Montgomery County sentinel., 1890-08-22

THE WOOING OF RENEE

One night Renee saw the dream god
in her sleep. and from that time forth
she smiled on no man,
They say this happens sometimes
when the soul of a maiden a, untouched
by earthly love.
Renee,s brow was broad aud white
and her eyes blue as first violets under
the late SHOWS Her hair curei away
from the long plaits hanging over her
pretty shoulders and kissed her pink
ears and the soft curves of her throat
Many a young rustic envied those saucy
strands, and it was rumorcd even the
young prince had looked with love on
Renee. t= f8.@
Still nobody knew this for the truth
save one old woman who gathered herbs
in the forest, and her word would not
have been taken in the village, for she
was in league with the devil. She knew
cures for ills, brewed potions from the
wild things growing in the forest, nut
tered words in an accursed foreign
tongue, and had far too much of wisdom
to be in any WY reckoned an honest
woman.
1t happened in this wise. Reuee was
in the forest picking up fagots, when
she chancod upon the old mother hunt
ing her strange herbs. The child was
too gentle to understand evil and too
pure to know fear; so she said with her
pretty smile:
Good evening to you, mother !" 4
Good evening, pretty one p said the
crone, strengthening her bent shoulders
to look in Rence's face.
Then she drew nearer, and putting
her dry and wrinkled lips to the girls
ear
"Thou art too fair to gather fagots in
the forest all thy life ! Down tho path
to the right the kings huntsmen ride.
Run that way and perhaps thou shalt
see the prince !"
Renee shook her long yellow plaits
and ran down the path to the right,
singing as she ran. The old mother
looked after her.
"a good child" she muttered. "good
and pretty. Now may Gods blessing
go with her r.
"fhe kings huntsmen rode oil on
black horses, but "a snow white charger
bore the prince. The sun shone on his
yellow curls, jewels sparkled at his
throat, and his dark eyes flashed like
stars. He drew rein and babe the hunts
men ride on before.
tWho art thou, little one p
"Rence," answered the child.
"Well named |" cried the prince.
"Yet had rather call thee Refine.
Wilt thou give me kiss ~ peI
NAY" said the girl. II will kiss
only whom / love and love only whom
| wed !"
The prince frowned.
Il am thy prince"
True said the little peasant. "But
| am not thy princess !" And she turn
ed and ran away, tossing her long yell
low plaits and laughing as sho ran
"Didst see the prince, little Renee p
asked the crone, appearing suddenly in
the path
"Yes," said Renee and she told what
had happened.
'Dost thou not fear his anger?'
"Those who have not sin in the heart
fear nothing!"
''Dost thou love another 2"
Renee hung her head II have
dreamed of one whom might love-
alas | shall find none On earth so fair
as this lover of my dreams p
"Forget him, child" interrupted the
old woman ''Be sure the prince will
yet ask your hand in marriage p
May" cried Renee, laughing II
shall go to my grave uawed by prince
or peasant"
After this the prince rode every day
through the forest. Once he met the
crone, who courtesied profoundly and
called Gods blessing down on his head
Good evening, mother p said the
prince gently.
"l1ad you come earlier" she said.
II could have shown you little Renee
The queen Of our village-a sweet child
and"
(Which way went she p interrupted
the prince.
Straight to her mothers home, your
highness 1t is good family, which
has never known shamep'
The prince looked sharply into hel
| face.
The color burned in his cheek.
Then he said impetuously:
Thou hast spoken we'll [! have seel
thy queen. So fair is she that woulc
make her mine, and when my gooC
father dies, queen of all the land. No,
help me to it. mother. for | SEQ that tho,
art wise far beyond thy humble station !
/, 'Let her not sleep o nights !" sal
the old woman, hobbling away towar'
the heart Of the forest.
"Let her not sleep O. nights"
What means this gibberish p ex
claimed the prince, angrily. Then b