Frostburg mining journal., 1882-10-14
FROsTBURG MD. SATURDAY MORNING, OCTOBER "A, 1887

ded to start out himself in quest OF
fairer and more precious game
which must be ensnare5 in tenderer
tolls than those at the command of
the keenest sportman at his fathsr's
court.
After few more words he suffered
'Rika to go. But the sweet memory
Of hsr presence went not with her.
1t nestled deep within his heart.
After this interview, scarcely week
passed that did not find Eric's steps
turned in the direction of the fores-
ter's cottage.
A glass Of milk, from Rika's own
white hands, was the draught most
preferred by the royal hunter-al-
though, out of courtesy, he would
sometimes accept mug of mead from
the sturdy old father.
Matters were in this stage at the
time our story opens.
The nuts were gathered, and the
merry groups had dispersed to their
various homes, with the understand
ing that they should meet again the
next day and go together to the pal.
ace and dispose of their treasures.
The next morning found them on
their way, dressed in their best, as
became so eventful an occasion in
their usually monotonous lives for
royalty has such glamor to uniniti-
ated eyes that the mere sight of the
walls which shut it in is eagerly COW
eted.
1t was pretty sight to anyone who
might have been stationed at the win
dow to see that blooming procession
of neatly dressed lads and lasses, as
they wended their way along with
many a merry laugh and jest, until
at last they halted in the great square
before the palace.
But to the watching eyes of the
prince-who had received hint OF
the ccming of the nut-gatherers-
there was but one face worth loo king
at amcng the throng.
"Come," lie said to the oourtiers
who were standing near, "let US go
down to the square in body and
make the hearts of yon merry rus
tics even merrier to-day by exchang-
ing some coins for the nuts that they
have with them"
A princes suggestion never lacks
for listeners, nor for followers; and
soon the rich toilettes OF the court
people were scattered about amidst
the crowd in ths square.
Eric's steps were turned at once
towards Rika.
He soon possessed himself of her
nuts; and after paying for them
lavishly in golden coin, he took from
an inner pocket locket and chain,
which he gave to her, saying:
"Wear it for my cake. There is
no one who would loook fairer in it.
You ought to be queen, little Rika,
and I will yet make you one"
Before Rika had time TO realize
aught but that his words had filled
her heart with bewildering sense of
happiness, he had gone, his gift alone
remaining to prove that she had not
been dreaming.
But she soon came to her sober
senses.
1t was we'll known that King Gus
tavus had been holding negotiations
with the maiden Queen of England, to
induce her to bestow her jewelled hand
upon his elder son, and it had reached
Rika's ears.
Such a thing had been known as a
maid of low degree being woed and
won by royal suitor. The tale of
Grisel's happiness, and of her woes as
well, was favorite one among the
folk-stories told around the humble
hearths of the peasantry; and if fate
had ordained it to happen to her also
Rika would have been aa glad and
proud maiden as ever the sun
had shone on. But size would listen
to no words of love from one whose
hand was as good as given to another.
Thus she thought as she walked
slowly homswsrd.
So the next day a little barefooted
boy--t the child Of neighbofIng far
mer-was sent to tee palace by Rika
wi h Prince Erlc's gift, carefully tied
up in a piece of linen cloth, cut from
the corner of a web, which she herself
had woven from fax raised from the