Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-04-27
halted in Tho great square before the

m
frlnce-whO had received hint of the
coming OF the nut-gathGrersZthere was
Out one face worth looking at among
the throng.
'Come, he said TO the eourtiers
VINO were standing near, ''let us 90
down to the square in BODY and make
the hearts of Won merry rustics even
merrier to-day fby sexrhanginD some
coins for the nuts they have with them. -
"A frince's suggestion never lacks for
listeners, nor for followers, and soon
the rich tOilettes Of the court people
were scattered about amidst tbs crowd
IN the square.
Erlc.s steps were turned at once to-
wards. Rika. ......,.- -
lie soon possessed himself Of her nuts:
and after paying for them lavishly i'm
golden coin, he took from an inner
pocket a locket and chain, which he
gave 20 her, saying:
Wear II for my sake. There Is no
one who would look fiircr in IL. You
ought To be n Queen. little Rika, and
VIII wee make ye,s t.,,.-.
Before, RikA had time TO realize aught.
out that his words had filed her heart
with bcwildering sense of happiness.
he hail gone, his gift alone remaining
70 prove that she had not been dream
ing. - -
But she soon came to her sober
senses. ..-
IL was wen known that King Gus
tavus had been holding negotiations
with the maiden Queen Of England. to
induce her 10 bestow her iewelod hand
upon his elder son. and it had reached
Hka's ears - o. .H'i ..l'.-i 80.
Such a thing had been known rs a
maid OF low degree bUiRg wooed and
won by royal sutton. The tale Of
Grlsel happiness. and Of her woes a.
wei. was favorite one among the
folk-stories told around the humble
hearths OF the peasantry; and if fate
had ordained IL tO happen 20 her also.
klka would have been as glad and proud
= maiden ~ ever the sun had shOfie on. :
But she would listen to no wQrds dflove
from one whose hand was as rood rs
given 10 another. 'f
Thus she thought as she walked slowly
hOmeWarol. ...lf..-
30 the next day n little barcfooted
boy-th child of n neipbborinp farmer
was sent to the palace by Rika with
frlnce Eric's gift, carefully tied up in a
piece OF linen cloth cut from the corner
oi web which she herself had woven
from max raised from the seed. and pre-
pared by her own def hands.
Could the unconscious trinket have
told Eric that Rika's bright ewes had
fingered lovingly and regretfully upon
IT. and that she had pressed it to her
Ilps again and again, it might have les
Sened his chagrin in receiving his pres
cnt back again. ... ....
AS II was, il only kindled anew his
determination TO win Rika for his own.
he the consequences what they might.
IL should not be said of him that n low
peasant girl had given him. the Grown
Prince OF Sweden, such rebuff. -.
lie threw large cloak over his rich
court suit. and thus Disguised he mount
eel Olaf, his favoritc hunter. and hast
ened towards Rka's home.
HOT anger was cOntcnding with his
love for the rustic beauty as he rode
along.
But when he ut last reached the Dor
dcrs OF the cleared patch of land in the
forest which held the little cottape. had
diSmountcd from his horse and tied him
to sapling. and found himself stand
Ing mt the door, awaiting his answer. to
MS rap, allwaS forgotten but the thought
that he was soon To gaze upon the beau
tiful face which had haunted his fancy
80 persistcntly since fate had first
brought il before him.
kika opened the door and stood for
an instant in glad surprise. gazing M
into her lovers face in utter forOetfui-
ness Of the difference in their stations.
All little one. thy face for once tells
mo all that ! wish To know. Thou lowest
me! see IL in those eyes"
And before Rika had time To retreat
he caught her to his heart and imprint /.
ed passionate kisses upon her trembling I
lips.
She drew herself from his cncirclino !
arms, and stood painting like fright :
cncd fawn.
Then she threw herself mt his feet
and, clasping her hands eutrcatinyly,
she said: ~
oh. most noble Prince. let II not he
put against thy record that innocence
and virtue received no respect mt thy
hands! Go, ] cntreat YOU! Should nv,
father return and find thee here. he
would surely first kill me and then Kill
himself, in shame and despair! Ohsf
gor' ..... ''..
" mean thee no harm. Rika. love
thee; and when one loves he hurts moi
the object Of that love. TO win thee / v
viii give up my hcirship to.tlie crown
to- my brother John; and while he wears
The diadcm upon his brow L will con
tent myself with love aud happiness
with thee. - r.
Not So, noble Eric" said Rika.
hrmly; elf thou wouldSt make sucb n
sacrifice, l, for one, will not be a marty
10 1t. After such n marriage-entailinr
rs it would, SO much loss-love would"
prove but transient guest within our
home. Repro1ches would drive the tickle
rOd away - fs --,I.H '-sf
" Tell'mc the truth, Rika. > interrupt
ed Eric, with passionate earnestness:
Edo you love me?"
$50 well that / would rather die
han know than harm would come to
'ne so noble through any influence of
mine. .p.sa ~. ..
And yet you refuse to make me
nappy?'
II refuse to work your ruin, noble
Prince. The present is not all ,of life.
But sec-the. sunlight has ualready
reached the middle point of yout dali.
In ten more minutes myfather will he
here IL thon wouldst shield me from
harm, go.
Il win obey now; but I will not
promise TO give up the hope which lured
me hither. Farewell for a time. most
Dbdurate nader" = ~ 80. '-'-I =
Then. with n long. lingering. re.
gretful look, the Prince turned and de-
parted.
Days and weeks passed on.
AT last came a time which was to-
plunge the nation into mourning. The
good and great Gtfstavus was stricken
WITH mortal illness. IN rr3f 9.i,ay
He died and was laid beside his King
y progenitorS. and Eric was the reign Z
ng sovereign in Sweden.
Young, impulsive, and his own mas.
or, with his heart fii1ctl with buf,one