The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1897-10-28

hangs across the sunset, brow thought |
full as the Matterhorn's sky before It's |
stars have risen, heart brave and ten
der
"But am not common traveltx," I
answer, boldly. W..
Light laughter drifts down to me,gay
as the golden notes that swim in a
sunbeam. ~
How may my house serve me?'
with a sight of it's fair mistress"
II hear step upon the stair. The
bolt of the door is drawn. A flood OF
light streams out into the night.
A withered old woman bids me en-
ter. My feet sink in the silken pile OF
eastern rugs. I hear a gold hammer
strike nine resonant strokes upon
bronze shield. Upon spit before the
| fire place two birds are roasting. The
air is redolent of their juices and the
banquet of newly decanted wine.
have journeyed from where the Matter
horn climbs it's last height, and my
student dress is splashed and stained
with mud and snow.
Dropping upon velvet couch I
| ACINA lily udAuS " IAe AAO
"Say to your gracious chatelaine that
she shall dine with me-
The old serving woman turns away,
mumbling
I draw heavy table into the middle
of the hall, and set upon it platters and
trenchers. The freight flashes mer-
rily on jeweled f1agons and crystal car
afes.
Placing her chair where the lamp
light will strike upon her face and
bring out the gold in her hair, seat
myself and fancy her figure on the 9TH
er side of the table.
Two sleepy love- birds twitter over
head in a gilded cage
One stirs, and futters it's downy
feathers against my hand. ELSIE, Ell
sie,' it murmurs.
"Elsie;" I cry. "Elsie!''
There is rustling among the cur
tains that hide the stairs. All my veins
run fire at the music of her reply, II
am here"
turn and see a slender figure in VIC
let velvet embroidered with gold
Above the low fair brow riotous locks
make sunshine in curling tendrils, but
whether the eyes beneath are violet
like the woman's gown or black like
the tips of the satin slippers under it
or turquoise or sapphire, like the
stones that glimmer on my mistress
white hands, who can tell? Not I.
But if cannot meet her eyes, may
follow the mutinous curve of the shor
upper lip and mark the cleft chin, white
as an almonds heart, and the rows G
pearls clasping the full fair throat.
I seat her, and we begin our meal
There is no salad" she says. A
a sign the old woman fetches me ores
and oil.
Does it commend itself to you:"
ask, when have served my vis-a-vis.
9 1T commends you to me- she re
:, peats softly. look into her eyes. Blu
by now the wine has given me cou1
=. age. .-~ =.-. .,.~.. -- -.-,- --,..~.-. .4.-.
= ''Why are you not in your proper sta
ton, you who would grace court?"
cry.
y II am tired of courts. All, you thin
- the Princess Elise may not say s
much?'
h The Princess Elise. She, who's
" name is upon every tongue, my people
# queen, mine, if
q Before I can speak I hear shout
y snatches of song, the whizz of fyin
II arrows.
One strikes the door of the chalet.
I "Sire, sire, admit us. In six hou
d we were to seek you. The time is up
st Time? All, but the game is still
be won.
re I drop upon my knees before t
re princess.
r. "Elise," I cry, my throne is emp;
at I love you. Reign with me. Speak
D. me in the voice I have loved since fiji
it fell on my listening ear. 1 wait
- your yes '<~-
-, Was it the echo of the birds note
I'M his jeweled ring overhead, or did J.