The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1898-04-02

ful as the Matterhorn's sky before lis
stars have risen. heart brave and ten-
der. !. .55 a szz
But i am not common trayeles.,' I
answer, boldly. !. 5.5 .s5 BIS
Light laughter drifts down to me, gay
as the golden notes that swim in a
sunbeam, n Ss5 s.z=5# 51S
How may my house serve me?" ..s
With sight#of Its fair mistress
~ Il hear ear step upon the stair. The,
bolt 'oll OF, the door is drawn. A food 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 gold hammer
strike nine resonant strokes upon a
bronze shield. Upon a spit before the
nre place two birds are roasting. The
air IS redolent of their juices and the
banquet Of newly decanted wine. I
nave Journeyed from where the Matter
norm climbs it's last height, and my
student dress is splashed and stained
with mud and snow.
Dropping upon a velvet couch I
NoAS~SAA ny W Lie uIc.
Say to your gracious chatelaine that
she shall dine with me-"
The old serving woman turns away,
mumbling.
draw heavy table into the middle
OF the hall, and set upon it platters and
trenchers. The freight flashes mer-
rlly on jeweled fagons and crystal car
afes.
Placing her chair where the lamp
light will strike upon her face and
bring out the gold in her hair, I seat
myself and fancy her figure on the 9TH
er side of the table,
Two sleepy love-birds twitter over
head in gilded cage.
one stirs. and futters it's downy
feathers against my hand. "Elsie, Ell
sie,' it murmurs.
'Elsie;" I cry. "Elsie!"
Ihere is rustling among the cur
talns that hide the stairs. All my veins
run fire at the music of her reply. 81
am here"
turn and see slender figure in vio-
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 II 1 cannot meet her eyes, 1 may
follow the mutinous curve of the short
upper lip and mark the cleft chin, white
DIS an almonds heart, and the rows Of
pearls clasping the full fair throat.
l seat her, and we begin our meal.
There is no salad" she says. At
sign the old woman fetches me cress
and oil.
docs it commend itself to youo" l
ask, when have served my vis-a-vis.
1T commends you to me-" she re-
peats softly. I look into her eyes. But
by now the wine has given me cour-
age. -,.'..,. 8 ~.,a.. ~:
why are you not in your proper sta
ton, you who would grace a court?" I
cry.
Il am tired of courts. All, you think
the Princess Elise may not say so
much?"
The Princess Elise: She. whose
name is upon every tongue, my peoples
queen, mine, if
Before I can speak I hear shouts,
snatches of song, the whizz of flying
arrows.
One strikes the door of the chalet.
Sire, sire, admit us. In six hours
we were to seek you. The time is up"
Time? All, but the game is still to
be won.
I drop upon my knees before the
princess.
ELISE I cry, my throne is empty.
I love you. Reign with me. Speak to
me in the voice I have loved since first
it fell on my listening ear. wait for
your yes"
Was it the echo of the birds note in
his jeweled ring overhead, or did my
love reply? alexis! My king
Mary Wakeman Botsford in Four