Kimball enterprise. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1883, 1883-08-10

"Wear 1t fer my sake. There is nc
one who would look fairer in it. YOU
ought to be queen, like Rika, and
will yet make you one"
Before Rika bad time to realize aught
but that his words had filled her heart
with bewildering sense of happiness,
he had gone, his gifs alone remaining to
prove that sne had not ,,been dreaming
But she soon came to her sober r.senses
1t was we'll known that King Gustavus
had been holding negotiations with the
maiden queen of England, to induce her
to bestow her ieweled hand upon his
elder eon, and it had reached Rika's
ears.
Such q thing had been known of a
maid of low degree beng wooed and
won by royal suitor. The tale OF
GrlsePs happiness and her woes as
well, was tavorlte one among the folk
stories told around TIE humble hearths
of the peasantrv; if fate had ordained it
to happen 10 her also, Rika would have
been as glad and proud maiden as the
sun shown on. 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
lv homeward.
SO the next day a little barefooted boy
the child offs neighboring farmer
was sent to the palace by Rika with
Eric's gift, carefully tied up in linen
cloth. cut from the corner ofa web.
which she herself had woven from the
flax raised from seed, and prepared by
her own deft hands
Could the unconscious trinket have
told Eric that Rikas bright eyes had
fingered lovingly and regretfully upon
it and that she had pressed it to her red
lips again and again, it might have less
ened his chagrin in receiving his pres
ent back again.
AS it was, it only kindled anew his de-
termination to win Rika for his own, be
the consequences what they might 1t
should not be said of him that low
peasant gtrl had given him, the crown
prince of Sweden, such rebuff.
| He threw large cloak over his rich
court suit, and thus disguised he mounted
| Olaf, his favorite hunter, and fastened
towards Rlka's home.
! Hot anger was contending with his
love for the rustic be iuty 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,
he dismounted from his horse and tied
| him 10 sapllng, and found himsel
standing at the door, awaiting her an,
swer to the rap, all was forgotten bu
The thought that he was soon to gaze
| npon the beautiful face which had
| haunted his fancy so persistently since
| fate had first brought it before him.
Rika opened the door and stood for
an instant in glad surprise, gazing UP in
| to her lovers face in utter 1orgetfulne IS
| of the difference in their stations.
"Ah! little one, thy face for once tells
me all | 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 upon her trembling
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, entreatingly
| she said:
ooh, most noble prince. let it not be
put against thy record that innocence
and virtue received no respect at thy
hands! Go, entreat you! Should my
father return and find thee here, he
would surely first kill me and then him
self in shame and dispair! Oh, go.''
II mean thee no harm Rika. 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
the diadem upon his brow L will con-
| tent myself with love and happiness
with thee"
"Notso, noble Eric" said Rika firmly;
eff thou woulds't make such sacrifice,
J., for one, will not be party oit
After such marriage-entailiny as it
would, SO much loss--love would prove
but transient guest within our home.
Reproaches would driye the tickle god
away
"Iell me the truth, Rika," interrupted
Eric, with passionate earnestness; do
you love me?
80 well that would rather die than
know that harm would come to one so
noble through any influence of mine"
And yet you refuse to make me hap
py?'
IL refuse to work your ruin, noble
But see-the sunlight has already
reached the middle point OF your dial!
In ten minutes more my father will be
here. II you woulds't shield me from all
harm, CO."
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 long lingering, regretful
look, the prince turned and Departed.
Days and weeks passed on.
AT last came time which wes to
plunge the nation into mourning. The
good and great Gustavus was stricken
with mortal illness.
He died, and was laid beside his king
ly progenitors. and Eric was reigning
sovereign in Sweden.
Young, impulsive, and his. own master
with heart filled with but one image, is
it to be wondered at that, he suffered no
obstacle to delay his union with the
maiden 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?
A., Stf1,. Rnro,, sSxN -