Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1882-10-27
Youths Department.
THE RIDDLE.

THE RIDDLE,
Fierce and bitter was the struggle,
But the strife at length was DER,
And the joyful news went ringing,
Ended Is the cruel war.
Proudly homeward rode his lordship,
Bold Sir Guy of Atheldare;
Flashed his eyes with pride and triumph
AS his praises filled the air.
Every heart was full of gladness.
Said j, every heart? All, no!
Here, amidst this joyful people,
One heart ached with speeches. woe:
Twas the little captive stranger,
Claude. the vanquished Norman's SON.
Taken prisoner, brought trophy
OF the victory they had won.
Bravely fought he for his freedom,
And, when taken, smiled disdain
AS his captors stood around him.
Bound his arms with give and chain;
Smiled defiance when they told him
That Sir Guy his life would spare
Should he serve and swesr allegiance
10 the house of Atheldare-
Spurned their offer, while his dark eyes
Spoke the scorn he could not tell,
AS he followed, without murmur,
10 his dreary prisOn-cell.
Ihen they left him, and his young heart
Bowed beneath its weight OF pain
For moment. But he rose up,
Calm and cold and proud again.
From without the grated window,
In the pleasant court below,
he could see the little Princess.
As she wandered to and fro
Long and eagerly he watched her;
Like cloud the golden hair
Glanced and rippled in the sunlight,
Framing in her face so fair.
And the little Highland Princess,
As if by magic spell,
Seemed to feel her eyes drawn upward
To the dreary priSon-cell;
And the sad, pale face she saw there
Caused the ready tears to start,
While womans gentlest pity
Filled the tender, childish heart.
Then a firm resolve rose in her
Lit the troubled little face.
Not a moment to be wasted;
BreathleSS, hurrying from the place
On an GRAND fraught with mercy,
Straight she to her father sped;
Humbly kneeling down before him,
Lowly bowed the dainty head,
While the sweet lips, red and quivering,
Fallered out her anxious plea,
Told her pity for the captive,
Begged Sir Guy to set him free.
But he answered, sternly gazing
On the dOwncast face so fair:
Can our daughter doubt the Justice
Of the house of Atheldare?
" But we pardon this, and tell you
OF our wise and just decree:
If this captive swear to serve US,
We will spare and set him Free"
Then up rose the little maiden
Dauntlessly, without a fear.
" would you have a traitor serve usP"
Rang her voice out, sweet and clear.
And Sir Guy paused for a moment,
All his anger from him fled,
As he watched her, flushed and eager,
While her cause she braVely plead.
Gravely smiled he as she ended,
Drew her gently on his knee:
" You have conquered, little pleader-
You have gained the victory.
" But your Prince must earn his freedom:
Not with bow or spear in hand
We are weary of the bloodshed
Spread so long throughout the land.
Let him ask our court riddle;
Six days grace to him we give,
And the court three days to guess 1t;
If 1t fail, he then may live"
Once more in the PLEASANT COURTYARD
Danced the little maid in glee;
Surely he could find riddle
Ihat would save and set him free.
But five long days and five nights passed.
And the Prince no riddle gave;
To his brain. all dazed with sorrow,
Came no thought his life to save.
And the little blue-eyed Princess
Pondered sadly what to do,
iii at last she sought the counsel
OF her old nurse, tried and true.
: 10, her nurse said, as she finished,
- Go, and search the green fields over,
Never stopping for an instant
Till you find u four-leaf clover.
80 Take and put it in nosegay,
In the center, full in sight
Throw it to the little captive;
All promise will come right"
Out into the merry sunshine,
While her feet scarce touched the ground
Went the Princess, never stopping
Till the treasure she had found.
Threw it, with the pretty nosegay.
In the window, barred and graIed
Then, and only then, she paused
Paused, and hoped, and feared, and waited
Through the window. barred and grated,
In the dreary prisOn-cell,
Like ray of happy sunshine
AT his feet the nosegay fell.
AS he raised and held it gently,
While the burning tears brimmed over,
Through the mist he caught glimpse
OF the little fOur-ieaf clover
Thoughts went dashing through his brain
And, before the evening dew
Kissed the flowers of the land,
All the court this riddle knew:
I" Fourteen letters am made Of
Over countries fair and bright,
Under many different heavens,
Raise we flags, both red and white.
Living with my many brothers,
Ever in the long. sweet grass,
AS we play, the happy Zephyrs
Fan US gently as they pass.
Glanced you e'er to find me out,
Luck I'd surely bring to you.
Often of me have you heard,
Very often seen me, too:
Ere you turn away from me.
Read me well-my name you'll see"
Three days passed, unguessed the riddle.
And the sun rose joyfully,
Turned the prison bars all golden,
Told the captive he was free
Life had never looked so radiant,
Earth had never seemed so fair;
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