Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1884-02-07
A ROMANCE OF HISTORY.

1t was nutiing time.
A blooming band of peasant children
had crsthcred from far and near to have
m.rry day amid the nut trees and
b, dgeS.
! say childrcn-Jut girls of o and
lads of Island 70 were scattered through
the chattering group.
The nut harvest was a joyful time to
them.
The young are always attractive in a
certain way. The undimmed brightness
of the eye--the satiny smoothness of
complexion-the happy smiles hover
ing around the rosy liPs-each has a
beauty to itself; but add to the youth
full face the charm Of perfectly chisled
features, and of lustrous brown eyes,
looking out upon the world with an in.
nocent wonder at the changing scenes
of loyliness so constantly unfol ling
themselves before them--frame il in a
mass of shining, Wavy gold Of natures
own crimping-and Eoise it upon form
30 1.-THE and slender in its exquisite
grace that Praxiteles might have chosen
il for his model-and you can form an
idea of Rika Bremer-the acknowl.
edged beauty Of the whole surrounding
county.
And there was romantic story about
her going the rounds.
1t was said that no lesss a 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 a. he stood
gazing listlessly out, his eyes frightened
suddenly, and he turned to an attend.
ant and whispered 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 maidens, looking at the
gaily dressed columns of her country.
men fling 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 20 viv
idly the exquisite fairness of her skin
with its rose-leaf tints of red upon lips
and checks, that she looked like be
ing of different sphere "a she stood
among her m ties.
Confused and blushing she now await
cd the princes pleasure. She dared
not raise her eyes 10 his face.
Had she done 20 she would have beer
overpoWered by the earnestness Of tho
gaze with which he regarded her.
From the moment his eyes rested
upon Rika's face the world held but on,
peerless woman TO him.
Il mattered not that his younger
brother, Duke John, ~as even then in
another kingdom, wooing for him Z
royal bride, upon whose brow rested I
disdem, whose splendor far exceeded
the one which he was 10 inherit upor
the death Of his father.
No. In that moment Elizabeth o
England was forgotten. The peasan
maid Who stood before him had becam,
the queen OF his fancy.
''Thy name, little one 7" he asked.
Rika raised her eyes TO the handsome
earnest face, bat dropped them timidl
- she met his glance.
"I am Fredrika-t thc:forezter's dsugl
tsr-your n al ,sty.'
Nay, not yet crave I for that titl'
maiden. Young blood must have II
vent, and am glad to know that th
cares OF government arc not soon likel
70 rest upon my shoulders, broa
though they may be-"
with smile he glanced at his sta
wart frame, which was acknowledged
be one Of the finest specimens Of ply
ical comelines, in the country, as WI
rs face called the handsomest Of an
princes in Europe.
Rika courtesied respectfully, but dl
uetfeply.