| Show The Indifference of the Miller of 0 BY ANTHONY HOPE There la Is a swift little river running by r the village of and on the theT T Iver Oer is ft a mill kept In the days of oft J t Ins Rudolf the Third by a sturdy ell ow who o lived there thero all aU alone The Thel l ns knew v him having alighted at his house bouse for a draught of beer as he rode hunting and It was of f him the king Spoke When he said to the queen There Is I believe VC but one man In inthe the thc country whom Osra could not ove and that is the miller thIller of Hot Hoe brau rau Sut RuL he addressed the lueen If was his sister at whom he tho th eh The princess her herself herselt self was waS s ing by and when she heard beard the she e said In tr truth trull Hi f 3 nol desire sire to move any man t t io roul le l comes of f it Yet with ls The where the miller might bV lit T tt d he Tie added If It you von ou co v It l riu Ul loathe love loe of ot worn wom woman an L tile tIte finest bracelet In n 1 I There Thoro is n i h itt t sire so remote from my thought bt of 9 nt desire as to con convert conett concert cert vert ett your said Osra scorn scornfully scornfully scornfully fully And If t t moment mom n she spoke truthfully t tu l J but b f t being left alone one at t the Castle of f Zenda which Is buba hub a few miles distant from she sie found time hanging very t oil indeed she did I rot to do tb with 1 herself h e rae tl for Md go for tor this reason and I none other at one on day she ordered LS lier ber pr horse and rode ruie rofo off oft with a 0 single room groom into tho the forest Coming Corning as the tho I morning went on to lo a wide road she lie 11 ked the groom groon where her it led to To madam he answered It is I rot ro more than a mile miI further on ont t isra waited for a n fV f W moments then th n the he said aId ald I Will ride on and see the I village for I haVe haXe been told that it is pretty prett Walt Wait here till I 1 return And I she ehe rode on smiling a little UttIe and with n V delicate d tint of or color in hi her cheeks i Before tong long she saw the river and I Ithe the mill on the river and coming to I Ith the thc th mill she saw the miller sitting before his door smoking a long pipe I and she called caned out to him asking him to sell her a glass glaas of milk mUk You can have hae it for the asking said the miller He was a good look ing fair f ir fellow and wore a scarlet cap There is a a pail pall of it just inside I the t e door behind me Yet Tet he did not rise but lay la there the e lolling luxuriously I in itt the sun For he did riot not know Osra never having eon jeen to in his life I iff and to Zenda three or four times only and that shen hen the Princess was not hot there Moreover though this as must be allowed is not to the purpose he had sworn sw rn never again to go so far I afield Being answered in this manner and andI I at the desiring the milk the Princess bird hd no Choice hoice but to dis dismount dismount dismount mount This Titis she did and passed by the thc miller pausing a moment to look at him with bright curious eyes e es that flashed from under the brim of her wide rimmed feathered hat but the miller blinked bUnked lazily up at the sun and cok no heed of her Osra passed on found the pail poured up a cup of milk and drank it Then refilling the tho cup shoo she carried it I to the miller Will Vill you not have some some said she J with aith Hh a smile I was J said miller and he held out gis is ha but did not otherwise change his position j brow was wag wa puckered and her heck heek flushed as she knelt down hold holdst st iff lg 1 the cup of milk so that the miller 4 QuId reach it h He took and drained lt jt J gave it back to her and put his pipe In his mouth again Osra sat down by him and watched him He puffed and blinked away never so much as look Ing at her r What have you for dinner asked sho sh presently Dresen A piece of cold pie said he Theres Thres enough for two if Ir youre your hun hungry hungry hungry gry Would rould you ou not like it better hot hotz Oh aa ay but I l cannot weary wean myself with ith heating It ItI ItI I r will heat it said tho the princess and rising she aho went into the tho house and made UP UD the fire which was almost burnt out then she heated the pie and fht K t the room in order and laid the table able t and drew a large jug of beer from the cask Next she placed the arm t hair ready for the miller and put the jug by it then she filled a pipe from the bowl of tobacco and set a cushion In the chair And all this while she sho hummed a tune and from time to time gayly ga ly Lastly she ahe arranged a hair Imir hal by b the elbow of the millers chair charr then th n she Went ent out and told him that his dinner was ready read and he stumbled to his feet with a sigh of laziness and walked before her Into the house May Mn r I como come cried she Ay there thre Is enough for two said the iho t miller of without looking round Tonn So she followed him In He sank Into I the armchair and sat there for a mo surveying the room which was Jo neat and the table so daintily laid ind nd tho the pie so 90 steaming hot And he sighed saying sa e It was like this before poor mother died lied and he fell to on a great per por tion of pie with which Osra Oera had hod piled his plate When he had