The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1882-01-24

| DGT DTtStUCS WGHJ uOb WIN hpAs ~
nestled deep within his heart.
After this interview scarcely week
passed that did not find Erics steps
| turned in the direction OF the forester's
cottage.
A glass of milk from Rika's own
white hands was the draught most pre-
fered by the royal hunter although out
of courtesy he would sometimes accept
mug of mead from the sturdy old
father.
Rika had still the same shy ways, and
Eric found it hard to break through the
reserve which had thus far proved her
safeguard in his presence.
If she knew in her secret heart what
was the attraction which SO constantly
brought the young prince to the cottage,
she let no one be the wiser for her sus-
picion of the truth.
This was the romance connected with
her life.
1t was even rumored that Eric had
serious intentions toward her, and lack
ed but his royal fathers consent TO raise
her to his own lofty position.
similar tales it had gained in volume
until the grain of truth which was its
nucleus was almost entirely hidden by
what was false and imaginary.@
Matters were in this stage at the time
our story opens
The nuts were gathered, and the
merry groups had dispersed to their
| ru,;A ktrtth ctnf Il
that they should meet again the next
day and 90 to the palace together 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
o glamor to uninitiated eyes that the
mere sight of the walls which shut it in
is eagerly coveted; and who could tell
but they might catch sight of the king
himself or of the queen or of the hand
some Prince EricP Nay, who knew but
what another summons 70 the palace
might come to one of them, as it once
did to Rika.
TWAS pretty sight to any one who
|
dow, to see that blooming procession of
neatly dressed lads and lasses as they
wendell their way along with many a
merry laugh and jest, until at last they
halted in front of the great square be-
fore the palace.
But TO the watching eyes of the prince
who had received hint of the COM
ing of the nut-gatherers-there was but
one face worth looking at among the
throng.
Cone" he said to the courtiers who
were standing near, ''let us go down to
the square in 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 nor for followers, and soon the
rich toilets Of the court people were
scattered about amidst the crowd in the
square.
Eric's footsteps were turned at once
toward Rika He soon possessed him
self of her nuts, and after paying for
them layishly in golden coin, he took
from an inner pocket locket and
chain, 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
will yet make you one.n
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 toher sober senses.
1t was well known that King Gustavus
had been holding negotiations with the
maiden queen Of England, to induce
her to bestow her jeweled 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 by royal suitor The tale Of
Grisel's happiness, and of her woes as
well, was u fayorite one among the folk
stories told around the humble Aelrths
of the peasantry; and if fate bad or
dained il TO happen to her Also Rika
would have been rs glad and proud a
| IHulucu rs cNtT ms sun ndu SuOHc OHi
but she would listen to no words of love
from one whose hand was as good Us
given to another,
Thus she thought as she walked slow.
| ly homeward.
So the next day a little barefooted boy
the child Of neighboring farmer
was sent TO the palace by Rika, with
Prince Erics gift carefully tied up in o
piece Of linen cloth cut from the corner
of web witch she herself had woven
from flax raised from the seed, and pre-
pared by her own def hands.
Could the unconscious trinket have
told Eric that Rika's bright eyes had
fingered lovingly and regretfully upon
it, and that she had pressed it to hel
red lips again and again, it might have
lessened his chagrin in receiving hi'
present back again.
AS il was, IL only kindled anew hi
determination to win Rika for his own
be the consequences what they might
II should not be said Of him that lowf
peasant girl had given him-the Grown
Prince of Sweden such Il rebuff
He threw large cloak over his ricl
court suit, and thus disguised he mount
| ed Olaf--his fayOritc cumberland hast