Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-04-27
A ROMANCE or HISTORY.

hV"ANtL w hiNlOh1.
Twas nutting time.
a blooming band II peasant children
had gathered from far and near to have
q merry day amid the nut trees and
hedges.
! say children but girls Of fifteen
nnd lads 81 eighteen and twenty were
scattered throughout the chattcring
group.
The nut harvest was joyful time to
them.
The young are always attractive in n
certain way. The undimmed bright
moss OF the eye the satiny smOothncss
OF tue complexion the happy smiles
lowering around the rosy lips each
has n 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 On innocent wonder ~ the chang
INK scenes Of loyelincss ~ constantly
unfolding themselves before them.
frame u In n mass If shining. wavy
gold Of natures own crimpine-and
pOise Il upon n form ~ 1.-the and slcn-
der in lis exquisite grace that Praxi-
teles might have chosen ID for his
model and you can form AN idea of
kika Bremen the acknowledged beauty
Ot the whole surrounding country.
And there was romantic story
about her going the rounds.
10 was said that no less "A pcrsonngc
than Prince Eric. the SON ~ the Great
and good Gustayus. had been staodipg
one morning 10y one at the ava rec VIM
Vows To witness a rustic procession.
when had been gotten up IN honor of
some important victory. recently won
ny MS famous father; and. rs he stood
gazing lstlcssly out, his eyes bright
cned suddenly, and be- turned TO nm at
tendant and whispered few words
which caused him to hasten away.
When he returned he was not alone
Hka was with him.
Prince Eric's beauty -loyinr eyes had
been attracted by her as She had Stood
amid n group If other maidrns looking
no the gayly-dresscd columns of her
countrymcn fling by.
She. too, was i'm holiday attire; and
the black velvet jacket, fitting cloSelyto
hcr slender figure. and adorned with
silycr-gilt buttons, brought out so viyid-
" the exquisite fairness of her skin.
with its rosc-leaf tints Of red upon Jips
and checks. that She looked like n being
ot different sphere as she stood amid
her mates.
Confused aud blushing. she now
awaited the Princes pleasure. She
dared not raise her eyes to his face.
Had she done 81 she would have been
overpowcred by the carncstneSs of the
gaze with which hr regarded her.
Prom the moment his eyes rested
upon Rika's face the world held but an.
peerless woman to him.
10 mattervd not that his youngrr
brother. Duke John. was even then in
another Kingdom. wuoinr for him n
royal bride. upon whose brow rested n
diadem whose splcndor far exceeded tho |
one which he was to inherit upon the
death Of his father.
No. In that moment Elizabetb ~
England was forgotten. The up,s,pt
maid who stood before him had become |
tho Queen of his fancy.
THY name. little once h, asked
Rika raised her eyes othc handsome
earnest lace but dropped them timidly |
as she mot his glance.
Il am Frcdcrika-thr forcst,r.s
daughter--your Majesty"
Nay, not Yet crave for that title. I
maiden. Young blood must have its /
vent and l am glad 10 know that the 1
cares OF government are not soon likely !
to rcst upon my shoulders. brnad /
though they may be-"
With a smile he glanced nj his stall
wart frame, which was Acknowledged /
To- be ono 1T the finest specimens of /
physical comelincss in the country. "a
was his face called the handsomcst Of
any Princes in Europe.
Mka courtcsied respectfully, but did
II the gracious Prince chose thus IN
address as an equal one of the bumblest
Ut his fathers subjects, she knew we'll
n1r position. aud was to tho full "a
proud Of her unsullied innocence and
integrity rs the haughticst maid in the
Her shy modesty added to her beauty
in Eric's eyes. "'J
where Invest thou. Frcderikap- he
asked. softly; for | would well like to
send thy father commission to fen
some trees which much Interfere with
the comfort Of the Kings hunting par
ties I'm the forest
This he said, knowing intuitively
that it would startlc Rika To- give her
his true reason and say that ne intend
cd to start out himself in quest of fairer
and more precious game which must
bo ensnared In tenderer tolls than those
at command Of the keenest sportsman
ut his fathers court.
After a few words mora ba suifercd
Rika TO 60. But the sweet memory Of
her presence went not with her m
nestled deep within his heart
After this Interview. scarceIv n wool
passed that did not find Eric's stems
turned In the direction of the forester's
cottage.
A glass of milk, from R;k.,s o,vn
wnite hands, was the draught most pre-
leLrEa oy the royal hunter-althouoh
out OF courtesy, he would sometimes ac-
cept mug OF mead from the sturdy
old father.
Matters were in this stage at the time
Lhe nuts were gathered. and the mer-
~ groups had dispersed TO their various
MONIES, with tho understanding that
lhey should meet again the next day
ana 60 together TO the palace and dis.
pose oftheir treasures.
The next morning found than, q,
tneir way, dressed in their best "a r.
oame so eventful an occasion In ia +
usually monotonous lives: for roysi,,, }
ned such glamor To uninitie,ed s,,s,
mat tho mere sight OF the wills Vxh{o6
smut u In Is eagerly coveted.
~ was a pretty sight to any one who .
might nave been stationed M the wi.
~; 20 sec mat blooming procession of
nea.ly dressed lads and lasses. as they
' ~,s. Their way along with many a
merry laugh and jest, until at last thew