The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-05-29
A noMAStn 9f nr,ronA

Tt was nuttlng time.
A blooming band of peasant children
had gathered from far and near to have
Il merry day amid the. nut trees and
hedges.
:. | say children-but, girls of fifteen
and lads of eighteen and twenty were
scattered through the scattering group
The nut harvest was joyful time
to them.
The young are always attractive in a
certain way. The undimmed bright
ness of the eyer-the happy smiles hoy
erIng around the rosy lips-each has a
beauty to itself; but add to the youth,
ful face the charm of chiseled features,
ami of luStrOus brown eyes, looking out
upon the world with an innocent wond-
er at the changing scenes a loveliness SO
constantly unfolding themselves before
them-frame it in Il mass of shining,
= wavy gold of nature 8 own crimping-
and pOiSe it upon a form SO 1.-the and
slender III its exquisite grace that Prax.
iteles might have chosen it for his
modcl-and you can form an idea of
Rika Bremer--the acknowledged beauty
Of the whole surrounding country.
And there was a romantic story about
her going the roumds.
II was said that no less a parsonage
than lSrince Eric, the son of the great
and good Gustavus, had been standing
one morning by one of the palace VIM
dows to witness a rustic procession,
which had been gotten up in honor Of
some important victory, recently won
by his famous father; and as he stood
gazing listlessly ont, his eyes frightened
suddenly, and he turned to an attendant
and whispered Il few words which caused
him to hasten away. When he retnrn-
ed he was not alOne-Rika was with
him.
Prince Eric's beauty-loving eyes had
been attracted by her, as She had stood
amid group OF other maidens, looking
at the gaily dressed columns of her
countrymen tiling-by.
She, too, was in holiday attire; and
the black velvet jacket, fitting closely
to her slender figure, and adorned with
silver-gilt buttons, brought out SO
VlVluly LllU eACelleIIL IalrIleSS OT ner
skin, with it's rose-leaf tints of red upon
her lips and cheeks, that she looked like
of Il different sphere as she stood amid
her mates.
Confused and blushing, she now
awaited the princes pleasure. She
dared not raise her eyes to his face.
Had she done SO, she would have
been overpOweerd by the earnestneSs of
the gaze with which he regarded her
From the moment his eyes rested
upon Rika's face, the world held but
one peerless woman to him.
1t mattcred not that his Younger
brother, Duke John, was even then in
another kingdom, wooing for him a
royal bride, upon whose brow rested a
tiadem, 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
the 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.
Il am Frederika-the forestcr's
daughter-you Majesty"
"Nay, not yet Gravel for that title,
maiden. Young blood must have its
vent, and am glad to know that the
cares of government are not soon to rest
upon my shoulders, broad though they
may be-" ....
With q smile he glanced at his stall
wart frame, which was acknowledged
to be one Of the finest specimens of
physical comlincss in the country, as
was his face called the handsomest of
any princess in Europe. -. J,
Rika courtsied respectfully, but did
not reply.
If the gracious prince chose to address
as an equal one Of the humbless of his
fathers subjects, she knew well her
position, and was to the full as proud
of her unsullied ignorance and integrity
as the haughtiest maid in the realm.
. Her shy modesty added to her beauty
in Eric's eyes. -
"Where livest thou, Frederika?" he
asked, softly; "for I would like to 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 intutiyely that
it would startle Rika to give her his
true reason and say that he intended tC
start out himself in quest of fairer and
more precious game, which must be Ell
shared in tenderer tolls than those al
the command of the keenest sportsman
at his fathers court.
After few words more he suffered
Rika to 60. But the sweet memory OF
her presence went not with her. II
nestled deep within his heart.
After this interview, scarcely a weel
passed that did not find Eric's step!
turned in the direction of the fOrester''
cottage. .......
A glass of milk from Rika's owl
white hands was the draught most pre-
ferred by the Royal hunter although
out Of courtesy, he would sometime
accept a mug of mead from the sturd!
old father.
Matters were in this sstage at the tim'
our story opens.
The nuts were gathered, and TIN
groups had dispersed to their variou
homes, with the Understanding tina
they should meet again the next da,
and go together to the palace and dis
pose OF their treasures.
The next morning found them OF
their way, blessed in their best as be
came 80 eventful an occasion in thei
usually monotonous lives; fOl Royalt
mas such glamour to uninitiated eye