The Brookhaven leader., 1883-04-26


A glass of milk, from Rika's own
white hands, was the draught most pre-
ferred by the royal hunter-although
out of courtesy, he would sometimes ac-
cept n mug of mead from the sturdy
old father.
Matters were in this stage at the time
our story opens.
The nuts were gathered, and the mer-
~ groups had dispersed to their various
homes, with the understanding that
they should meet again the next day
and go together to the palace and dis
pose of their treasures.
The next morning found them on
their way, dressed in their best, as be-
came so eventful an occasion in their
usually monotonous lives; for royalty
had such glamor 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 lasSes, as they
wendell their way along with many a
merry laugh and jest, until at last they
halted in the great square before the
palace.
But to the watching eyes of the
Prince-who had received hint of the
coming of the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. was
but one face worth looking at among
the throng.
Come" he said to the courtiers
who were standing near, 'let us go
down to the square in body and make
the hearts of yon merry rustics even
merrier 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 about amidst the crowd
in the square.
Eric's steps were turned at once to-
wards Rika.
He soon possessed himself of her nuts;
and after paying for them lavishly in
golden coin, he took from an inner
pocket locket and chain, which he
gave to her, saying:
"Wear it for my sake. There is no
one who would look fairer in it. You
ought to be Queen. little Rika, and |
will yet make You one.
Before Rika had time to realize aught
but that his words had filled her heart
with bewildering sense of happiness,
he had gone, his gift alone remaining
to prove that she had not been dream
ing.
But she soon came 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 bestow her jeweled hand
upon his elder son, and it had reached
Rika's ears.
Such a thing had been known as q
maid of low degree being wooed and
won by royal sutton. The tale of
Grisels happiness, and of her woes as
well, was favorite one among the
folk-stories told around the humble
hearths of the peasantry; and if fate
had ordained it to happen to her also,
Rika would have been as glad and proud
a maiden as ever the sun had shone 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 slowly
homeward
So the next day little barefooted
boy-the child of neighboring farmer
was sent to the palace by Rika with
Prince Fries gift, carefully tied up in
piece of linen cloth cut from the corner
of a web which she herself had woven
from flax raised from the seed, and pre-
pared by her own deft hands.
Could the unconscious trinket have
told Eric that Rika's bright eyes had
fingered lovingly and regretfully upon
it, and that she had pressed it to her
lips again and again, it might have les
sened his chagrin in receiving his pres
ent back again.
As it was, it only kindled anew his
determination to win Rika for his own,
be the consequences what they might.
1t should not be said of him that low
peasant girl had given him, the Crown
Prince of Sweden, such rebuff.
He threw large cloak over his rich
court suit, and thus disguised he mount
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 a 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.
All! little one, thy face for once tells
me all that | wish to know. Thou lowest
me! 1 see it in those eyes"
And before Rika had time to retreat
he caught her to his heart and imprint
ed passionate kissesupon her trembling
lips.
She drew herself from his encircling
arms, and stood painting like fright
ened fawn.
Then she threw herself at his feet,
and, clasping her hands entreatingly,
she said:
"Oh, 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,
gor'
II mean thee no harm, Rika. love
n n