at him. But Stephen let the great staff drop on th sergeant's shoulder, and th sergeant's arm fell powerless by his side. There upon th guards' cried sloud. and penpls began to come out of their houses. And Stephen's eyes gleamed; and whan the guards thrust at him, hs struck at them, and two 'of them he stretched senssless on the ground.) for his height and reach were such that h struck them before they could com near enough to touch him: and. having no firearms, they could not bring him down. And the princess, now fully dressed 4a her own garments, cam out Into th outer room and stood there, looking st Stephen. Her bosom rose and fell, snd bsr ya grew dim ss ah looked; and growing very esger, Srict ,T'frs much movsd, she kept mur muring to herself : -- "I hsve not said no thrlcte, not thrice: And It seamed to bar 4 brav thing fight taW hsr;- and to offer his life to hid her -Thame. Now, old King Henry was not a pa tient man, and whan h had waited two houra without newa of son. daughter or countess, he, flew Into a mighty passion, and aani on for bis horse snd snother for Rudolfs hone and a third for Ru dolf himself, and b drank a draught of wlna and called to Rudolf to accompany him that they, might see for themselves what th lasy bounds of guarda wer doing; that they bad not yet com up with th quarry: Thus they traversed the city, riding awlftly, th old king fu riously upbraiding every officer and soldier whom he met, and then they rod to th gat, and air the gatekeep er aald that nobody had gone out, save that on gatekeeper admitted that two apprentice of Stephen the silversmith had contrived to allp out whan the gates wer open to 1st ths troopers pass. But th king -mads nothing af It. and. tnrn-- 1 Ing. with ..his ion, rode up tha atreet- wnere Diepnen jived Aa hr-thy cams suddenly Into th midst of a crowrrxn r"Tiiieor n rn aHoaaw w6TnardTyTeFlheorsei moviveif ot a loot s pacst, The king cried out angrily: "What is th tumult?" Thn th peopl knew blm. and sine common folk ar always anxious to serv and command themselves to ' th' great, , a soor began all at one ta tell him what bad happened; and th king could not makt head or tail of th babel of voices. And Prlnc. Rudolph dropped bis retna and sat on his borp laughing. But th 'ng, -hla patience being clean gone, drew his sword and cried fiercely, "Make way!" knd aat spur to his horse. Hot recking whether h hurt any man in Itf or limb. Thus b gained a pas sage through th crowd and cam near to Stephen's bouse, Prlnc Rudolf fol lowing In hi wsks. still greatly amused at all that waa happening. But th alght thay saw arraated aven Prlno Rudolfs smiles,, and h raised himself in his stirrups with a sudden cry of wonder. For four mor of th guard had coma, and there wer now six standing round th doorway, and thre lay stretched on th ground, and Ste phen th smith still stood on th thresh- old with his staff In his hand. Blood flowed from a- wound in hla -head, but h twirled his suff to and fro, and was not weary, and non of th guard dared to rush in and clog with him. JiUL..wnca in. King n,.M ii... ui-pi. tha smith resisted - th officers, would not suffer his house to be searehed, ha fell Into m great rag, and hs swree) out on them alL calling them onward. anl, befora bis son -or any-ona-elaa could stop hbn, b drew his sword and dug his spurs Into Ma-hor. Tka-berssv bounded forward and knocked down 'one of th guarda who atood round Btephen. Then the king, neither challenging 8t- phen to yield nor giving him tim to stand aside, being carried away by pas sion, raised his sword and rode full at blm. And the princess, from within, caught sight of his fac, and sh fell on her knees with a moan snd hid her face. Then Stephen saw that It was th king, and hone other, .who rod aajataai mssi lie nod no time fui thought,-for The king was en him in th space of a second, and b could do nothing but drop th staff that ha held and stand defenseless In th -doorway, for he would nelther,atrtk th king nor yield . tn passageBut, lhlcinaV-JHt heeding in bis fury that Btephen had dropped bit staff, drew back bis arm and lunged with his sword, and thrust th smith through th chest; and Ste phen reeled and fell on On knee, and hla bood flowed out on tha stone of th doorstep. Then th king reined in his horse, and sat looking down on Stephen, but Rudolf leaped to th ground and cam and caught bold of Stephen, sup porting blm, and asking. "What does It mean, man? What does It mean?" Then Stephen, being very faint with hie wound, said with difficulty: "Com in .alone you and th king alone." Prince Rudolf looked at th king, who sheathed hia aword and dismounted, from his- - horser- and - th - princ supported Stephen inside th house, and th king followed. Uicm.anil.ihut-thx-dQor on all the people outside. Than- King- lisnry-the Lion saw hi daughter crouching down tn the middle of th room, her fac hidden In her hands. Surprise and wonder banished his rag, and b could do no mor than gasp her nam, while th prince, who knelt, supporting. Stephen, cried to her, asking how sh cam there; but she an swered nothing.. Sh took her hands from her fao and looked at Stephen, nn when shs saw that hs saas snis and bleeding, ah fall to sobbing, and bid her fac again. And aha did not know whether sh would hav him live or die; for, If he lived, he could not b hers, and if h died. - her heart would ach sorely for blm. : Then Stephen, be ing supported by the arms of Prlnc Ru dolf, mad shift to speak, and he told the king how, at his persuasion, tha prinoes had brought th countess thith er; how ha himself had contrived the presene of th prlnc at th same tiraot- vawea upon to aid th lovers. And when Stephen had aald his say. h fell back very faint In th arms of th prlno; and th princ tor a scarf from bis walat. and tried td stanch tha blood from Stephen's wound. But th wit king, who- wag a haranngnrgmntd grimly. "Indeed, he has tricked lis finely, this smith, and he is a clever fellow," said he. uut unless he would rather hanr than bleed toideath. let his wound be, Rudolf. ror, oy heaven, if you cur him.-1 will hang blm." "Do not be afraid, aire." ssld Stenhen. "the princ cannot cur me. You atlll strike straight, though you ar bard on TO. - "Straight enough for a rascal . like you," aald the king, well Dleaaed. And he added. "Hold th fellow easily, Ru dolf: I would not bava him suffer." And thisr was, they say, ths only tm in all his life that Henry th Lion showed a sign of pity to any man. But Stephen waa now vary faint, and he cast hla eyes toward th princess, and nuaoir ipiiowea his eyes. Now. Rudolf had an affection for Stephen, and he laved hla alster, and was a man of soft heart; and he 'cried srentlr to Osra. "Come, sister, and help me with him." j And shs rose and cam and sat down! by th wall, and gathered Stephen's head Into her lap; and ther h lay. looklnr tip at her with a smile on his lips, But still hs bled, and bia blood stained th Whit cloak that sh wor over her robr-and her tear dropped on his fsce. But Rudolf took his fathsr by the srm and led him a little wsy off, saying: wtiat matter, sire? Th gin la votins. and th man is dying. LotThem be." And the old king, grumbling, let him self be led away. Then Stephen, looking up at Osra. said: "Do not weep, madam. Ther will escape now. snd they will be hsprty." I was not weeping for them." said - . - in. prinvf... Stephen was silent for a llttl while, and then he ssld: , , "Do you weep, madam, because I am oyingr- , - ."Ya. I weep for that". "Would you have ma liv. msdamar he saked. 1 . , 1 , No, I would not No But I do' not snow.- sn aaia. . fContlnusd en Following; paxO 1 t