The Forrest City times., 1890-08-30
THE WOOING OF RENEE.
FROM THE FRENCH OF cAruLLE MENDEs

They say this happens sometimes when the soul of q maiden Is untouched by earthly love.
 l Rences brow was broad and white and her eyes blue as first violets under the late snows Her hair curled away i from the long plaits hanging over her pretty shoulders and kissed her pink ears and the soft curves of her throat. Many young rustic envied those saucy | strands, and it was rumored even the young prince had looked with love on Renee.
 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 tho village, for she was in league with the devil. She knew cures for ills. brewed potions from the wild things growing in the forest, mut- tered words in an accursed foreign tongue, and had far too much of wisdom to De in any way reckoned an honest woman.
 l It happened in this wise. Renee was in the forest picking up fagots, when she chanced upon the old mother hunt ing her strange herbs. The child was too gentle to understand evil and too pure to know fear; 80 she said with her pretty ! smile:
 Good evening to you. mother!' l Good evening, pretty ones' said the crone, straightening her bent shoulders to look in Renee'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 the path to the right the kings huntsmen ride. Run that way and perhaps thou shalt see the princel'
 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 herl'
 The kings huntsmen rode all on black horses. but snow white charger bore the prince. The sun shone on his vel. low eurls, jewels sparkled at his throat. and his dark eyes flashed like stars. He drew rein and bade the huntsmen ride on before.
 "Who art thou, little one?
 Renee, answered the. child
 Well named." cried the prince. "Yct had rather call thee Refine. Wilt thou give me kiss
 Nay. said the girl "I will kiss only whom love and l love only whom l wed!r
 The prince frowned.
 T am thy prinee.'
 True, said tho little peasant. But am not thy prIneess!" And she turned and ran away tossing her long yellow plaits and laughing as she ran.
 -bidst see the prince. little Renee ?" asked tho crone, appearing suddenly in the path.
 -Yes," said Renee, and she told what had happened.
 ~Dust thou not fear his angerf"
 Those who have not sin in tho heart fear nothing.'
 "Dost thou love another?"
 Renee hung her head. T have dreamed of one whom might love- alas. Ishall find none on earth SO fair as this lover of my dreams.'
 Forget him, child interrupted the old woman. Be sure the prince will yet ask your hand in marriager'
 ~Nay!" cried Renee, laughing. T shall go to my grave unwed 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." said the prince gently.
 Had you come earlier. she said. ~l could have shown you our little Renee the queen of our village--a sweet child and"
 Which way went she2r interrupted the prince.
 Straight to her mothers home, youl highness. It is good family, which has never known shame.r
 The prince looked sharply into hel face.
 The color burned in his cheek.
 Then he said impetaonsly:
 Thou hast spoken we'll. have seen thy queen. So far is she that would make her mine. and when. my good father dies, queen of all the land. Now help me to it, mother, for l sec that thou art wise far beyond thy humble station!
 .Let her not sleep O nightsl" said the old woman, hobbling away toward the heart of the forest.
 .Let her not sleep O nights.
 sWhat means this gibberishs- ex, claimed the prince. angrily. Then he reflected: should there be truth in wha! she sayss" And turning his horse head. he galloped through the wood to the high road. where the kings hunts men waited to escort him to the palace. There he sought the king and laid bare his heart. and vowed he'd throw himself from the ramparts crest if he be not given Renee for his wife
 So the king was forced to give his con sent.
 That night the prince sent 20 sweet voiced minstrels to the village. and all nignr long beneath her vine wreathed window they sang the love of ths prince for Renee. The girl listened. The words touched her heart. the music swayed her spirit, and that night her eyes were not closed in slumber. In the morning she was weary and sought the shade of the forest There che foand the prince. who looked into her eyes and made her listen to the story of his love from his own tips.
 And wilt thou love me. Renees" i @Nay, can noti" said Renea
 -Dost love another, thenY'
 Perhapss' she answered. drawing away her hands
 -Lst her not sleep O nightsl" said a voice behind him, and the crone hobbled by.
 Each night the minstrsls sang under Rsnce's window, Each day she met the ' prince in the forest She found him fair and gentle. The lover of her dream had blue eyes. tender as the summer sky.
 But, thought Renee. looking at her f-.-- d 14 a-I- n \