Arms and the Woman

"I will promise you anything you may ask," I said eagerly. A new hope

and a new confidence had risen in my heart. I wonder where man got the

idea that he is lord of creation when he depends so much upon woman?

"And you will really be my sister, too!" taking her hands and kissing

them. "And you will think of me a little, will you not?"

"Yes." She slowly withdrew her hands. "If you do not find her, write

to me."

"Your Highness, it is my hope that some day you will meet a Prince who

will be worthy of you, who will respect and honor you as I do."

"Who can say? You have promised the King to become a subject of

Hohenphalia."

"Yes."

"Then you will be a subject of mine. It is my will--I am in a

sovereign mood--that you at once proceed to find Hildegarde, and I will

give her to you."

We had arrived at the head of the stairs. The departing light of the

smoldering sun poured through the stained windows. The strands of her

hair were like a thousand flames, and her eyes had turned to gold, and

there was a smile on her lips which filled me with strange uneasiness.

I kissed her hands again, then went down the stairs. At the foot I

turned.

"Auf wiedersehen!"

"Good-by!"

My ear detected the barest falter in her voice, and something glistened

on her eyelashes. . . . Ah! why could not the veil have remained

before my eyes and let me gone in darkness? Suddenly I was looking

across the chasm of years. There was a young girl in white, a table

upon which stood a pitcher. It was a garden scene, and the air was

rich with perfumes. The girl's hair and eyes were brown, and there

were promises of great beauty. Then, as swiftly as it came, the vision

vanished.

On reaching the street I was aware that my sight had grown dim and that

things at a distance were blurred. Perhaps it was the cold air.