Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1886-08-23
THE PRAIRIE PRINCESS
BY CLYDE RAYMOND,

A neat, low cabin on the western
prairie. A hot September day was near.
ing its close, and the sun hung like q
ball of fire above the low horizon.
| Outside, the wide prairie looked brown
and bare, and the late wild flowers
Iscattered here and there among the
short, .crisp grass, were dry and droop-
ling in the still, hot air.
Inside the cabin all was neat, clean
and cool. A plain, but pretty carpet
covered the floor, the green-shaded
windows on either side of the room
stood wide open, and the glimpse they
afforded of the modest, but lastefully
furnished interior was very restful and
inviting.
Just within the open door sat young
girl busily engaged in sewing A neat,
light-colored calico dress fitted her
graceful figure to perfection, and the
poise of her dark, regally-shaped head,
as she bent over her work, even though
you had not seen her face, would alone
have told you that nature had fitted her
to grace any station, from the humble
CABIN parlor TO the gilded salons of a
palace
Suddenlya Gathering of horses hoofs
near by made her look up wonderin2ly,
ana the next instant they had stopped
at the door and she was face to face with
the riders-a lady and gentleman, both
iair and handsome, yet how different in
their individual types of beauty! While
tile man was gracious and winning in
every lineament of his blonde, strong
featur' face and every movement OF
the manly figure that sat his horse so
lad I, H., 81
falr, and she was very fair indeed.
Both starte in surprise al the vision
of beauty which met their gaze in the
doorway of that prairie cabin. For the
broad, low forehead, the large, dark
eyes under the level brows, half gentle,
hilf-haughty in their sudden, wonder
ing glance, their unusual loneliness still
further heightened by thedusky shadows
lying uuder them, and the delicate
w1ld-rose bloom tinging the clear, dark
cheek, made up a picture that was
beautiful indeed
The gentleman (Barry Langdon was
his name) courteously raised his hat
and requested cup of cool water for
his fair companion and himself adding
that they had ridden from "the camp
over there'-pointing toward range
of hills that looked to be young noun
tains lying to the northumberland were
just as tired and thirsty as two travellers
could be.
Emma Cole, the young duchess of the
cabin, brought two sparkling goblets
filled with the cold. delicious beverage,
and offered them with q few pleasant,
ladylike words and grace which the
proud blonde beauty envied, even while
she secretly hated her for III
She could not fail to see that Mr..
Langdon was charmed-fascinated
the lovely girl who was for the moment
their ministering angel
Although she had eXerted all her own
powers to that end for whole year
past, she had never succeeded in win
ming such a look of interest from those
handsome eyes as this stranger girl had
woreat the iirs. moment pf their meet
ing.
Angry at the fact, she suddenly struck
her horse a sharp blow with her whip,
and with supercilious nod to Miss
Cole rode rapidly away, thus abruptly
ending the interview, for of course
Barry was obliged to follow her.
But he did not 90 without parting
glance and smile as he again respect
fully touched his hat, that amply COM
pensated for the rudencss of the lady.
II am sorry to spoil your amuse-
men said th4 latter, somewhat scorn-
fully, as they rode toward those distant
hills, "but we shall scarcely reach the
camp now before dark. You seemed
quite smttcn with our rustic beauty. y
did r." said Langdon laughingly,
while slight color rose to his fair face.
well, by my faith, Miss Isabel, she's
the most beautiful woman I've ever had
the good fortune to meet. Don't You
think so? A princess Of the blood royal
might envy such beauty and grace as
hers"
Isabel Marcy bit her lips fiercely us
the hot blood rushed to her haughty
check.
From that moment she hated the
lovely prairie girl rs only IL Jealous wo-
man can hate Il charming rival.
Emma Cole stood in the doorway and
watched them ride off across the prairie
with feelings Of unmiXed admiration
for both.
The lady's GOODNESS had not troubled
her, for indeed she had scarcely noticed
il.
She had heard of the party of Eastern
people who were camping among the
hills, but this was the first time any had
wandered her way.
AS she went back to her sewing she
still thought of them, and the day SEEM
ed II little brighter for their coming,
though she could hardly have told why.
The next day Barry Langdon reined
his horse upa5 the cabin door again,
asking for the cooling, crystal draught !:
and this time he came alone and remain
ed before the door talking with his
lovely entertainer much longer than
when Miss Isabel Marcy was the COM
panion of his ride
He had much TO tell of his novel life
in camp, and in return learned that
Emma had come from one of those STIR
ring young cities of the West to keep
house for her widowed uncle, and that
she enjoyed her life there, though some
times she found it rather lonely.
Lonely ! | should think so % he
exclaimed warmly, "for one like you. -
Adding, with a slight flush and lowered
tones II did not know, until now.
tina, such rare exotics We're in bloom on
these western parties"
The wild-rose color deepened in the
girls cheek to q warmer hue, and her
heart fiuttered little under the glance
which said so much more than his
words, but she never lost shade of that
proud, yet modest dignity which made
Langdon name her in his own thoughts,
1.-THE princess"
Day after day she came, and always,
alone, until n week had passed, and one
evening he told her that the party. were
to leave for the East on the morrow.
Miss Emma, he said, holding herl
hand ere he mounted his horse to ridel
away for the last time, you haveI
known me so short time that | dare
not say all should like to say in part