The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1881-08-31

White Palace was to be the place.
Meanwhile the royal decree was is
sued and proclamation made through
out the world that on the twenty-sev-
enth day there was to be grand
tournament at the Snow White pal
ace of King Rupert, in which only
unmarried princes and knights were
TO be. permitted to take part, and
that the victor should have the prin.
cess for bride as we'll as the priv.
lege of giving her a name. This an
nouncement created a great stir
amongst all the noble young hen,
for the privilege Of marrying the
daughter of the renowned and veal.
THY King Rupert was prize we'll
worth contending for, though they
knew not of her beauty of face and
charms Of person. Great. prepare
tions were, made for the event, and
all the eligible young men determin-
ed to try for the prize.
The princess had probably had
her visions of young men COM
ing a counting that most maidend
have, but until now she had been
too happy and joyous to think mueK
about such things. Now tb~'' sne
was not only to have ape ',' out also
a husband, it wa out natural that
she should ed to wondering what
manner.l man lie was to be, and
a.. retired to rest that night with
her pretty little head full of such
thoughts. She dreamt that in the
coming contest she was won BY 1
prince who rode milk white steed
and who was SO fair to look upon, all
attired as he was in purple and gold,
that she fell in love with the vision.
She had never seen so handsome 4
youth in fact as she saw in her
dream, and the vision was constantly
in her thoughts. She was no longer
in maiden meditation, fancy free;'
for the young man IF the dream was
constantly in her fancy, and as the
time for the tournament drew near
she grew more aud more anxious to
know whether he Of the milk white
steed was substantial reality or
only the "baseless fabric of dream"
and if he was real, whether he
would be successful in Che contests
at the now rapidly approaching tour
nament. She may not have been
really in love, but she was nearer to
that condition than she had ever!
been, and it seemedto her that she
could be very happyswith such a cav
alier for Q lord and master.s
,gss, 4.oey g..g
CHAPTER vi.
AS the twenty seventh day AZ.
preached King Rupert had every
preparation made for Che grandest
tournament the world had ever ssen..
The cruel and oftentimes fatal tour
neys and jousts of later day chiv-
airy were not there known. er.flt
known, would not bSYs been tolera'
Ted, much less eneoaraged by 50 ku-
name a n,opa-.faa Rupert. All Of
the tri-ss Of skill and strength were
.pobe bloodless, barring such acct
dents as might result from the risks
taken, but there were 10 be trials
that would fully test the sinews and
nerves of the contestants. 7 The pro-
gramme was all arranged and posted
at the entrance of the arena. The
King had had magnificent amphi-
theatre erected with throne in the
center and seats for the Queen and
princess on either side of him, and
seats conveniently arranged for all
the noble lords and ladies Of the
realm. A master Of ceremonies and
numerous assistants had been che.
sen, who understood what was ex-
pected Of them and every precaution
was taken to insure the success Of
the tournament.
On the twenty-fifth day the knights
and princes began to assemble, and
as eachone rode to the outer gate of
the palace and made his presence
known by blast from his squire's
sbugle he was courteously received
and shown to the apartments in the
Snow5White Palace which had been
prepared for them. The princess
could see the gate from her window
and every time the bugle blew, she
went to the window in expectation of
seeing the youth of her vision, but
of the two score knights and princes
who had come not one of them rode
a milk white steed. Many of them
were noble looking young men, but
Mono If tham wnra ao fair onA lSmonlv