The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1889-03-30

them together, the sense of comradeship,
sympathy-call it what we will-that leads
one human being to open bis heart to
another.
''You must not dance with me any more,
for all that" she said. 'You are the King
to others, if only his messenger to mel
"And the last named parsonage will not
quit this island without bidding you fare
WE'LL" he answered. Expect me at the
head forester's house before go"
CHATTER ".
The head forester's house was one of the
hsndsomest in the island. 1t stood by the
roadside, on the border of the vast forest
almost covering the sea girt kingdom. Though
solitary, the site was full of charm in summer
time Golden the light penetrating the lofty
pine trees, unbroken save for the notes of
birds, the silence that brooded everywhere;
fragrant with thousand flowers, the breezes
stirring The branches. Here and there bits
of pasture or cortland intersected the wood.
and meadow and field were carpeted with
flowers. Bright hued butterflies fitted in the
sunshine. Sad to reflect that this delicious
summer was almost as short lived as they
From October to April the country lay
wrapped in snow; often so intense the frost
that all communication with the outer world
wdun be cut off for weeks.
Although Ermengarde had been educated in
a brilliant city Of the continent she cIung to
her island home. These winters had as yet
no terrors Cor her. Acquaintances eontrived
to meet at each others's houses by means of
the sledge. In her widowed father she had
a sympathetic companion. Then there we're
her tastes and duties; she was not only mist
ress of the head forester's house, but a
guardian angel to the poor, and last, but not
least, passionate musician and devotee of
Schiller and Goethe. The wintry hours
passed all too quickly.
On the second morning after that forest
dance what was her aStonishment to see the
King ride up! He had promised to come, it
is true, but few hours before her father had
been summoned to meet him in another part
Of the island. She supposed him to be miles
away. She was watering her flowers, not
wholly with uneoncern, yet not without some
autterlng Of the heart as she recalled the in
eidents of the last few days, when a couple of
hOrsemen stopped at the gate, the foremost
threw the reins to the other, and she recogni-
zed him at once.
Pardon me, Fraulein, he said, affecting
an easy tone in the hearing of the attendant,
Il parted company with your respected father
an hour ago, and he gave me leave to call
here and ask for some refreshments The
rest of my party are RECALLING at the little res
taurant by the shore. Have | your permis-
sion to enter?''
Ermengarde turned from red to pale. She
saw through the device. He had hit upon
this expedient for bidding her farewell
She bowed low and tried to get out word
Of welcome, but speech stayed on her trem-
bling lips II was as if she were under
spell.
The little household was busy in the hay
field. She suddenly remembered that their
was no one to wait upon her royal guest but
herself AS she had done two days before,
she now began to set before him the best the
gardner afforded
''0nee more pardon me, he said, 81 have
not indeed come merely to eat and drink, al
though morsel of bread and glass of water
viii be acceptable. But really came because
| had something to say to you.
He looked at her penetratingly, as if fain to
read her inmost thoughts.
"Tell me, he said, ''are you happy here?
This island is so remote, so cut off from the
world, is surely no sphere for you,'
81 have my father, was the proud yet
falterng reply, ''and my friends, besides
home duties
1 81 have been plotting and making plans on
your BEHALF he went on with an afiectation
of gayety; she could see all the time that he
was anxious and i'll at ease. "And limited
my views to the head forester Just now. He
! is more ambitious for you than you are for
/ yourself With his full consent would you
quit this island for a timer
Ermengarde looked bewildered and ire
( sponsive. He continued: ''In my mother
you would find sure friend and protector.
Your father could have no misgiyings about
your welfare. Say, then, that you will at least
make the experiment; that you will grace our
court if only for year.
''You would be free to go or stay as you
pleased, he urged. .'As one of the ladies
attached to my mothers household, you would
be entirely Independent. You can have no
plausible objection to make"
But the look of doubt in Ermengarde's face
had given away to positive negation. The
more persuasive he became the further she
drew back.
''Are such friendships as ours made every
day?'' he said at last. SAT least, let me have
the privilege of seeing you from time to time. +"
"My friend was the Kings messenger, not
the King was the sad reply. ITO him the
head forester's daughter must henceforth re-
main q stranger"
'What is my position that l should thus
repel you?' he said ~ remain myself.
Yet you are right. This crown, this hateful
crown, divides us. l am no longer free to
love!"
She had OWNED his secret already, and
had he not her own, too? All her courage
vanished on sudden. She sat as one strick-
en- by evil fortune.
'We were drawn to each other from the
? FIRST" he went on, now using the passionate
, language of an avowed lover, speaking in low
/ quick undertone. "0h, Ermengarde, instead
of enticing you from your island, could bu
) share it with you, could unking myself 70
your sake
a ''Let us not think of ourselves" she mur
4 INJURED. "You are called to play great part
r You will have no time for vain regrets, an'
r'-checking her tears, she went ont vii
t try to forget the Kings messenger, and from
IL CONTINUED ON FOURTH PAGE.