The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1876-02-03
BY THE KINGS COMMAND.

BY THE KINGS COMMAND.
HIS MAJESTY KING LOUIS H., whose
birthday had been celebrated in the most
private manner, withdrew at an early
hour to his room, in order, as the cham
berlain asserted to dispatch important
business.
People smiled at the important bust
ness alleged by the oficious chamber
lain. The whole court knew His Majes-
ty's "important business" and was aware
that the King avoided society and loved
solitude.
The pretty little steamer floats from
morning till night on the Starenberg Sea,
whose clear blue water is lightly rufiled
by the east winds, ready at any moment
to be used by the King.
The breeze bears the fragrance of the
centifolias from Roseninsel, the little par
adisc the King loves. Perhaps at the very
moment that the chamberlain is talking
of ''important business" his vessel is
bearing him to the shore Of this poetic
island. Or the King is already riding
over field and meadow in pursuit of-soli
tude. King Louis II. has hitherto known
but few passions: magnificent nature,
which he seeks among the mountains,
music, and-horses. He knows but one
pleasure riding. Scarcely are the reports
OF his ministers over when the King
throws himself into the saddle and dashes
restlessly away, in all weathers. No one
is allowed to follow him-he wishes to be
a1one. The people of Munich like to talk
about the King, for now and then little
incidents which occur in his solitary wan
derings become public.
The slender young man attlred IN hunt
ing costume had reached the shore several
minutes, but still fingered in the boat,
above whose helm a small blue and white
banner tloated. Resting his head on his
arm, he sat gazing thoughtfully into the
darkness. Everything was SO still; no
sound was heard save the chirping of the
crickets and the tinkling of the cow bells
echoing from the lofty snow-clad Alps; a
light breeze stirred the boughs of the frs
and birchs and sighed over the waves
Doubtless it seemed to the hunter that the
mysteries of his own soul spoke in these
incomprehensible murmurs, as if he
heard in the outer world the same
strange voices that whispered in his
soul and to which he could give no
words. He felt so strangely moved
everything he beheld around him
appeared to utter an unconscious appeal.
He saw the stars rise behind the noun
tains, glitter on the peaks for time like
golden lamps and then mount higher and
higher into the blue sky, and felt as if he
wanted to say: Would that too could
soar upward and drink in the air and
sunlight of heaven, perceive the truth, the
sole truth of eternal omnipotence, of the
creation, and then ioyfully proclaim it
The hunter saw the moon rise, beheld
its soft light irradiatc much of the scene,
while the portion untouched by its rays
appeared darker and more mysterious ;
saw the outlines of the mountain peaks
stand forth distinctly, though white mists
yelled their slopes; saw single beams
penetrate so deep into the forests that here
and there group Of pines stood forth In
strong relief against the light, while the
remainder of the masses Of foliage grew
still darker.
Long, long, the young man in the gray
hunting suit gazed into The distance, until
noise on the shore reused him from his
dreams. A groom was standing there
with two horses, which were impatiently
neighing and stamping. The hunter
sprang lightly out of the boat. swung him
self quickly into the saddle, and, followed
by the groom, rode away.
They dashed silently forward over
mountain and valley, through forests and
meadows, and reached spot unsafe for
horses, where they dismounted and led
the animals slowly over the danger Gus
ground. 1t was long after midnight when
the hunter again dismounted, ordered the
groom to wait with the horses in a neigh
boring village, and continued his way on
foot. 1t seemed as if he uttered sigh OF
relief when he found himself alone among
the mountains. Solitary on narrow
path in the lofty mountains! He knew
how to value this feeling.
The night wore on, and the young man
still pursued his way, reveling in the
magnifccnce of nature. All! early morn.
| ing in the mountains has peculiar
charm, and the hunter seemed to know
how to prize it, for he often paused and
gazed around him as if he wished to en-
| 10y the full charm of nature. The blue
mist resting on the hills and valleys, the
FLASHING of the waterfalls, or the rippling
of the lake, which, when the voices OF
human activity are not awake, fall dis
| tinctly on our ears and when in the eas
bright streak appears in the deep blue
| skv, when little red clouds float upward
and the mountain peaks glow in the firs
kisses of the new light, we envy the lark
that can pour forth its thanks to the
Creator in one eXultant song.
The young man had now reached 6
high plateau, from which path led down
ward between lofty cliffs to more level
regions. A rock jutting out beneath the
shadow of the cliff invited the tired wan.
derer to repose. The young man sal
down, but had scarcely done so when he
heard voices near him and perceived be
hind huge rock an old man and young
girl of eighteen. The old man was JUS
saving: II knew on Good Friday tha
we'd have no luck this year. You
mother got up early in the morning, ano
what happened? The dog barked and tht
cat mewed. When this happens at thu
same time on Good Friday some misfor
tune is coming, old Lisbeth says, and she
knows everything, for her father was
learned man. 1t did come. The hal
DESTROYED our crops, our farm house Wa
burned, and the cattle died. Nothing wa
left except the little house where your ole
aunt once lived, and must pay taxes o.