The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1882-01-24
THE F0RESTER'S DAUGHTER.

1t was nutting time.
A blooming band of peasant children
had gathered from far and near to have
a merry day amid the nut trees.
| say children--but girls of fifteen
and lads of eighteen or twenty were
scattered through the chattering group.
The nut harvest was joyful time to
them.
The young are always attractive in
certain way The undimned brightness
of the eye-the satiny smoothness of the
complexion-the happy smiles lowering
around the rosy lips-each has beauty
in itself; but add to the youthful face
the charm of perfectly chiseled features,
and of lustrous brown eyes looking out
upon the world with an innocent won
der at the changing scenes of loneliness
so constantly unfolding themselves be-
fore them, frame it in mass of shining
wavy gold of natures own crimping,
and poise il upon a form so 1.-THE and
slender in its exquisite grace that Prax-
iteles might have chosen it for his model
and you can form an idea of Rika Bre-
mer, the acknowledged beauty Of the
whole surrounding country.
And there was romantic story about
her going the rounds.
1t was said that no less a person than
Prince Eric, the son of the great and
morning by one of the palace windows
to witness rustic procession which had
been got up in honor Of some import
ant victory recently won by his famous
father.
As he stood gazing listlessly out, his
eyes frightened suddenly, and he turned
to an attendant and whispered few
words which caused him to hasten
away.
When he returned he was not alone
Rika was with him.
Prince Eric's beauty-loving eyes had
been attracted by her as she had stood
amid group of other maidens, looking
at the gaily-dressed columns of her
countrymen filing by, She, too, was in
holiday attire, and the black velvet
jacket, fitting closely to her slender
figure, and adorned with silver-gilt but
tons, brought out so wildly the exquis-
ite fairness of her skin, with its rose-leaf
tints Of red upon lips and cheeks, that
she looked like being of different
sphere as she stood amidst her mates.
Confused and blushing, she now await
ed the princes pleasure. She dared not
raise her eyes to his face Had she
done SO, she would have been over
powered 10y the carnestness Of the gaze
! with which he regarded her. Let skep-
ties scoii at the tender passion as they
will it is one of the moving powers OF
the world, and Outlines it springs to
life within the heart as suddenly as the
sun rises from his bed of clouds to pro-
claim the advent of the new day, and
like TO the magic glory with which his
beams invest this earth is the rose-hued
coloring that makes the heretofore pro-
safe life blissful fairy-like dream OF
happiness when in the presence Of the
one beloved. So il was with Prince Eric
From the momen. his eyes rested upon
Rika's face, the world held but one peer
less woman TO him. II mattered not
that his younger brother, Duke John,
was even then in another kingdom WOO
ing for him royal bride, upon whose
brow rested a diadem whose splondor
far exceeded the one which he was TO
inherit upon the death of his father.
No. In that moment Elizabeth of Eng
land was forgotten. The peasant maid
who stood before him had become the
queen Of his fancy.
"Thy name, little one?" he asked.
Rika raised her eyes to the handsome,
earnest face, but dropped them timidly
rs she met his glance.
81 am Frederika, the forester's daugh.
ter, your majesty"
"Nay, not yet crave that tito, maid.
en-. Young blood must have its vent
and am glad 20 know that the cares Of
government are not likely soon to rest
upon my shoulders, broad though they
be-"
With smiling glance at the stalwar
= frame which was acknowledged TO b,
one of the finest specimens OF physica
comellness In the country, us was hi
face called the bandsomest of any prince
in Europe.
Rika curtsied respectfully, but did no
reply. II the gracious prince chose thu
10 address as an equal one Of the hum
blest Of his fathers subjects, she kney
well her position and was to the full n
proud Of her unsulicd innocence an,
integrity as the haughtiest maid in tn
realm-count she her ancestry back TO
many generations
Her shy modesty added to her beaut
In Erics eyes.
"Wherc lvest thou, Froderikap,. h
asked softly, "for / would like to SEN
thy father commission TO fell som
trees which much interfere with th
comfort Of the kings hunting parties Il
the forest"
This he said, knowing intuitively cha
itwould startle Rika had he given he
his true reason. and said that he had In
tended TO start out himself In quest Q
fairer and more precious game. whic
must be enspared In tcnderer tolls thu