Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1882-03-30

when he at last reached the borders of
the cleared patch of land in the forest
which held the little cottage, had dis
mounted from his horse and tied him
to a sappling, and found himself stand
ing at the door awaiting his answer to
his rap, all was forgotten, but the
thought that he was soon to case upon
the beautiful face which had haunted
his fancy so presistently since fate had
first brought it before him.
Rika opened the door and stood for
an instant in glad surprize, gazing up
into Der lovers face in utter forgetful-
ness of the difference in their stations.
"Ah! little one. thy face, for once,
tells me all that wish TO know. Thou
lowest me! see it in those eyes,"
And before Rika mad time to retreat
he caught her to his heart and imprint
ed passionate KISSES upon her tremb.
ling lips.
She drew herself from his encircling
arms and stood painting like frightened
fawn. Then she threw herself at his
feet, and clasping her hands entreat-
ingly, she said, "Ohl most noble prince,
let it not be put against thy record that
innocence and virtus received no re-
spect at thy hands. Go, entreat you!
Should nay father return and find thee
here, he would surely first kill me, and
then kill hemsdfin shame and despair
Oh, gol'
81 mean thee no harm, Rika. 1 love
thee, and when one loves he hurts not
the object Of that love. To win thee |
will give up my heirship to the crown
to my brother John, and while he wears
the diadem upon his brow, l will con-
tent myself with love and happiness
with thee"
"Not so, noble Eric" said Rika,
firmly; eff thou wouldst make such
sacrifice. l, for one, will not be party
to it. After such marriage-entailing,
as it would, so much loss-love would
prove but transient guest within our
home. Reproaches would drive the
tickle god away.
"Tell mo the truth, Rika," inter-
rupted Eric, with passionate earnest
nesr; edo you love me p
80 we'll that I would rather die than
know that harm would come to
one so noble through any influence of
NINE"
And yet you refuse to make me
happy
81 refuse to work your ruin, noble
prince. The present is not all of life.
But see, the sunlight has already reach
ed the middle point of your dial. In
ten more minutes my father will be
here. II thou wouldst shield me from
harm, 60"
81 will obey now; but will not prom
Use to give up the hope which lured me
hither. Farewell for time, most OBJ
durate maiden"
Then, with a long, lingering, regret
full look, the prince turned and depart
ed.
Days and weeks passed on. At last
came time which was to plunge the
nation in mourning. The good and
great Gustavus was stricken with NOR
tai illness. He died, and was laid be-
side his kingly progenitors, and Eric
WAS the sovereign in Sweden. Young,
impulsive, and his own master, with his
heart filled with but one image, is it to
be wondered at that he suffered no OBJ
stacle to delay his union with the maid
en- of his love after the days of his
mourning were fully accomplished, and
that the pretty nut-girl of Sweden be-
came its crowned queen?
Search the annals of history, and you
will find the romantic story of the mar
riage on record, adding still another
folklore to those the country maidens
tell over to each other at that witching
time between daylight and starlight,
when all nature is going to rest, and
young hearts are attuned to sympathy
with all true lovers.