finished eating which thing did not happen for some time she fhe held the jug while he took a long draught then she brought a coal in the I tongs and held it while he lit his pipe I from it then she sat down by him For several moments he hc puffed and then at ast he turned his head and looked at Princess Osra and she he her Jong lashes and cast east down her eyes e es and next she sh lifted her eyes and glanced for nr an instant In tant at the th miller and finally she h dropped her e eyo again and mur murmured murmured I inured shyly la ls it tt sir Why Wily lo n you look at Rt me You seem to bo be a handy wench ob oh observed served miller millor The pie was steam SteamIng Ing hot and yet Was not burnt the beer was well weIl frothed but not shaken nor thickened and the pipe draws well weIl Where does your dwell He is dead sire sir sold sald the Princess Osra sra very den derr rely roly u And nd your mother pursued the mil mit miller miller ler She Sho also is dead dea There is small harm In that said aid the miller r thoughtfully and Osra turned away her har head to t bf her smile Are Arc you not very lonely living hero all nil by yourself she sh asked a moment Indeed I I have to do everything lor for or am myself self said sald the t tui miller sadly And there Is nobody to toto to care are for forNo OU OUNo No o nor norto to look after atter my comfort said the miller Have Eave you you any kin kindred kindred dred Oil I have two brothers hr r th rs sir but they are married now arid and have J no need of or orme me meThe The miller laid down his pipe and setting his elbow orr on the table faced Princess Osra HJ said he lle b Is It likely you will ride this ta I may chance c ance to do so said Osra Osmand and a nd now there was a gleam of malicious triumph t In her eyes and she sho was think thinking thinkIng ing I ng already how ho the bracelet would look on o n her arm armAh armAh Ah flAh said the miller and after a u pause p ause he added a If you do come half halt an art a n hour before dinner and you can lend end l a hand in making it ready Where did d id you get those fine flue do tries r My lIy mistress gave them to me an ah answered s Osra Osta She Sho haa has cast them thorn off And that horse you rode It lit ismy is my masters I r have it to to ride when w hen I do my mistress errands And will your master and mistress do d o anything for you if 11 you leave leBe their thIr th lr service ervice s I 1 have been promised x a present If It said Osra Oara and she paused in ap apparent apparent parent confusion Ay A y said the miller nodding saga sagaciously sagacIously and he rose slowly from the armchair Will you be in this way again in a week or so 50 he asked I r think It is very likely lIkel answered Princess Osra Then look in said the miller about half an hour before dinner And nd he e nodded his head again very significantly s as Osra and turning away went to his work as a man goes who would far rather sit still in the sun But just as ns he reached the door the turned his head and asked Are you sturdy Oil I am strong enough I think said sid she sheA A sack of flour Is a heavy hea thing thino for fora rora a man to lift by himself remarked the miller and with that he passed through t the door d ar and left lert her alone Then she cleared the th table put the pie or what little was left leftin in the lar larder larder larder der set the room in order refilled the pipe stood the Jug handy by the cask and with a look of great satisfaction on her face tripped out to where her horse was mounted and rode away The next week and the interval had seemed long to her and no less long longto to the miller of she came again and so the week eek after and In Inthe Inthe Inthe the week following that she came twice and on the second of these two days da s after dinner the miller did not go off of to his sacks but he followed her herout herout herout out of the house pipe in hand when she went to mount her horse and as she was about to mount he said Indeed you are a handy h wench You say much m ch o of my hands but nothing of or my face remarked Prin Princess Princess Princess cess Osra Of or your face repeated the miller In some surprise What should I say of your face f ce Well VeIl is it not a comely face tace asked Osra turning toward him that he might be able better to answer her question The miller regarded her for some minutes then a slow stow smile spread on his lips Ups Oh ay a It Is well enough said he Then he laid a floury finger on her arm armand armand armand and ho he continued If you come next hy it Is but half a mile to t church Ill have the oart cart ready and bid the priest be b there What Is your name For he had bad not hitherto asked I name Rosa Schwartz said sald she and her face was w s all alight aUght with triumph and I amusement amuse n nt I Yes I Ishall I shall be very ory comfortable i with iou said the thO hillIer We will willbe willbe willbe I be at the church an hour before noon I Iso so that there may be time afterward for forthe forthe forthe the preparation of dinner That will be on Thursday In next week asked Osra Ay Av on n Thursday said the tho miller and he turned on his heel But In a minute he lIe turned again saying Give me a kiss then since we are to be beman beman beman man and wife and he came slowly to