Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1879-03-13
5HstfHaup.
A DANISH LEGEND.

III tllc uitrk ages, Whch IaganlSm ruled
over the land and even civilization S light
but family shone, there lived King in
Denmark whose name has not descended
to later times. Yet he governed fair
country and possessed much power. At
the period of this story he was in the de.
cline Of lie, and had been twenty years
widower. His only child was daughter
the beautiful Ruscha, whose mother had
died in giving her birth.
In all the neighboring kingdoms the
fame of the Princess Ruschas beauty was
widely spread, and many were the noble
suitors for her hand But the princess
was proud, and impcrious as fair: she re-
lectcd every proposal of marriage and
treated her lover with so much scurn that
almost all were inclined 10 hate and speak
i'll of her. She thus raised up enemies on
every side.
The old King was much nccnscd at this
conduct, and sharply reproved his daugh-
ter.
WAS it not enough" he said, that
thou wOuldSt not make choice OfOnc of thy
suitors, but they must be rcpulscd with
much bitter contempt? Thy naughty bear
ing and evil tongue has converted those
friends into foes. Murmur not therefore
at what | shall do, am old and feeble;
a few years more and must depart from
this earth to take my place among the he
rocs OF NalhalIa, and drink the mead Of
Odin. Thou art Young and Il woman;
who will shield thee when am gone from
tbp npWnIti1l tlts
the hammer of Thor do swear thon ShaW
choose thee Il husband, who may he thy
protector and King in my place. II thou
dost still refuse to do this, | swear by the
Odln golden horn, out of which heroes
drink, ! will name me successor! will
not suffer thee, ungratclu girl, to rule my
people according to thine own capncious
will"
When the King had thus spoken, he
went out, leaving the princess alone. Her
face was crimson with anger, and her blue
eyes flashed resentment. She paced the
room some time with unQulet steps: for
the thought that the sovereignty might be
wrcsted from her was painful for her to
bear.
AT length she threw herself into a seat
and sat long with her fair head drooped
upon her hands. Then starting up, as il
she had suddenly formed IL resolution. she
retired to her own apartment.
For many days after the Ming showed
much severity toward his daughter, and
his harsh rebukes were frequent. At
length she told him she was willing to
choose cOnsOrt.
Let all the neighboring princes and
mobiles and those who have sought me in
marriage, she said, "be invited to the
court, that may make choise among
them.
But her father answered, "Not so, by
Odin and Frcial The princes and mobiles
OF the nelghbOrlng countries have no long
er any pleasure in thee. counsel thee to
choose one of thy own kinsmen. What
sayest thou to Buc, the stout, or Eric, or
Swed, the squintcr?'
The princess curled her naughty lip in
scOn and answered not. But after some
days she signiied her choice. The person
she selected was not among her rejected
suitors. 1t was Toke Jarl, sunamed the
Slender; he was OF puncely descent, pos
sessed large patrimOny ofland, and was.
moreover, distinguished for courage, and
manly beauty. He was richer than
Ruscha's own kinsmen, so that the old
King made no objections to his becoming
the husband of his daughter and his de.
clared successor. He dispatched messen-
gers to TOke Jarl to announce to him his
good fortune.
Toke was well pleased with the inteli-
gence, and praised the blue eyes and the
ripe Judgment Of the princess. He order
ed some of bis best horses and his finest
oxen to be led as present to the King,
with thanks for the honor done him, and
announced that he would the next day pre-
sent himself as a suitor before the beauti-
iul Ruscha, who should never have reason
to repent her choice.
The marriage was celebrated with due
splendor at the Kings castle, where Toke
Jarl proved veritable hero; for he drank
not only father-in-law under the table, but
also his cousins Bue, the stout, Eric, and
Swed, the squinter, without showing him
sell the slightest symptom of inebriation.
After this achievement, he took the fair
BRIDE from her maidens, and led herto the
nuptial chamber.
WV NV h"PPJ, CNCn uipCl Htl
union with the object Of her choice. Am
bition was her ruling passion; and she
longed to feel the golden circlet of royal
ty upon her brow, even before it could
lawfully become hers by the death of her
father. An evil spirit possessed her, and
she hated the good old King from the day
he had so harshly reproved her and pro-
posed a marriage with one of her cous-
ms.
She knew that Toke Jarl loved her pas.
sionately, and resolved to make him her
instrument for the qualification of her
wicked desires, She assumed deep mel
ancholy, and a grief worn aspect, as if she
shed many tears in secret.
what ails thee, Ruscha?" would he
ask, and she would make no reply.
Then Toke would swear by Thor and
Odin, that if any one vexed her he should
Que. The cunning princess wept more
bitterly, and whispcred
"Couldst thou take away the life of a
King, my father, and escape the infamy
of being cal ed his murderer?"
Toke Jar started, and looked earnestly
and gloomily upon his wife.