Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1886-09-04
FAIR ETHNE'S CHOICE,
A TALE OF THE o1DEx TINE.

c111ely as 1ly, beautiful as rose,
modest rs a violet, was Ethne, daughter
Of Great FloEimond, King of the Franks.
Sole hEiness of her fathers domain, she
had been taught as befitted powerful
z0nArchls daughter. No brighter eye
flashed responsive to noble deed, no ten
deTeT heart wept over knights wounds,
no none daring huntress hasted to the
chase, no maiden in all her train was as
skilled at the embroidery frame as she.
But her heart was ice. This beautiful
being, who could pity the squire's mis-.
hap, had no meIcy upon the noble knights
whose hearts she had pierced by her
g8Rnces
Right well did King Florimond like to
keep his daughter to himself, and it was
with scarce concealed joy that he saw
Euit0r after suitor depart from his court
with detected mier and downcast head.
But NJ came to pass, as he grew older,
hls ministers began tc consider that
there must be some rule capable of hold
ingthe turbulent Princes of the provinces
I'm subsection. Sa they petitioned Flori-
m0na TO select from the Princes, who
every day besought Ethne's favor, one
who should bscome her consort.
FlOrimond knew that his daughter
mlS4 wed one whom he should adopt ere
she could SIT upon his throne; SO, with
a great sigh, he prepared TO give up his
darling 10 another. But when he
hrDBched the matter to Ethne she looked
at him reproachfully, and asked:
a-ARd hast thou tired of me, my
futhHrE"
S.No, no" answered he, right sore
would II grieFe me to find thy heart held
me second, yet thou .know'st am wax
ing to the end, and / fain would see thee
happy ere ! go"
1hen Ethne clung to him, shuddering,
Es strong young natures will, at thought
of death, and bade him not name the
ugly word, II wTung her heart; and said
did he wish her to marry, she would,
mot that her heart could be won by
FrlnceOr duke-no, no; but only to please
her dear father.
The King smiled, for he was shrewd
old fellow and knew a w0man's heart, or
Thought he did, and when she asked that
she might make her own choice, he
laughed in his beard. But he readily
promised, and royal couriers were des-
F1tched to the. east and the west, and the
north and the south, to announce that the
Princess Ethne had at last agreed to
wed Great Was the rejoicing, and for
a space all thoughts of war left even the
most pursuant warriors head, and in their
s1Ezd came dreams of love and ambition
and the beautiful Efhne. To every
Prince had come most faithful miniature
pf the KING daughter, and many u man,
~ he EGzed upon the dazzling counter
felt. felt 1hat he would gladly barter his
seoul TO possess the real
BE sure the Princess had gazed upon
the portraits of her fathers most re-
nUwned vhssals, but If any among them
had stirred her heart none knew it, not
even her faithful maid, Grunelle. She
hunted, and rode and played her harp,
and worked her tapestry with serene
m6eu, and hung over her father with
tender ministratiOn; but Prince after
Prince rode away from the palace more
than eFsr the beautiful Efhne's slave.
further thAn ever from Florimond's
ahrOue.
THIN FlorImond began to wax little
angry as the best Of men will when
they find themselves thwarted by wo.
@Anls 0bstinscy, and he swore by the
bones Of his Forefathsrs that he would
give a siK days' tournament, to which all
his Dt5ghb0rs and princely vassals should
be hldden, and on the sixth day Ethne
must choose one for her husband. Such
an 0bsdlsu1 child was she that she smiled
and kissed his anger away
Tie tournament came of at length,
after waEt preparation. Florimond's cap
nal WIS thronged with strangers, ard
sQuiVes dozed IN the saddle in the streets,
while their noble masters were content
to slptP npsn bEre floors. All the beauty
and chivAlTy Of the world was assembled;
nll aA11 man and wealth could do was
doe 10 make the tournament Of Ethne
the FAir unequaled. And nature, smil-
l1ig. viewed the gay pageant. The Field
q Love was a great plain outside the
El-es. and thifher thousands wended
ratir WHy from early dawn. At the ex-
sre1ify q the en- losed lists was a raised
dnis covered with purple velvet. and
uPon TINS WIS placed the golden throne
q the Queen Of the Tournament, shaded
frrn the June sun by canopy Of silver
and EznIe- hight glorious was the day.
Ihe green enr1h was bathed in the
z1ldea sunlight. and the soft zephyrs
Pinyes with tie ladies' tresses ndtouched
fttlr rvuBded nccks like . trembling
Bov.r's KISS Hcralds rode up and down
tht ists, rHDclaiming in sonorous voice
TIE Knights deeds Of proves. More