Kimball enterprise. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1883, 1883-08-10
A ROMANCE OF HISTORY.
It was nuttiny time

A blooming tand cf peasant children
had gathered from far and near to have
a merry day among the nut trees and
: hedges.
say chidren--Lut girls of Is and lads
IL and ~ were scattered through the
chattering group.
The nut harvest was joyful time to
them.
The young are always attractive in q
certain way. The undimmed brightness
of the eye-the satiny smoothness of the
complexion-the happy smiles lowering
around the rosy lips-each has a beauty
to itself; but add to the youthful face
the charm of perfectly chiseled features,
and of lustrous brown eyes looking out
upon the world with an innocent won
der at the changing scenes of loveliness
30 constantly unfolding themselves be-
fore them-frame it in a mass of shining
wavy gold of natures own crimping-
ana poise 1t upon form so 1.-the and
slender in it's exquisite grace tnat Prax
neles might have chosen it for his model
and you can form an idea of Rika Bre-
mer-the acknowledged beauty of the
whole surrounding country.
AND there was a romantic story about
her going the rounds.
1t was said that no less a parsonage
than Prince Eric, the son OF the great
and good Gustavus, had been standing
one morning by one of the palace win
doWs to witness rustic procession,
which had been gotten up in honor of
some important victory, recently won
By bis famous father, and as he stood
gazing listlessly out, his eyes frightened
suddenly, and he turned to an attend
ant and whispered few words which
caused hlm to hasten away. When he
returned he was not alone-Rika was
with him.
Prince Eric's beauty-loving eyes had
been attracted by her, as she stood amid
a group of other maidens, looking at the
gally dressed columns of her country
men filing by.
She too was in holiday attire; the
black velvet jacket, fitting closely to her
slender figure and adorned l With 81 silver M
gilt buttons, brought out so wildly the
exquisite fairness of the skin, with its
rose ieat tlnts of red upon lips and
cheeks, that she looked like being of a
different sphere as she stood amid her
mates.
Confused and blushing. she now wait
ed the princes pleasure. She dared not
raise her eyes to his,
Had she done so she would have been
overpowered by the eagerness of the
gaze with which he regarded her.
From the moment his eyes rested up
on Rlka's face, the world held but one
peerless woman to him.
1t mattercd not that his Younger
brother, Duke John, was even then in
another kingdom, wooing for him a
royal bride, upon whose brow rested
dladem, whose splendor far exceeded
the one which he was to inherit upon
the death of his father.
No. In that moment Elizabeth of
England was forgotten. The peasant
maid who stood before him had become
queen of his fancy.
THY name, little one?" he asked.
Rika raised her eyes to the handsome,
earnest face, but dropped them timidly
as she met his glance.
II am Frederika-the foresters
daughter-your majesty"
Nay, not yet crave for that title,
maiden. Young blood must have its
vent, and | am glad to know that the
cares of government are not soon likely
TO rest upon my shoulders, broad though
they may be-"
With smile he glanced at his stall
wart frame, which was acknowledged to
be one of the finest specimens of phvs.
ical comeliness in the country, as was
his face called the handsomest of any
princes in Europe.
Rika courtesied respectfully, did not
reply.
If the gracious prince choose thus to
address as an equal one Of the humblest
of his fathers subjects, she knew we'll
her position, and was to the full as
proud ofunsullied innocence and:ntegri-
! ty as the haughtiest maid in the realm
! Her shy modesty added to her beauty
| in Eric's eyes,
"Wbere livest thou, Fredericka?' he
asked softly; for | would we'll like to
! send thy father commission to fell
some trees which must interfere with
the comfort Of the kings hunting parties
| in the forest"
| This he said, knowing intutively that
it would startle Rika to give her his true
reason and say that he intended to start
out himself in quest of fairer and more
| precious game-which must be ensnared
in tenderer tolls than those at the COM
mand of the keenest sportsmen at his
| fathers court.
Rika to go. But the sweet melaory 81
| ner presence went not with her. 1t
nestled deep within his heart.
| ~AllSI llllS INTERVIEW, scarcely Il week
passed that he did not find Eric's steps
snrned in the direction of the forester's
| cottage.
| A glass of milk from Rikas own white
hands, was the draught most preferred
| by the royal hunter-although out of
courtesy, he would sometimes accept
mug of mead from the sturdy old father.
Matters were in this state at the time
our story opens.
The nuts were gathered, and the mer-
| ry groups had dispersed 70 their various
homes, with the understanding that they
should meet the next day and go togeth-
er to the place and dispose of their
| treasures
The next morning found them on
their way, dressed in their best, rs be-
came 30 eventful occasion in their usu.
ally monotonous lives; for royalty had
such glamour to uninitiated eyes that
the mere sight of the walls which shut
it in is eagerly coveted.
1t was pretty sight to any one who
might have been stationed at the win
dow, to see that blooming procession of
neatly dressed lads and lassies, as they
wended their way along With many q
merry laugh and jest, until at last they
haulted in the great square before the
| palace.