Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1903-01-30
THE ART OF LOVE.
ny HARo1D oHLsov.

ing quiet hour in unwonted freedom
from the rigorous etiquette of the court.
For some time past life had been weafi.
some for the princess There was INST
ter Of some II suitors for her hand, and
she could not love any of them. She
liked those who could dance and make
her laugh, but as to marrying why,
that was a different matter altogether
SO she had dodged the serene hignness
round The tree trunks and run away
thereby causing him to lose most OF bis
serenity Ii may have been undignifed
behavior for a princess, but She was only
~ years old
Then she began to pick flowers and
chase butterllie-, as though she were only
a village maiden making holiday from
the milking stool
An exceptionally large and beautiful
butterfly had for some time eludcd hei
efforts to imprison 1t in her hat (which
she had removed for the purposel, and
the princess was just going to give up
the chase in despair when she saw it
settle or the trunk Of a gigantic tree.
Not daring to approach too closely, she
flung her hat with all her force at the
patch Of bright color. Il missed the but
teriy-even the tree itself-and fell to the
ground on the farther side. The princess
ran and picked it up, and was about 20
restore 1t TO its natural position, when She
became aware that her privacy was not So
complete as she had imagined-indeed,
had desired. A man was seated on the
ground, with his back against the tree,
and a great book was lying open on his
knees
He rose quickly on seeing the princess
and bowed low. She returned the salute
with as much dignity as she could com
mand at the moment. She noticed that
he was dressed in long, black gown, and
had the appearance Of a scholar.
81 fear that 1 have disturbed YOU. sir, =
said the princess, holding her hat in front
of her with both hands and blushing o
| little
''Nay," he replied MAY all my dreams
/ have such q sweet awakening
He smiled as he spoke, and the princess
thought it the most wonderful smile she
had ever seen; its sadness made it sweet
er, and its kindness the more leveable.
/ When II vanished it left grave, thought
ful face.
"Of what do you read, sirY inquired the
/ princess. after endeavoring to explain IN
a few broken sentences that it was the
most natural thing in the world for a lady
/ to throw her hat about under certain cir
cumstances.
"A learned treatise on a grave matter,
he replied. 1T is called The Art )f
/ Love
MAY see the booS?" asked the prin-
cess.
He held it out before her, and she began
to turn the pages Suddenly she stopped
/ a s,fanonI nm iufo his face
1T is heavy you must be tired. Let
us sit down." she said.
So they sat side by side under the great
tree. with the book between them. Bs'
the princess scarcely looked at it.
"eThe Art of LoveY she asked "Dl
you learn il from book alone in a for
sstg
'T have found Il difficult of compre-
hension, certainly" he answered.
"And /, too" sighed the princess.
'eYou have also studied it!'
mot in book" she replied, solennly
shaking her head.
The grave face lit up again with that
wonderful smile.
'Some day you win learn it," he said
"Then you will not call it an art NOT
read of IL in a book, You will say ]
love as now You say j live, because YOU
love will be your life
The princess said nothing only she
sighed, and then wondered why. Because
she had been quite happy short time be
fore when she was chasing butterflies.
''You have read many books?' she asked
presently, looking up half timidly inte
his face.
Eyes" said he "many books"
"Will you-tell me about them"
"If it would give you pleasure" he an
swered
II cannot read them for myself" sait
the princess. "And | should love to lis
ten"
So he began to tell her stories; and Of
ali Of them this same cart of Love- wa
the theme. At first the princess wa,
puzzled; she could not understand thi
wonderful power that ruled men and WON
en- and brought such marvellous things t'
pass But as she watched the grave
handsome face with the wonderful smil'
that came and went like the SUNSHINE
on an April day, she began to understand
The minutes flew by, and the shadows
Of the trees grew longer. The princes
knew that she must return or all thu
court, with the IL suitors, would be scour
ing the forest in search of her SO sh'
rose and thanked her companion pret
tily for his stories.
a am Princess Brenda. and / hope
shall see you again" she said, simply.
He started and his face grew grave an,
sad. But he said nothing, only made
low obeisance.
"You are so wise" continued the prin
cess.
''Nay, but 7 am fool" he replied am
.,K 1anaaI
robe he wore and threw it back
And he was dressed in the motley garl
Of a jester; fool that lives by his folly.
The princess drew back; resentment fol
lowed the first feeling Of sur~rise; angs
that she, Princess Brenda ha sat 30 lon,
with mere jester, while II great noble
men strove for the honor Of minute T.
her company She turned to leave hin
without word But she glanced bacl
once at his face and relented, for the looi
on it was that Of a man suffering some ter
rible pain
II have hurt your? she asked
eeNay, princess; it is my duty to lsugl
at ali times. That is my business"
He smiled as he spoke. but the wonder
ful smile had more than its wonted sad
ness. The princess held out her hand
and he sank on his knee and kissed !
passionately.
"shan never see you again?" he asked
"lt would be better-better not 10 try.
said the princess. Then she gently Olsen
gagged her hand and turned away from
him.
The jeiter leanl YEARLY against the tre
and watched her slender figure slowly re
treating along the forest path, until it wa
lost 10 view
She was a kings daughter; and he
fool
But Il was hl. duty 70 laugh At al