The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1879-01-16
TIE PRINCESS AND THE PfUMs.
BY FANNIE WILLIAMS.

Three knights on horseback me- one
day where two roads crossed. The
knight who came from the North had
blue eyes and yellow hair, and great
golden beard flowed over his mail-clad
breast. He bore a white banner with
black raven worked upon it, and a raven
and a serpent were emblazOned on his
shield Of shimmering gold. He rode a
milk-white war-horse, and its feet were
shod with golden shoes.
The one who came from the East was
tall and stately, with flashing dark eyes.
and long black ringlets falling on his
shoulders. He rode a cOal-black charger,
his hauberk was of glittering steel, his
/ helmet was of brass, and the device
upon his shield displayed two bears
/ holding up a jeWeled crown.
He who came from the West was
noble of face and form, and bore him
self with an air Of pride. His gray eyes
had a piercing glance, his bearded lip
was naughty as a kings and short brown
cUrls were clustered thickly underneath
! his nOdding crest. He was clad in a suit
of Milan armor, inlaid with gold which
shOne with dazzling brightness; and
costly jewels glittered all over the har-
ness Of his red-rOOm steed. He bore a
lion on his shield, and a blOod-red cross
upon his floating pennOn.
When the three knights came together
at the crossing, they each drew rein, and
the first one spoke
"How now, good comrades! Are we
friends or fOesP
81 am a good friend if you please, and
bad foe if it suits you betterW re-
turned the black-eyed knight.
"And I am a friend to all the good and
a foe to all the wicked" said the lion
knight.
con, it is plain to see that we are all
honest menp laughed the first good
naturedly. "As for me my name is Har-
old, and I came from Denmark"
"And I am Waldomar of Russia,
prince of royal blood, and not unknown
to fame, said the second, proudly. "In
many a rattling fray I still have borne
me ike a knight"
2 81 am no stranger to your fame, Sir
Harold and Sir WaldOmaT," said the !
knight, quietly; "and perhaps you know
my banner, if you never heard my name. /
Men call me Palmerin Of England.
owe know both name and banner, and |
so does every one that ever heard a tale !
of knightly deedsW exclaimed the Dan !
ish knight. "Well met, Sir Palmerin ]" l
"What is it Palmerin the Bold ?' |
cried Waldomar. "Well met, indeed, |
and 1 hope we journey in the same di-
rection."
my way lies toward the south" said |
Palmerin.
"And mine" said Waldomar.
"And mine" said Harold.
Sir Palmerin looked from the Russian |
TO the Dane, and smiled a meaning |
smile.
"Are we all riding on the same er-
rand, good brothersP he asked.
Good faith, hope not% cried Sir
Harold, "for I am bound to Bohemia as
suitor for the hand and heart Of the
peerless Lady Isolette."
"And so am I, )" said Waldomar.
"And l." said Palmerin.
Then the three knights looked at each
other in silence. He Of England was the
first to speak.
at appears that we are rivals" he re-
marked. "Yet I see no reason why We
need be enemies. Come, let us Join
company and 90 to Bohemia together,
and let the lady choose between us as
she will"
'sThat is fair enough" said Harold.
81 agree" said WaldOmar.
So the three knights took the road that
led toward the south. For three days
they rode on, side by side, and at sunset
Of the third day they came to a castle in
Bohemia, where dwelt the Princess Iso-
lette, the flirest Of the far. Each blew
Il blast upon the bugle horn that hung
beside the castle gate, and quickly the
yray-haired senesChal came out to let
them in.
You are welcome, noble knights" he
said, "and 1 can guess your business
here"
We are suitors to the Lady Isolette."
said Harold the Dane.
"And not the first" smiled the senes-
ehal, but gravely added, "and fear you
Will not be the last, although my lady
must be hard to please if she takes not
one Of you; for three such princely
knights never yet came here together.
Come in, 1 pray you" he continued,
throwing open the gate. you and your
steeds shall have the best cheer the cas-
tie offers, and tomorrow morning my
lady will see you and give you her
decision"
He led the way within the castle, and
the three knights followed him to the
banquet hall, where they were served
with a supper fit to set before a king
after which they were provided with
Lodgings in a grand chamber, which
might also have suited a royal guest
Whatever might be the lady's answer to
their suits, they certainly could ind no
fH1lt with their entertainment.
In the morning they arose and pre-
pared to pay their court to the princess,
who sent them word that she would see
them directly after breakfast, So they
hurried over their breakfast as fast as
possible, and then the seneschaI came to
conduct them to the lady's presence.
They found her waiting for them on
marble terrace at the back of the castle,
from which a long flight of steps led
down to beautiful garden. She turned
TO greet them with a smile of such en-
trancing sweetness that each began to
remble for fear he should not win so
beautiful a creature. Her form was
graceful as a bending willow, her face
was like lily in the sun, her hazel eyes
were soft and bright, and her golden /
!, L L IL ,. ]