The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1850-10-22

inc at her whithersocver she turned. Sh,
shut her ewes, and tried to summon back the
phantom of the golden chariot, and espec
tally of the king.like man who sat inside
Scarce had she seen him clearly, but she fell
he looked king If wishing could bring tC
her so glorious fortune, she would almos
like to have, in addition TO the splendors o.
rich dress and grand palaces, such a noble
looking man for her lord and husband
And the POOR maiden was rudely awak en-
ed from her dream, by feeling on her delicate
shoulders the Two heavy hands of Esberr
Lynge
Haughtly she took them of. Alas he
loving her so much, had ever been lightly
loved in return to-day he was not loved at
ALL He came a, an i'll time, for the moment
his hand put aside the elder branches, al!
the dazzling fancies of his betrothed vanish
ed in air. He came, too, with an ill-wooing
for be implorcd her to trine no more, but to
frlfll her mothers hope and his, and enter
as mistress at the little backsmith's forge.
She, who had just been dreaming of palace
home Not word she answered at first,
and then cold cruel words, worse than 81
lcncc. SO Esbcrn, who, though lover, was
a manly hearted youth, and thought ii shame
TO be mocked by girls light tongue, left her
there and went away, not angry, but very
sorrowful.
Little Resa came 10 summon her sister.
But Hyldreda trcmbled befol the gathering
storm, for widow Kahn, hough a tender moth.
er, was one who well knew how TO rule. Her
loud, seys~-svoice already warned the girl
Of the reproof that was coming. To avoid
it only for little, until her own proud spirit
was Gained, IIydreda told Resa she wo uld
not come in until after she had taken little
walk down the moonlight road As she
passed from under the-elder-trec, she heard
a voice, like her mothers, and yet not her
mothcr's-no, it could never be, for it shouted
after her,
Come now, or come no more =
Some evil impulse goAdcd the naughty
-airl TO assert her womanly right of free ac-
ton. and She passed from her home, fying
with swift steps. A little, only little alb
sencc, TO show her indignant pride, and she
would be back again, to heal all strife. New
erhelcss, ere she was aware, IIyldreda had
reached the oak wood, beneath which she
had seen the mornings bewildcring sight
And there again, brighter in the moonlight
than it had ever seemed in the day. came
sweeping by the stately pageant. It's torches
flung red shadows on the trees, its wheels re-
sounded through the nights quiet with mu,
sic as of silver bells. And sitting in his state
alone, grand but smiling, was the lord of all
this spcndor.
The chariot stopped, and he dismountcd.
Then the whole train vanished, and, shorn of
all his glories, except certain brightness
which his very presence seemed 10 shed, the
king, if he were indeed such, stood beside
the trembling peasant maid.
lie did not address her, but looked in her
face inquiringly, until Ilyldreda felt herself
forced to be the first to speak
My lord, who art thou, and what is thy
will with me 2
lie smiled. Thanks, gentle maiden, for
the question has taken of the spell. Other
wise it could not be broken, even by Kong
Tulv'
IIyldrcda shuddcrcd with fear. Her finger,
tried to seize the cross which always lay oil
her breast, but no she had thrown aside III,
coarse black wooden crucilix, while dream
ing of ornaments of gold. And it was St
Johns Eve, and she stood bcsde the haunted
oak wood. No power had she To fly, and he
prayers died on her lips, for she knew her
self in the Hill.king's power
Kong Tolv began to WOO, after the elf
! fashion, brief and bold. Fair maiden, III
Dronningsiolen~ is empty, and It's thou mus
2 fiji it. Come and enter my palace under til
1 hill
= But the maiden solbed out that she ws
5 100 lowly 10 sit on queens chair, and th'
n none of mortas, save the dead, made the
home underground. And she prayed III
t Clicking to let her go back TO her mothe
5 and little Resa.
It lie only laughed. Would st be contcn
5 then, with the poor COTTAGE and the blac
q bread, and the labor from morn TIL eve DID
+. thou moi of ihysclf wish for palace and
c lord like me ? Aud did not the IIyldcmot
wait me the wish, so that | came TO meet an
" welcome thee under the lil 2
Hyldreda made one despairng effort
+ escape, but She heard again King Toly
S proud laugh, and looking up she saw that Il
thick oak wood had changed TO an army.
: pla"e of every tree stood a fierce warrio
l. ready to guard every step, She thought
i must he all delirious dream that wou
vanish with the morning Suddenly 81
RI heard the FAR village clock strike the hot
ID Mechanically she ni"d-one-two-ihr
: -lour-up tc tweice.
&c As she pronounced the last word, Koi
ii Tolv caught he. in his arms, saying, Tn
q hast named me and art mine
l. Instantly all the scene vanished. and II,
At dreda found herself standing on the bla,
ar side of little hill alone in the moonligl
'd But very soon the clear night darkcned, a
> heavy storm arose. Trembling, she loo
ed around for shelter, and saw in the Ii
Ut side tiny door, which seemed to invite i
&c to enter She did so In a moment $
of s,ood doyxlod by h,.xo Of E.,h, ,o.