The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-27

Year, for in the before time, as
1t Is written IN the chronicles, maids
might sigh and make great dole out
of measure for that they could not
tell to the man they loved what was
in their hearts till he had spoken of
the love that was in his heart
Now this is the story of how the
King found Queen Ellen:
In a land which is all an island
there was once a King who had
reigned three years, and the time came
when it was necessary for him to take
a wife But the King was a warlike
King, and gave no thought to love.
Upon day came his ministers, and
said that there must be a Queen to
sit beside him on his throne.
Now a stranger had come into the
court of the King bearing news that
the next year was to be year when
maids might tell the one they loved
that they desired him for husband, and
when the King heard this he called
again his ministers together, saying:
Il have rot time for love, but in this
new year let all the maids of my
kingdom come before me, and let
each say which man she loves. Tifen,
by my faith, if one choose me, then
shall she be Queen"
Thereupon the King laughed in his
beard, for he believed that in all the
land there was not one would choose
to be the consort of the man whose
wickedness was so great that the fame
of it had spread over all the world.
Thus it fell: On the first day, then
of the new year all the maids of the
kingdom came before the King, and
he babe them choose the man they
would love forever and ever. Now
he had not told them of his plan for
that they might be feared to say that
they loved the King. Then he lay
aside his crown and came down from
his throne and stood among his
courtiers.
The names of the maids were called
As they fell from the scroll. The first
maid chose Basil the courtier, and
Basil was very happy, for that ht
had not dared to tell his love to her
The next chose Eadfrid, the captain
of the chief ship, but Eadfrid, the
captain, kissed her and gave her {
silk gown, saying: Il am bespoke,
which was true, for he had married Z
maid of France in the last voyage tc
that coast. The next maid chos,
two went little apart from the Others
that they might watch what befel.
Then other maids chose-sometime'
winning their lover, sometimes win
ming only the kiss and the silk gown
as it was decreed in the law. Pres
emily it came about that all the maids
had chosen all save one, who wa
called Ellen of the Golden Locks.
So when he saw that Ellen OF thu
Golden Locks had not told which o
all men she desired he became pos
sessed of a great love for her, for h
remembered that long before hi
father, the Great King, had died, an'
while he himself was yet Prince
learning the trade of war-he remem
bered that in those days he had known
the little maid and had loved her then
Then he remembered, too, how TIL
wars came, and now all the years h
had been fighting the enemies OF hi
country, and how he had forgottel
Ellen of the Golden Locks.
Then the name OF Ellen OF tn
Golden Locks was called from tn
scroll. Thus she spoke:
I'm the whole land there is but on
whom / desire most. But | fear I
speak of him lest he refuse me. | d
not want silk gowns, but for the ks
even then would | be happy wit
that, for ! NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
anything-in--all-t
His name!" cried the King.
Il dare not speak it aloud, sal
Ellen OF the Golden Locks
Then tell il TO me privately"
Thereupon Ellen approached an
whispered one word in the Kings ca
And then the King kissed her, ther
before all the maids and all III
courtiers. Then he led her 10 h
throne and made her be seated theI
and placed his crown upon her hea
So it came about that the Poop
knew there was a Queen TO rule wit
their King, and there was great r.
losing through all the country, ov'
which they ruled happily ever afte
ward.
"But why" asked the King upon
day, "hadst thou not told me OF tt
love before"
Because there were no leap yea