The Red Cloud chief., 1883-05-11
4 ROMANCE or HISTORY.
T. was nutting time.

II was nutting time.
4 blooming band If peasant children
had gathered from far and near TO have
II merry day amid the nut trees and
hedges.
~ay chiIdrrn-but girls Of fifteen
and lads of eighteen and twenty were
scattered throughout the chattering
group
The nut harvest was n joyful time to
them.
The Young are always attractive in n
certain way. The undimmed bright
ness 0f the eye-thc satiny smoothness
of the compleNion-the happy smiles
lowering around the rosy lips-each
has a beauty Ia itself: hut add 10 the
youthful face the charm of perfectly
rhIselcd features, and Of ~lusfrous
brown ewes, looking out upon the world
with an innocent wonder at the chang
ing scenes Of loyelinesS 80 constantly
unfolding themselves before them
frame il in a mass of shining. wayv
gold If natures own crimping-and
poise II upon a form : o 1.-the and slen-
der in it, exquisite grace that Praxi-
tcles might have chosen 10 for his
Ai'HA' AIT Dhf du ttElI All pifa -
Rika Bremer-thc acknowledged beauty
81 the whole surrounding country.
And there was Il romantic story
about her going the rounds.
IL was said that no less a parsonage
than Prince Eric, the son of the great
and good Gustayus. had been standing
n morning by one Of the palace win
dows To- witness a rustic procession.
which had been gotten zap in honor of
some important victory. recently won
by his famous father; and. a. he stood
gazing listlessly out, his eyes bright
cned suddenly. and be turned To an at
tendant and whispered a few words
which caused him To hasten away.
When he returped he WAS not alone
Rika was with him.
Prince Eric's beauty-loying eyes had
beer attracted by her A. she had stood
amid a group Of other maidens looking
AT the gayly-dreSsed columns of her
countryme n filing by.
She. too. was in holiday attire: and
the black velvet jacket. fitting CLOSELY { o
her slender figure, and adorned with
silyer-gilt buttons. brought out so vivid
IL the exquisite fairness of her skin.
u - lp~f-f'sl AlIi~ VI tFkl bfbpu HIPS
and cheeks. that she looked like a being
of Il different sphere a. she STOOD amid
her mates.
Confused and blushing. she now
awaited the Princes pleasure. She
dared not raise her eyes TO his face.
Had she done ~ she would have been
o~verpowcred by the carnestness of the
gaze with which he regarded her.
From the moment his eyes rested
upon Rika face the world held but one
peerless woman To him.
II mattered not that his younge
brother. Duke John, was even then in
another kingdom. wooing for him a
royal bride. upon whose brow rested a
diadem whose splendor far exceeded the
one which he was TO inherit upon the
death Of his father.
No. In that Elizabeth Of
England was forgotten. The peasant
maid who TODD before him had become
the Queen of his fancy.
Thy name. little one?' he asked.
Rika raised her ewes to the handsome.
earnest face. but dropped them timidly
~ she met his glance.
Il am Freierika-the forester's
daughter-your Majesty"
Nay, not Vet crave | for that title,
maiden. Young blood must have its
vent. and | am glad to know that the
cares of government are not 90 likely
To FEST upon nv shoulders. broad
though they may be"
With a smile he glanced at his stall
wart frame, which WAS acknowledged
To he n of the finest specimens of
physical comeliness in the as
was his face called the handsomest Of
any Princes in Europe.
Rika courtesied respectfully, but did
not reply.
Ii the gracious Prince chose thus TO
address IL m equal m Of the humblesf
Of his fathers subjects. she knew well
her position, and was TO the full as
proud Of her unSullied innocence and
integrity IS the haughtiest maid in the
realm
Her shy modesty added TO her beauty
in Eric's eyes.
Where Invest thou. Frederika?" he
asked. softly; for / would well like 10
>end thy father n commission TO fell
some trees which much interfere with
the comfort of the Kings hunting par
ties in the forest"
This he said. knowing intuitively
that il would startle Rika TO give her
his true reason and SAY that he intend
ed TO start out himself in quest of fairer
and more precious game-which must
be ensnared in tenderer tolls than those
at command of the keenest sportsman
At his fathers court.
After a few words more ne suffered
Rika 10 GO. But the sweet memory Of
her presence went no; 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 forester's
cottage.
A glass of milk. from Rika's own
white hands. was the draucht most pre-
ferred by the ROYAL hunter-although
out of courtesy. he would sometimes &C
cept 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 mer-
" groups had dispersed to their various
homes, with the understanding that
they should meet again the mex day
and 60 together to the palace and dis
pose of their
The next morning found them on
their way, dressed in their best, as be
came so eventful an occasion in their
usually monotonous lives: for royalty
had such q glamor to unfinished eyes
that the mere sight of the walls which
shut il in is eagerly coveted
1t was a pretty sight to any q who
might have been stationed ii the win
dow, to see that blooming procession Of
neatly dressed lads and lasses, Is they
wended their way along with many Z
merry laugh and jest, uull 1t last tbey