toward to toward o oward ward her holding his arms open Nay a the kiss will wait walt till Thurs Thursday Thursday Thursday day Maybe there will wUl be less flour on your face then And with a laugh she I dived under his outstretched hands bands and made her escape pe And the day diLy being bing b warm the miller did not put himself out by pursuing her but s where I he was with a broad comfortable smile on his lips Ups and so he watched watch d her hr h r ride Ide away aw Now as she rode the princess was much occupied in thinking or of the mil mit miller mille ler le of H Elated J nd triumph triumphant ant as she was at having from him a promise of marriage she was yet somewhat vexed that he had not shown a more passionate affe and this clouded her brow for t n half an hour But then her face facO cleared Still waters w run deep said sat she to her herself herself herself self He Ie is not riot lUte like court gallants gaU ants who have learned to make Jove ove as soon as they th y learn to th walk and cannot talk to a woman wt b t bowing and grim grimacing grimacing grimacing acing and sighing word The miller has a deep nature and surely I have won Von his heart or he would not take me for his wife Poor miller I T pray that he may ulay n y not grieve very bit bitterly bitterly terly when wh n I make truth known to him And then at the thought of or the grief of or the miller her face was again clouded but it was cleared when she considered the great gre t triumph that she slie had won and how she would en enjoy enjoy enjoy joy a SL victory over the king and would have the finest bracelet in all as s a gift from him Thus she arrived at the castle in the height of morn merri merriment me ri mont ment and exultation It chanced that the king also came caine cameto camet to t Zenda that night to spend a week hunting the boar in the th forest and when Osra Osia all blushing and laughing told him bim of her success with the miller of ot he was greatly amused and swore that no such girl ever lived and applauded her herr renewing his prom promise ise Is of the bracelet and he lie declared that he would himself ride with her to on the wedding day and see how the poor miller bore his disappointment disappOintment i I Indeed I do not riot see how you are i going to excuse yourself to him he hela la 13 laughed A purse pu se of crowns must do that office ce for or me said she What will crowns patch a broken heart His 11 I en heart must heal itself as mens menis broken hearts do brother In truth sister I 1 have hae known them I T TJ ri rr J J T LJ s T r 1 V I I I f I The Princess Had No Choice but to Dismount I fI cure ure c themselves Let us hope it may maye be b e so with the nier of At the worst I have revenged the w of women on him It is unendurable durable dur d ble that any man should scorn scorns us u s be ho he king or miller It Is Indeed very proper that he should hould s suffer great pangs agreed the king k ing in spite of his plaster of crowns I 1 shall love to see the stolid fellow sighing s and moaning like a lovesick courtier c So they agreed to ride together to the he t millers at on the day appointed a for the wedding and both bothof bothof of o f them waited with impatience for it But B ut with the bad luck that pursues mortals even Cven though they be princes in i n this poor world Jt happened that I early arly e in the th morning of the Thursday i a great officer came riding posthaste from to take the kings com corn commands commands mands on high matters of state and aId although Rudolf was sorely put out of temper by b this untoward interruption yet et he had ad no alternative but to trans transact transact transact act the business before he rode to the millers at So he sat flatting f and fuming while long papers were I read to him and the princess walked up and down the length of the draw drawbridge bridge fretting also for before the king could escape from his affairs the of o the wedding was already come i and doubtless the miller of ot I Iwas was waiting with the priest in the church And indeed it was 1 o lock or more before Osra and the king Icing set setout setout I out from Zenda and they had then a aride aride ride of an hour and a half and all this when Osra should sh uld have havo been at the millers at 11 Poor man ho he will vill be half mad with waiting and with anxiety for me ne cried Osra Oil I must give him another hundred crowns on account of It And she added after a pause I pray he may not flot take it too much to heart Ru Rudolf Rudolf Rudoll dolf doll We must try to prevent event him doing any mischief in despair smiled the king Indeed it is a serious matter pouted the princess who thought the kings smile out of place placeIt It was not so when you began it said her brother and Osra was silent Then about they came in sight of if the mill min Xo Now Vie the king dismounted while they were still seral hundred I yards away and tied his horse borse to a tree in a clump by the wayside and aid a d when they came near to the tho mill he hema made ma e a circuit and approached from the side and creeping along the house hid himself behind a large which stood just under the window and from that spot he could hear what passed inside the house although he could not see But Osra rode Tode up to the front of the mill as she |
