The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-04-24

L
when they arrived there they were
greeted by the shouts of the soldiers,
and the laundering applause
of the joyful people. Fires were kim
died in all parts of the country, and
general rejoicing continued all night
In the morning the bells rang and the
! music played; and Lycia fell weeping
on Harold's neck-she wept tears of
| joy.
ssOhr' cried she, s'what a brave
soul you are; and the reward which
you are to receive, is not what it
should beI'' may, Lycia,'' he said,
ward could receive would be you
my dear treasure. / care not for the
pomp and power of ruler, nor do
sigh for the golden crown of a prince;
Lycia," he continued seriously, eff
we could be man and wife-that
would be the greatest joy you could
confer on me!''
'.Let not sadness weigh down your
noble heart am yonrs- Come; we
will ask my fathers blessing
And hand in hand they entered the
throne room, where there was great
rejoicing, and knelt before Kaldemar
who was seated on his throne
Father" began Lycia, ''you beheld
! the nobleness of Harold here, who
braved all dangers to free my mother
from the witch's charms
81 did, my child,'' interrupted Kali
demar, land L intend to reward him
Father, the reward he claims is
myself"
ssWhatl' Numbered Kaldemar, rising
! in wrath from his throne, while the
rafting of swords was audible IN the
room. s'Does yon miserable shepherd
boy ask you to be his wife? Would
! you wed with a mortal of the earth,
who cannot afford the means by
which you should live in royal style?
Would you disgrace the fair name of
! your ancestors? Speak to me, child;
my heart is heavy
/ Father" Lycia said, 81 know 1 am
your daughter; and all daughters
should bow in obedience to the COM
mends of their parents; but if you
/ only knew how 1 loved Harold you
would not look down on me
with such an eye of scOrn."
/ "Lycia! LyciaI Your words
like thorns have pierced your fathers
heart! L would like to see my daugh-
ter happy, but cannot make her. L
i refuse
Harold, who was already in rage,
! could withstand it no longer. The
of viper. and the hot blood of injured
pride mantled his cheeks
keep your daughter he cried out
in ringing tones although I love
her to madness, would rather be
free from the union which would incur
such enmity your partI''
| 'sStop.' roared Kaldemar in rage.
| do you dare to brave me-the
mighty king of Venus!''
81 hurl defiance at your CROWN I
but poor youth, but poverty in
anger is greater than kings surrounded
/ by their armiesl''
Then turning round, he pressed
Lycia to his bosom. 'sDo not weep"
he said, 81 do not seek to marry you
Enough enoughl'' Numbered Kali
dem ar, while he rushed down the
steps of his throne toward the lovers.
| Separate them!'' he cried to his sol
diers.
And the next moment they were
forced apart.
Farewell, Haroldr' said Lycia,
although we are separated, 1 shall
remain true to you until deathl''
But Harold was not allowed to
speak to her-to tell her he would also
be true until death; the rough guards
placed their hands over his mouth.
and, IN obedience to the commands of
the king, hurled him from the star to
the earth below, to prison on high
rock near the ocean.
| He cried for joy, when he found
himself on earth once more; but his
joy was turned to dismay
when he saw that he was a
prisoner. Rough iron bars were
on his windows, and a door
of brass separated him from freedom.
For twelve long years he was
prisoner He tried to force the door
open, but a hollow sound was the fruit
of his efforts, and at last he gave up
in despair. Food was always placed
in his prison; but he did not know who
brought it, nor did he trouble him
self to find out. He was growing old;
his locks were silvery white, and he
thought his face must be wrinkled-
He had no mirror, in which he might
consult and therefore he merely
wondered.
! As time flew by he grew more and
more respondent; but he was destin-
ed to see days of sunshine yet, and
one day, when the monarch of the
| heavens arose and filed the land with
/ fluid gold, when the birds sang mer-
rily in the trees, and when every
thing seemed to rest in the fields of
contentment, Harold heard sweet
notes of music in the distance, they
were like balmy signs from paradise.
The music seemed to possess magic
power, for Harold fell fast asleep un-
der its influence. When he awolze he
! found himself in Venus, in the throne
room of Kaldemar's palace. Lycia
stood beside him, her lovely eyes
looking at him in the greatest happi-
ness.