The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1889-07-20

ing and hugging them close to their
breasts-fghting for them, living for
them. dying for them, and knowing
all the time that they were shams:
and each time the Prince turned
AWAY, more sick at heart than eve-.
Only q thin remnant of all that
brilliant host which years ago start
ed full of hope and enterprise now
rode beside the saddened prince, and
rs they toiled on YEARLY from place
/ to place, the few grew fewer still.
Once they came to a place where
Love had really been; but that was
long ago, and now she had gone no
knew whittier. 1t was the City of rO-
nance. and all it's citizens were po-
cts.
"Ah," said one white haired old
man, whom the Prince stopped to
question without the gates, 81 knew
her well. She reigned here happy
and contented when l was young;
but these new fellows-They have
frightened her away. They never let
her rest minute. but worried her to
deaf One day they would all be
worshiping her, and the next they'd
call her names and WANT to kill her.
On Monday she was a saint ON Tues
day she was a devil. They made out
that she was the cause Of all the stu
pid things they did, and d man
couldn't have the govt. or feel little
unsteady after dinner, but she was
blamed for it; and when they
told her that every one who
met her Immediately died
or committed suicide, the
poorlittle thing gotso unhappy that
she ran away, and we've never seen
her since. l don't think they were
very sorry. They didn't understand
her any more than anybody can I'M
derstand them. They've filled up her
place, now, with Al miserable half
dead-and-alive creature, as much like
Love as vinegar is like wine, and the
way they talk to her is really quite
indicate. Between you and me,
continued the old man, "there is a
lot of nonsense talked here. Some OF
! them talk SO much nonsense that
even we ourselves can't stand it, and
we have to turn them out. They are
called critics after they are
turned out don't know why
and they GO about ex-
planning what we mean. Why"
| and he sank Ills voice to a whisper.
''to tell you the truth, we don't know
that ourselves" and the old poet
hobbled away toward the city.
And now not a single one of all who
had shouted their loyalty SO loudly
| was left, when weary, baffied, and
disheartened, the Prince at last turn
ed back. A great longing was upon
him to be once more among people,
and to see his own land again; and
/ so, with this last hope, he still toiled
on, and each day pressed on quicker,
fearing lest death might overtake
him on the way and that his tired
eyes never more would rest upon the
towers and sweet green woods OF
home.
But the dreary road came to an
end at length, and one evening he
looked down upon his palace, as it
lay before him bathed in the red OF
the sinking sun. Restful, now. he
stood for while, feasting his hun
CRY eyes uopn the longed-for sight,
and then his thoughts ebbed slowly
back to that morning long ago,
when he had hidden it adieu, and had
ridden forth into the world upon his
quest for Love.
But ah! how changed the place!
How changed himself since then!
He had left it as a gallant prince
with all the pride of polnp around
him, and a gaudy throng of fiatter-
ing courtiers at his side. He crept
back, broken hearted and alone. He
had left it standing fair and stately
in the morning light, and bright with
life and sound now it was ruined,
desolate and silent; the bats flew out
of the banquet hall and the grass
', grew on the hearths. Another had
usurped his throne; his people had
forgotten him, and not even dog
, was there to give him welcome
home.
AS he passed through the damp,
| chilled rooms q thousand echoing
footsteps started up on every side,
as though his entrance had dis
turbed some CHASTITY revel, and when,
having reached a little room that in
old times he had been won't to go for
solitude, he entered, and shut him
self in; it seemed as though the
frightened spirits had hurried away,
slamming u thousand doors behind
| them.
There, in the darkness, he sat him.
self down, and buried his face in his
hands, and wept, and sat there long
through the silent hours, lost in his
own bitter thoughts. So lost that
he did not hear u gentle tapping at
the door-did not hear the door
open. and timid voice asking to
come in; did not hear IL light step
beside him, nor see a little maiden
sit herself down at his feet-did not
know she was there. till, at last, with
q sigh, he raised his head and looked
into the gloom Then his eyes met
hers, and he started, and looked
down at the sweet, shy face, amazed
and half in doubt.
why, you are Love!' said the
Prince, taking her little hands in his.
where have you been, sweet? I've
sought you everywhere"
"Not everywhere, said Love, nest
ling against him with a little half
sad laugh; mot everywhere; I've
been here all the time. l was here
when you went away, and Eve been
waiting for you to come back-so
long"
And SO the Princes quest was
ended.