Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1899-11-04
ME PRINCES WOOING.

1t was you? venerated fathers Wlsl
that you should wed her."
Am l heir to all fathers whlmi
and fancies?" exclaimed Prince Anna
gon, bringing his dainty foot emphatl
cally down on the floor. Shall ! mar
ry woman whom have never yet
seen, who has never yet seen me, who
may be ugly, who"
"But your Highness," again sug'
gested mildly, "the Princess Is said tc
be very beautiful"
Beautiful 1ndeed!" he cried mock
ingly. why, all princesses are beau
tiful. There was our sister of Cleyes
who of all women was the most ill-fa'
vored. Yet even she was said to be
beautiful. Else how would our poor
brother of England-poor Henry
ever have been brought to marry her:
This Clothi1da, likely enough is, just
such another ugly, fat person,
With a cast in her eye,
And her mouth all awary,
as the old rhyme goes. But even II
she were beautiful as the day and bril-
liant as the sun, 1 should not wed her.
For when marry shall take me a
wife OF my own choice"
But what shall I tell the Princess,
since she is already in the Palace? !
asked helplessly.
"Oh, tell her anything-anything 70
get rid of her." he answered careless
ly, as if getting rid if the Princess
were the simplest matter in the world
"But watt" he added, as was about
to go; there is still something else
wish to tell you. Now, l know ne
began, thoughtfully, Pickering the flies
with his riding whip, sit is time for
me to get married. / owe it to my
people and my realm. But l shall
choose wife who suits me, whom !
love and who loves me for myself as
well as for my possessions.
Therefore, I have determined to
disguise myself as common working
man and go among my people in search
of such woman. shall set out to-
morrow morning, and you shall ac-
company me. So, after having per-
formed my commands as regards the
Princess, also assume the garb OF
laboring man and meet me in the
market-place by the fountain. You
will know me by green patch upon
my sleeve. That is all. You may now
CO."
The final words ware accompanied
nv significant sweep of his arm to
wards the door.
There was nothing more to be said
Rowing and scraping, I backed out OF
the audience chamber.
However I had no intention of let
ting the Prince have his own foolish
sentimental way. 1t is true, t is said
that stubborn beast must take MS
own path. But in this case the mule
may I be pardoned my irreverence!-
was dragging along with himself to
destruction two kingdoms with thelI
several hundred thousand inhabitants
besides bringing ruin to myself, his
humble Prime Minister-which latter
fact, you may be sure, was by far the
most important to me.
Therefore, as / proceeded to the
Princess Clothilde's apartments, pom.
dered in my mird how l could bring
about the marriage of the Prince and
Princess, and at last hit upon a plan
nv means of which, I congratulated
mvse'f this much-to-he-d desired eVen1
could be accomplished.
Finally, after hurrying through the
winding pssse ges of the Palace. ]
reoched the Princess ante-chamter
whence. upon mentioning my business
] was immed ;ately rshered by rosy
checked, lsughing little maid of honor
into the audience chamber itself.
AS entered, a tall, Venus-like young
women. presuro hlv the Princess, came
towards me with an eager, radiant
smile
"You core from the Prince, do you
not?" she asked.
I bowed funeral bow, and said in
a most tragic tone:
81 do indeed come from the Prince |
But would that did not for the mes
sage that 1 hear from him is but a !
sorrv one. Your Highness," I contin.
ued. "the Prince has been seized by
sudden madness. In spite of all l can
say or do, he insists that he will not
marry you. Nay. he will not even see
your Highness nor hear your name
AS spoke the Princess drew herself
IN haughtily, and her face lost all its
sunshine.
Hel' mouth. tight shut. looked as il
1t had been chiselled in marble. and
her laughing blue eyes were turned tc
cold flashing steel.
1 paused
well" she sneered, tapping the
loor impatiently with her foor.
"Well," 1 answered mournfully
Spreading out the palms of my hands
IF you do not marry the Prince, you
'oyal father will undoubtedly make
var upon Andalusia."
"And do you think that I shall make
,vertures to the Prince" she asked
;cornfully.
mo" answered rapidly, 81 do not
On the contrary, if you follow my ad.