The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1883-06-14

old father.
Matters were in this stage at the time
our story opens.
The nuts were gathered, and the mer-
ry groups had dispersed TO their various
homes, with the understanding that
they should meet again the next day
and 60 together to the palace and dis
pose of their treasures. .sl8s k.EE9sss. :.
Tho next morning found them on
their way, dressed in theirsbest, MS be.
came so cvcntful an occasion i'm their
usually monotonous lives for ROYALTY
had such glamor to uninitiated eyes
that the mere sight of tho walls which
shut it in is eagerly coveted. -, 4.
| 1t was pretty sight to any ono who
might have been stationed at the win
dow, to sec that blooming procession Of
neatly dressed lads and lasSes, as thew
wcnded their way along with many q
merry laugh and jest, until at last they
halted in the great square before the
palace. - =. a.
But to the Watching eyes of the
Prlnce-who had received hint of the
coming of the nut-gatherersA Athere was
the throng. ~ ,lTIs-S o o.
,"Come," he said to tho courtiers
who were standing near, s'let us go
down to the square in a body and mako
the hearts of yon merry rustics even
mcrricr to-day by exchanging some
coins for the nuts they have with them. !"
A Princes suggestion never lacks for
listeners, nor for followers, and soon
the rich toilettes of the court people
were scattered abo,t amidst the crowd
in the square.
Eric's steps were turned at once to-
wards Riku.
He soon possessed himself of her nuts;
and after paying for them lavishly in
golden coin, he took from an inner
pocket lockct and chain, which he
gave to her, saying:
"WCar it for my sake. There is nc
one who would look fairer in it. You
ought to be Queen, littlo Rika, and |
Will yet mako you one"
l Before Rika had time to realize aught
0 but that his words had filled her heart
| with a bcwildering sense of happiness,
he had gone, his gift alone remaining
1 to prove that she had not been dream
, ing.
, But she soon camo to her sober
senses.
1t was we'll known that King Gus
tavus had been holding negotiations
with the maiden Queen of England, to
induce her to bcstow her ieweled hand
8 ! upon his elder son, and it had reached
5 Rika'S ears.
l Such thing had been known as d
maid of low degree being woocd and
y won by q royal suitor Tho tale of
8 Griscls happiness, and of her woes as
l well, was u favoritc one among the
folk-storics told around the humble
hcarths of the pcasantry; and if fate
= had ordained it to happen to her also,
Rlka would have been rs glad and proud
l maiden as ever the sun had shone on.
But She would listen to no words oflovo
from one whose hand was as good as
3 given to another.
| Thus she thought as she walked slowly
7 homcward.
SO the next day little barcfooted
: boy-thc child of neighboring farmer
was sent to the palace by Rika with
Prince Eric's gift, carefully tied m in n
piece OF linen cloth cut from the corner
of II web which she herself had woven
rom flax raised from the seed, and pro-
pared by her own deft hands.
Could the unconscious trinket have
told Eric that Rika's bright eyes had
fingered lovingly and rcgrotfully upon
it, and that she had pressed it to her
lips again and again, it might have les
scned his chagrin in receiving his pres
ent back again.
AS it was, it only kindlcd anew his
determination to win Rika for his own,
be the consequences what they might,
1t should not be said of him that n low
peasant girl had given him, the Crown
Prince OF Sweden, such rebuff.
lie threw large cloak over his rich
court suit, and thus disguised he mount
| nl hlnf
encd towards Rika's home
Hot anger was contending with his
love for tho rustic beauty as no rode
along.
But when he at last reached the bor-
GERS or the cleared patch of land in tho
forest which held the little cottaUc. had
dismounted from his horse and tied him
to sapling, and found himself stand
ing at the door, awaiting his answer to
, ms rap, all was forgotten but the thouobt
that he was soon TO gaze upon the beau
| tl1ul face which had haunted his fancy
} so pcrsistently since fate had first
brought it before him.
Rika opened the door and stood for
an instant in glad surprise, gazing up
| uto her lovers face in utter forpctfui-
ness of the difference in their stations.
, "Ah! little one, thy face for once tells
, me all that I wish to know. Thou lowest
me! | see it in those eyes"
And before Rika had time to retreat
he caught hcr to his heart and imprint
ca passionate kisses upon her trembling
lips.
She drow herself from his encrcling
arms, and stood painting like a fright
enod fawn.
Then she threw herself Mt his feet,
! and, clasping hor hands entrcatingly,
she said:
"Oh, most noble Prince, let it not be
j put against thy record that innocence
, and virtue received no respect at thy
hands! Go, I entreat you! Should nv
father return and find thee here, be
would surely first kill me and then Kill
himself, in shame and despair! Oh,
| pOp'