The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1883-07-27

I'M t5 W. s.s :
!! { y i HISTORY. ]
4 siissii gns liEj ihr sins.
1 "a a 6loSpat bandsof peasant children
I had q hsfed from far and near to have
enssEy among the nut trees and
1, ehidi but girls Of Is and lads
'l8 andsa scattered through the
seriag1Roup. d
s.. The nut harvest was joyful time to
ss The oAnS are al ways attractive in a
certain WsS The undimmed brightness
the the satiny smoothness of the
Hlplexsnn-the happy smiles lowering
around 1.-the rosy lips each has beauty
sto3 isslf but add to the youthful face
heSllafm of perfectly chiseled features,
ssanas at lustrous brown eyes looking out
upon the world with an innocent won
derat the changing scenes of loneliness
go eonstantlv unfolding themselves be-
1 fore them-frame it in mass of shining,
4wavy gold of natures own crimping-
md poise it upon form so 1.-the and
3slender in it's exquisite grace That Prax
sitelcs might have chosen it for his model
g-and you ran 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 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 his famous father, and as he stood
gazir:s listlessly out, his eyes frightened
suddenly, and he turned to an attend
ant and whispered q few words which
caused him 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
group Of other maldens. 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 with silver
gilt buttons, brought out SO wildly the
exquisite fairness of the skin, with its
rose leaf tints 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 Rika's face, the world held but one
peerless woman to him.
1t mattered not that his Younger
brother, Duke John, was even then in
another kingdom, wooing for him a
royal bride, upon whose brow rested
diadem, 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 forester's
daughter-your majesty"
Nay, not yet crave I 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 phys-
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.
send thy father a commission to fell
some trees which must interfere with
the comfort Of the kings hunting parties
in the forest"
This he said, knowing intuitively that
it would startle Rika to give her his true
reason and say that he intended to start
out himself in quest of failer 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.
Rfka to CO. But The T SWEET N @e S@oTye of
her presence went not with her. It
nestled deep within his heart.
After this interview, scarcely week
passed that he did not find Eric's steps
turned in the direction of the foresters
cottage.
A glass of milk FROM Rika's own white
hands, was the draught most preferred
by the royal hunter-although out of
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-
~ groups had dispersed to their various
homes, with the understanding that they
should meet the next day and 20 togeth-
er to the place and dispose of their
treasures.
The next morning found them on
their way, dressed in their best, as be-
came so eventful occasion in their usu-
ally monotonous lives; for royalty had
such a glamour to uninitiated eyes that
the mere sight of the walls which shut
it in is eagerly coveted.
It 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
merry laugh and jest, until at last they
haulted in the great square before the
palace.
d. 4