The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1882-1884, 1882-09-21

Rika raised her eyes to the hand
some, earnest face, but dropped them
timidly as she met his glance.
Il am Frederika-the forester's s
daughter majesty
"Nay, not yet crave l for the title,
maiden. Young blood must have it's
vent, and am glad to know that the
cares of government are not soon like
ly to rest upon my shoulders, broad
though they be-
With smile he glanced at his
stalwart frame, which was ack now
lodged to be one of the finest speci-
mems of physical comeliness in the
country, as was his face called the
handsomest Of any princes in Europe.
Rika ccurtesied respectfully, but
did not reply.
If the gracious prince chose thus
to address as an equal one of the hum
blest Of his fathers subjects, she
knew we'll her position, and was to
the full as proud of her unsullied in
nocence and integrity as the hautiest
maid in the realm.
Her shy modesty added to her
beauty in Eric's eyes.
"Where livest thou, Frederika?"
he asked, softly ''for [ would we'll
like to send thy father a commission
to fell some trees which much inter.
fere with the comfort of the king S
hunting parties in the Forest
This he said, knowing intuitlvely
that it would startle Rika to give her
his true reason and say that he in.
tended to start out himself in quest
of fairer and more precious game
which must be ensnared in tenderer
tolls than those at the command Of
the keenest sportsman at his father S
court.
After few words more he suffered
Rika to 90 But the sweet memory
of her presence went not with her.
1t nestled deep within his heart.
After this interview, scarcely q
week passed that did not find Eric's
steps turned in the direction of the
torester's cottage.
:, A glass of milk, from Rika's own
white hands, was the draught most
preferred by the royal hunter-al-
though, out "f courtesy, he would
sometimes accept a 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
palace and dispose of their treasures
The next morning found them on
their way, dressed in their best, as
became so evcntful 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
coveted.
1t was a pretty sight to anyone
who might have station at the
window, to see that blooming pro-
cession of neatly dressed lads and
lasses, as they wended their way
along with many merry laugh and
jest, until at last they halted in the
great square before the palace.
But to the watching eyes Of the
prlnce-who had received hint of
the coming of the nut-gatherers-
there was but one face worth looking
at among the throng.
"Come," he said to the courtiers
who were standing near, 'let us go
down to the square in a body and
make the hearts Of yon merry rustics
even merrier to-day by exchanging
some coins for the nuts they have
with them"
A princes suggestion never lacks
for listeners, now for followers and
soon the rich toilettes Of the court
people were scattered about amidst
the crowd in the 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 chan,
which he gave to her, saying:
Wear it for my sake. There is
no one who would look fairer in it.
You ought to be queen, little Rika,
and l will yet make you one.''
Before Rika had time to realize
aught but that his words had filled
her heart with a bewildcring 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 not known that King Gus
tavus had been holding negotiations
with the maiden Queen of England,
to induce her to bestow her jewell ed
hand upon his elder son, and it had
reached Rika's ears.
Such thing had been known as a
maid of low degree being wooed and
won bv a roya, suitor. The tail of
Grisefs happiness. and Of her woes
as we'll, was a favorite one among
the folk-stories told around the hum
BILE hearths of the peasantry and
if fate had ordained it to happen to
her also, Rika would have been as