. McClure's magazine. he did not meethis glance. How came you here, madam? heasked in wonder. I heard, she said, that you medi-tated this great sin, and I rode after you toforbid it. Can you forbid what you cause? heasked. I am not the cause of it, she said, but your own trickery. It is true. I am not worthy to live,cried the marquis, smiting the hilt of hissword to the ground. I pray you, mad-am, leave me alone to die, for I cannottear myself from the world so long as Isee your face. And as he spoke he knelton one knee, as though he were doinghomage to her. The princess caught at a bough of t
. McClure's magazine. he did not meethis glance. How came you here, madam? heasked in wonder. I heard, she said, that you medi-tated this great sin, and I rode after you toforbid it. Can you forbid what you cause? heasked. I am not the cause of it, she said, but your own trickery. It is true. I am not worthy to live,cried the marquis, smiting the hilt of hissword to the ground. I pray you, mad-am, leave me alone to die, for I cannottear myself from the world so long as Isee your face. And as he spoke he knelton one knee, as though he were doinghomage to her. The princess caught at a bough of thetree under which she stood, and pulled thebough down so that its leaves half hid herface, and the marquis saw little more thanher eyes from among the foliage. And,thus being better able to speak to him, shesaid, softly: And dare you die, unforgiven? I had prayed for forgiveness beforeyou found me, madam, said he. Of Heaven, my lord? Of Heaven, madam. For of HeavenI dare to ask it. A ZEND A STORY BY ANTHONY HOPE. 203. \ \ >^^\^s% SHE STOLE UP AND SAW MONSIEUR DE MEROSAILLES SITTING ON THE GROUND. The bough swayed up and down; andnow Osras gleaming hair, and now hercheek, and always her eyes, were seenthrough the leaves. And presently themarquis heard a voice asking: Does Heaven forgive unasked? Indeed, no, said he, wondering. And, said she, are we poor mortalskinder than Heaven? The marquis rose, and took a step or twotowards where the bough swayed up anddown, and then knelt again. 11 A great sinner, said he, cannot be-lieve himself forgiven. Then he wrongs the power of whomhe seeks forgiveness; for forgiveness is di-vine. Then I will ask it, and, if I obtain it,I shall die happy. Again the bough swayed, and Osra said: Nay, if you will die, you may die un-forgiven. Monsieur de Merosailles, hearing thesewords, sprang to his feet, and came towards 2C4 THE WAGER OE THE MARQUIS DE MEROSAILLES. the bough until he was so close that hetouched the green leaves; and throughthem the
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