The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-05-29

EScH ScA0 .noAo ciSIVOA WIS WsillS WHICH
shutEit inis eagerly coveted. !. tI
| X was a pretty sight to snyoue wht
5lignt nave Deen ,atsoiohed ats tle win
dow TO see that blooming processlDaHH ltaHs = :
neatly dressed lads and lasses, as the,
wended their way along. with many
merry laugh and Jest, until at last the,
matted III the great square before the
| palace.
But to the watching eye of the Prince
WHO had received a hint of the coming
OF the nut-gatherers-uhere was but one
1ace worth looking at among the throng.
Come, ,, he said to the courtiers who
were standing lfeal, ''let's go down to
the square ili body and make the
hearts OF yon merry rusticseven merriel
to-day by exchangin some coins fol
the nuts they hayeFwith them"
A princess suggestion never lacks fo,
/ listeners, nor for followers; and soon
the rich toilettes, of the court people
were scattered about amidst the crowd
| III the square.
Eric's steps were at once turned to-
| wards Rika. .,Il
lie soon possessed himself 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 10
one who would look fairer in it. You
ought to be a queen, little Rika, and 1
will 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 well known that King Gusta-
vus had been holding negotiation 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 a thing had been known as a
maid of low degree being wooed and
won by a royal suitor. The tale of
Grisel's happiness, and of her woes as
we'll, was faVOrite one among the
folk-stories tQld around the humble
hearths OF the peasantry; and if fate
mad ordained it to happen to her also,
Hlka would have been as glad and
proud maiden as ever the sun had
shone OH. But she would listen to no
words OF love from one whose hand was
as good as given to another.
Thus she thought as she walked slow
ly hOmeward.
SO the next day a little barefooted
boy-the child Of a neighboring farmer
was sent to the palace by Rika with
Prince Eric's gift, carefully tied up in
a piece OF linen cloth cut from the cor
ner OF web, which she herself had
woven from flax raised from the seed
""I 1n'niN,.'"-' i,s' l,n.' o. H.'.A'..n.
Could the unconscious trinket have
told Eric that Rika's bright eyes had
fingered lovingly and regretfnly upon
it, and that she had pressed it to her
red lips again and again, it might have
lessened his chagrin i'll receiving his
present back again.
AS it was, it only kindled anew his
determination to win Rika for his own,
be the consequences what they might.
1t should not be said Of him that Il
lowly peasant girl had given him, the
Crown Prince of Sweden, such d re-
buff. u. ?. ,,,- -
He threw a large cloak over his rich
court suit; and thus disguised he mount
ed Olaf, his favorite hunter, and hast
ened towards Rika's home.
Hot anger was cOntending with
his love for the rustic beauty as he rode
along. .
But when he at last reached the
borders OF the cleared patch of land in
the forest which held the little cottage,
had dismounted from his horse and tied
him to a sapling, and found himself
standing at the door, awaiting her an
swer to his rap, all was forgotten but
the thought that he was soon to gaze
upon the beautiful face which had
haunted his fancy so perSistently since
fate had first brought 1T before hm.
Rika opened the door ana stood for
an instant in glad surprise, gazing up
into her lovers face i'll utter forget
fulncss OF the differences in their sta
tions.
"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 had time to retreat
he caught her to his heart and imprint
ed passionate kisses on her trembling
lips.
She drew herself from his encircling
mars, and stood painting like IL fright
| ened fawn.
Then she threw herself at his feet,
and clasping her hands entreatingly,
she said
ooh, most noble Prince, let it not be
put against thy record that innocence
virtue received no respect at thy hands.
Go, l entreat you! Should my father
return and find thee here, he would
surely first kill me, and then kill him
self, in shame and despair. Oh, gol'
81 mean thee no harm, Rika. owe
thee; and when one loves he hurts not
the object OF that love. 10 win thee |
will give up my heirship to the crown
to my brother John; and while he
wears the diadem upon his brow, 1 viii
content myself with love and happiness
with thee"
"Not so, noble Eric" said Rika
firmly; ''if thou wouldst make such /,
sacrifice, l, for one, will not be q party
to it. After such marriage-entailing
as it would, SO much loss--love would
prove but a transient guest without a
home. Reproacles would drive the
tickle god away" l......
"Tell me the truth, Rika, interrupts
ed Eric, with passionate earnestness,
i 'sdO you love me?"
$50 we'll that would rather die than
harm would come to one so noble
through any influence of mne."
| A 4