The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-09-22
THE ARKANSAW TRAVELER

If kingly the mien of this young man, but lately and unexpectedly called from 8 sailors life to wear a crown, queenly also the tall, stately, golden haired maiden now standing by his side.
 Ermengarde had never looked more beautiful. An amount of hateur, half playful, serious, lent piquancy to her spirited loveliness. She was af- fronted with the king for the blunder into which he had entrapped her. She was half inclined to accuse him of a frivoiity of character unsupported in her guest of the day before.
 "You see l am here to redeem my promise" he said, smiling. "I trust you are not displeased to find in me an old acquaintance?"
 "Nay," said Ermengarde. "How can help being displeased? I have lost one who might have been my friend"
 "Can king have no friends then?" he asked, coloring with vexatlon, perplexed as we'll as bewitched by this island beauty. "You will make me wish that could maintain yesterdays incognito for ever."
 ErmeDgarde slightly blushed. She knew well enough that any breach of etiquette would be more than forgiven just now all the more, she was deter mined not to commit any.
 "Sire -," she began, intending to apologize for the freedom of the day before, and at the same time to convey covert reproach.
 He stopped her gayly and joyously.
 "No ceremonies, no titles to- night, I entreat-I command. For this once, and for you, am the king's messen- ger. Indeed I must have it so."
 "Then," said Ermengarde brightly, "to the king's messenger may openly say what is in my mind. He should not have come here under false pre- tense. I might have compromised oth- CTS beside myself"
 The candid brow clouded over; the genial voice had tone of bitterness in it as he replied:
 "You have evidently poor idea of human nature. Should I stoop to such meanness?"
 "Pardon, thousand times, I ask pardon" Ermengarde said, greatly vexed at the misinterpretation put upon her words. "I but meant to say that might have given a wholly wrong impression of these good fisher folk-see how loyal they arep She smiled gayly and added: "I believe l am the only malcontent in this part of your majesty's dominions."
 "You are not speaking to the king, he replied. "But let me explain why made that sudden raid upon you yesterday. You know my story. Who seemed less likely a year ago to inherit crown than myself? One fine morning I, the sailor prince, am torn away from free, careless life, and saluted with the title of king. That of pope, prime minister, or crown lawyer would have been equally ap- 
 "Unfortunately crown is not awarded as premium upon capacity. Had it been put up for competitive examination you might have escaped" smiled Ermengarde.
 "Well, perhaps, for me had it been so," he said, smiling also. Then he went on in graver tone: "My tastes have ever been in quite other lines. I have always valued my freedom above every thing; freedom to roam the world, to lead the life of an explorer, and" here he looked at her mean settle down in a home of my own choosing when fancy wllled. l do not pretend to say that my changed prospects are altogether dis pleasing to me now. Who can help being influenced by his surroundings? shall, I dare say, gradually grow into wholly altered being"
 "Yes," Ermengarde answered, slow ly and sadly. ''If you ever visit this island again, you will certainly not dance with the head forester's daugh- ter. You will not wish your subjects to forget that you are king then"
 There was so much of simple, yet suggestive truth in these words, that AoA mohOHe tuO youHS Hiau SaytIy vanished. Joyous music filled the lit- tie forest world, Ermengarde, in all her beauty, stood beside him, his part ner in the dance, yet he was grave and pensive.
 "You are right" he said. "I feel that not only my youth, but my na- ture must be sacrificed to my great ness, that slowly, yet surely and irre- vocably, shall become a stranger to my sormer self. Here, fora last brief moment, snatch breath of liberty. But it was something more than 8 mere wild caprice that made me steal 8 march on my courtiers yesterday" He glanced round, and added in an undertone: "Fame had reached me of the head forester's daughter. Iwanted