Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-09-09
THE ROSE wEAvERS.
ran the Year Round.l
CHAPTER I.
THp MEETING.


island maidens we're busily weaving
roses one midsummer day. They sat
scattered in groups about the place, and
made pretty picture, some on the
ereensward beside the miniature lake,
others occupying steps OF the marble
terrace: Others again had chosen shady
hooks and corners, where, barehcaded,
they sedulously piled their task. Here
and there stood baskets filed with cut
roses and "a soon as one was empty II was
Immediately replaced by the assistant
gardeners. These roses be il remarked,
had Just come carefully packed from the
neighboring Continent not single
flower could be spared from the Kings
garden inst now. q
Right merily tho girls went on with
their bewitching work. They sang, they
laughed, they chatted as unconcernedly
NJ II the whole place belonged 70 them,
which indeed it did for that day. Save
for upholsterors and decorators the
charming little summer palace was de-
serted. The director OF the forthcoming
ceremonies Was good-nab'ue itself and
we'll pleased TO see folks gay 20 long as
they put their shoulders to the wheel.
There was one girl whom any sudden
intruder must st the first glance have
singled out.as the queen. She was tall
and fair, with all the grace ct n IeutOnic
maiden, and much more besides. A GER
tain AR OF distinction marked her, too,
from the rest, and, although gay and
animated as any, her face bctokened in
talleet and character quite ont OF the or
binary wAy. 1t was evident that, while
throwing heart and soul into her work,
her playful moods alternated with deep
SERIOUSNESS. As jealous = rose-veaver
IA any. she vet seemed absent from time
20 time; her thoughts were evidently
elsewhere.
Her companion was one OF those naive,
artless. seventeen-year-O maidens, fresh
from school, and, IS far as earnestness
and insaghtare concerned, she might have
been fresh from the cradle. In making
parianlis, az in more weighty under
takinCs, there must 10 head to direct,
sDd thervounger and less capable girls
had been thus told off to help their ell
ders. The stately Ermengarde was Gle
yer enough and resolute enough to have
directed far more important affairs than
o court ceremonial. Bertha, by her side,
was a gigg4ing little thing, with only will
enough to do the simplest thing she was
hidden.
A few minutes before she had giggled
when tho head gardener came up TO chat
for two minutes with Ermengarde she
now began 10 litter afresh Us she saw
some one else approaching, this time
stranger. There wasa constant gong 10
and fro of fmctionsries, most OF whom
found time to interchange a word or two
with Ermengarde, the brilliant, beautiful
daughter Of the head forester.
Tho intruder this time was stranger,
and naturally addressed himself TO the
most striking girl he caught sight of, ms
he descended the marble steps leading to
the garden.
lie was a sunburned, bearded. hand
some fellow, who looked more like a sol
der or ssstaring man than civilian,
much less al ofiicial OF fastidious little
court. His dress, too, had a careless,
rustic look. and his hands showed signs
Of exposure to all weathers. There was.
however, a certain Willingness, Con-
HOnjc and caDdor about hum that MADE
mp for these drawbacks a certain ease,
too. betokening the educated gentle
man.
Pardon me, Fraulein," he said,
dropping bareheaded into seat beside
the two girls. ALLOW me 10 repose my
self an Instant Here IL my card Adolf
Christian Neumann. Kings messenger.
! have lust ridden from the harcor on
special errand, and had at the same time
8 elv hint 10 sec how things were getting
on. l only hope this King OF yours may
prove worth all these roses
"Was any King that ever lived
worth SO much " asked Ermengarde,
with moro Of sorrow than scorn IN her
beautiful smile.
The young man smiled also, and
looked at the speaker penetratingly and
with deep and growing admiration.
What a glorious creature he WAS evil
IDENTITY thinking to himself. This tall,
stately, golden haired girl possessed
natural, Unborn dignity, and unlike
these fisher maidens, her companions,
had seen more Of the world than her
own little island. The head foresters
daughter was indeed an accomplished
and well-bred lady.
"You are no courtler, then ?" he said,
evidently provoked, yet fascinated by
her outspokennesa Your heart is eyi-
IDENTITY not ia your work.
Whose heart can ever be in such
work asthis 2" she replied we flat
- -. xwl;Io oil tho kiuoa xva aithar
hate or despise them.
''1'his is free country, the stranger
put IN. why not wear black to-mor-
row when your King comes, thus pro
testing in your own person against his
lniquities ?"
~ assure you, she answered,
"nothing would please me better had |
no one but myself 90 consider, But |
am the head forester's daughter. In all
social observsnces l am tied hand and
foot
Tell me-" the young man went on,
settling himself comfortably in the rustic
seat, evidently determined to talk as
long "a he could get her to listen to
him "what are these witnesses, these
desperate sins of your especial monarch,
that make you long TO cut off all Kings
heads 2"
Nay. history wants no more such
martyrs, the girl said "but since Kings
have ceased to be law-givers, what good
purpose do they serve ? And they get
too much fattery. They live as com
pletely shut out from the real life of the
people as If they inhabited the planet
Jupiter
His mood changed from gay to grave.
"These roses, then, are a mere show
OF loyalty. The festive appearance this
island puts on in honor of the royal visit
means nothing?"
"What should it mean ?" Ermen-
garde cried again, with a scornful smile.
" We are not living in the childhood Of
history Kven the rude tisher-folk now
think for themselves. They know well
enough that it is the laws that shield
them from harm, not the favor OF a
King"
but since these unfortunate beings,
kings, do exist" he went on, with re-
turning sportiveDess and good humor,
- do