St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1883-04-28
ed Olaf, his favorite hunter, and hast

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 Dor
ders of the cleared patch of land in the
forest which held the little cottage, had
dismounted from his horse and tied him
to sapling, 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 gaze upon the beau
tiful 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
into her lovers face in utter forgetful-
ness of the difference in their stations.
.sAh! 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 upon her trembling
| lips. A9
She drew herself from his encircling
arms, and stood painting like a fright
ened fawn.
Then she threw herself at his feet,
and, clasping her hands entreatingly,
she said: 4.
sob, 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 kill
himself, in shame and despair! Oh,
gon =
IL 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 my brother John; and while he wears
the diadem upon his brow I will con-
tent myself with love aud happiness
with thee.
mot so, noble Eric said Rika,
firmly; s.if thou wouldst make such a
sacrifice, /, for one, will not be a party
to it. After such a 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 me the truth, Rika, interrupt
ed Eric, with passionate earnestness;
edo you love me?''
:. $50 well that I would rather die
! than know than harm would come to
one so noble through any influence Of
mine"
'.And yet you Tefuse to make me
happy?'.
Prince. The present is not all of life,
But see-the sunlight has already
reached the middle point of your diaf
7 In ten more minutes my father will be
, here. If thou wouldst shield me from
harm, go.
, ST will obey now; but will moi
, promise to give up the hope which lurec
J me hither. Farewell for a time, most
! obdurate maiden
Then, with q long, lingering, re
parted.
Days and weeks passed on.
| At last came time which was tx
, plunge the nation into mourning. The
good and great Gustavus was stricken
: with mortal illness.
i He died and was laid beside his King
: " progenitors, and Eric was the reign
ing sovereign in Sweden.
Young, impulsive and his own mas
ter, with his heart filled with but ont
image, is it to be wondered at that h
/; suffered no obstacle to delay his unio1
l with the maiden of his love, after thu
days of his mourning were fully &C
complished, and that the pretty nu
girl of Sweden became its crowned
, Queen?
] Search the annals Of history, and yol
will find the romantic story Of the mar
rage on record, adding still another folk
: tale to those the country maidens tel
over to each other at that witching tim
, between daylight and starlight. when al
: nature is going to rest and young heart
are attuned to sympathy with all tru
Il lovers. s
An Honest Boy.