Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-09-09
CHAPTER IL
THE eURPRISE,

THE SURPRISE.
This little island of the northern sea
had been so far il-used of fortune hith-
erto it could boast of no royal visit.
King after king OF the dynasty that swsys
these realms was crowned and buried
rumors of grand doings reached the Ash
or folks from time 70 time-brilliant
court ceremonials, christenings, bridals,
( burials A more stay -at-bome folk than
these islanders, except perhaps, their
neighbors. the Lapps. hardly existed.
They heard OF pageants without behold
ing any. Very rarely, and only on mat
tiers of urgent business, they crossed the
sea that divided them from the CONT
nent.
Now, at last, they were to have pa
geant Of their own not. perhaps, to be
compared to celebrations IN the capital,
but great affair for all that. The King
was coming
Capital the island could not be said TO
I possess, nor was the so-called royal
palace much more than a hunting lodge
or summer pavilion. There was, there
fore, no possibility OF carrying out any
thing to be called programme indoors,
| and, as the weather was magnificent
alike the banquet and ball were TO take
place in the open air. This arrange
ment admirably suited the general taste
and convenience, for, while the little
palace could hardly have held hundred
and fifty guests, the entire popula-
ton Of the island would find more
than breathing room in the park out
/ side. A fine stretch Of swsrd was in
| closed for the dancers, and a tent erected
| for the rOval banquet. Beyond these
precincts ali could disport themselves as
! they pleased. Rows Of booths, such as
we see at fairs, were to he supplied with
refreshments, served TO all at the royal
expense. Truth to tell, this visit was
kind Of apology on the part of a newly
crowned king for series of ancestral
neglocts. The times, too, were critical.
1t was not moment when rulers, whe
Their OF small States or large, could afford
to have sulky subjects.
There were many reasons why Ermen-
garde. the head forester's daughter,
should take leading part in the days
proceedings. She was the best-educated
girl Of the island. to begin with. She
had seen something of life and manners
in the great world beyond the sea- She
would know exactly what to do and say
when leading her rose garlanded maidens
to welcome the King, A procession Of
girls dressed in white and bearing flow
ers was to await the royal visitor on the
landing place, and it was Ermengarde's
duty to offer a bouquet and make little
speech.
"What a mockery, what mere child's
play, it all is she said, as she glanced
at her white dress and wreath before
putting them on. elf some hero were
10 he welcomed to-day, one who had
rlsked his life for bis country, or even
saved the lives OF half dozen of his
fellows, as many of our poor fishermen
have done, then no one would prepare
for this festival more enthusiastically
than myself. But this King He may
wish to do good. He may be free from
the vices of his forerunners What ID
lie as yet but mere name to us
She twice adjusted the wreath of
crimson roses to her fair head, and twice
removed it.
And no one is bold enough to tell
them the truth. Kings live and die
without hearing the truth. Could l
speak to this one as / did to bis messen-
ger yesterday. open my heart to him,
/ speak out as one rational, thinking being
is bound TO spaak ont 10 another. then
his visit might not be made in vain.
This little northern kingdom was far
from being ideally governed. Even now
a royal yea and nay were far too puis
SAINT. However, the King was coming /;
he must be welcomed. So at hast, and
with some reluctance. Ermengarde put
on her white dress and wreath OF Grim
son roses. A smife rose to her lips as
she thought of that genial, impetuous
stranger his manner, she hardly knew
why, had pleased her greatly. He was
so frank, so generous and manly, and
| evidently, like herself, had seen some
thing of men and manners on the great
Continent That promised dance with
him would be a relief to the stiff cere-
monial of the evening.
Ermengarde. Ermengarde !"
A dozen girlish voices now called her
| name, for il was time TO go. No prettier
sight could be imagined than these
blonde msidens as they trooped along in
| their white-muslin dressss--silk and satin
we're unknown on the island, and jewels
almost equally so. Few wore other
| ornaments but roses in their hair and on
| their bosoms The leader was as simply
dressed as any her pre-eminence-and
il was marked enough consisted in that
inborn grace, that stately yet spirited
beauty that would have marked her
out among far more brilliant fellow
ship.
The girls had not taken their place on
the terrace minute too soon. Hardly
were they drawn up in proper order when
the distant huzzas of the crowd outside
the palace gates, the firing of salute in
the harbor, the chatter of hoofs, and the
braying Of trumpets announced the royal
cayalcade. There was general litter
and trembling among the girls they
craned their necks in order TO obtain
first glimpse they waved their handker-
chiefs they grew crimson and breath
less with excitement Only Ermengsrde
retained self-possession. She had her
bouquet and little speech in readiness;
her curiosity TO behold the face OF
King was not ino1dinste. and. il must be
added, she could not help wondering all
the time il her acquaintance OF yesterday
we're really there.
The event so eagerly longed for was
come and gone in a moment. A group
OF horssnen wearing brilliant uniforms
dashed up--one little in advance OF the
others, with broad ribbon across bis
breast. wss the first to dismount, re-
ceiving homage from all sides Ermen-
garde's flowers and words OF welcome
were graciously acknowledged, few
courtesieg exchanged, final kuzzA
raised b. ths crowd. then The g6hering.