Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1879-01-10
THE PRINCESS AND THE PLURs.
BY FANNIE WILLIAMS.

| b1 FANNIE WILLIAMS.
Three knights on horseback met on
day where two roads crossed. Tn
knight who came from the North haC
blue eyes and yellow hair, and grea
golden beard flowed over his mail-claC
breast. He bore white banner with
black raven worked upon it, and raveI
and serpent were emblaZoned on hii
shield of shimmering gold. He rode /:
mill-white war-horse, and its FEET wer(
shOd with golden shoes.
The one who came from TIE East Yas
tall and stately, with flashing dark eyes
and long black ringlets falling on his
shoulders. He rode 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 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 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 q
| lion on his shield, and 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 fOes?"
Il am good friend if you please, and
bad foe if it suits you better? re-
turned the black-eyed knight.
"And l am a friend to all the good and
foe to all the wicked" said the lion
knight.
"0h, 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 1 came from Denmark"
"And I am Waldomar of Russia, a
prince of royal blood, and not unknown
o fame" said the second, proudly. ain
many rattling fray 1 still have borne
me like knight"
81 am no stranger to your fame, Sir
Harold and Sir Waldomar," said the
knight, quietly; "and perhaps you know
my banner, if you never heard my name.
Men call me Palmerin of England.
ave know both name and banner, and
so does every one that ever heard a tale
of knightly deeds 20 exclaimed the Dam
ish knight. "Well met, Sir Palmerin p
What is it Palmerin the Bold ?'
cried Waldomar. "Well met, indeed,
and 1 hope we journey in the same di-
Tection."
''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 am bound to Bohemia as
a suitor for the hand and heart of the
peerless Lady Isolette."
"And so am l." 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 1 see no reason why we
need be enemies. Come, let us join
company and go to Bohemia together,
and let the lady choose between US as
she WILL"
"That 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 lso-
lette. the fairest of the fair. Each blew
Il blast upon the bugle horn that hung
beside the castle gate, and quickly the
gray-haired seneschal came out to let
them in.
"You are welcome, noble knights" he
said, 'and l can guess your business
here"
eve are suitors to the Lady Isolette," !"
said Harold the Dane.
"And not the first" smiled the senes-
chal, but graYely 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 III, l 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"
lie led the way within the castle, and
the three knights followed him to the
banquet hall, where they we're 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 find no
fault 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 st
them directly after breakfast. So they
hurried over their breakfast as fast as
possible, and then the seneschal came to
conduct them 10 the lady's presence.
They found her waiting for them on
marble terrace at the back of the castle,
from which a long fight of steps led
down to beautiful garden. She turned
to greet them with smile of such en-
tRlncing sweetness that each began to
tremble for fear he should not win so
beautiful a creature. Her form was
graceful as q bending willow, her face
was like lily in the sun, her hazel eyes
were soft and bright, and her golden
comb could hardly hold up the abund-
ance Of her auburn hair.
The three knights bent their knees be-
fore her, and kissed her snOw-white
hands; and Harold, the Danish knight,
exclaimed
Fair princess, my name and station
are already known to you, and l am
come from Denmark to pray you to be-
stow on me your hand in marriage"
The dark-eyed Russian said:
"And l am come from Russia, sweet
lady, to WOO you for my bride. l need
not tell you whom l am, for you have
seen Prince Waldomar in many Il tourn-
ament."
At last the English warrior said:
"Iady, I scarcely dare to hope that
fame has been so kind to me as to these.
nv brother knights. My name is Pal
merin, my blood is royal, and my native
land is England. l, also, am your lover,
lady fair"
sut i" lot 81 troG6Is 6Illsi''e : ',9a - -
1