The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1905-09-27
The Strange
Wooing Of the
n AAALN0S BY Maude
-, - Elizabeth
X. 4. Whitehead CoAteC
Copyright, 1905, bp
X 4. " hitehedd

the scent of the roses filled the mir
Above, on the terrace Haunting his
gaudy colors In the sunshine, strutted
n peacock. From distance came the
sound of music and a burst of laughter
followed the climax of tale told by
the jester
The princess wore look of habitual
scorn, and because of her arrogance
and haughtiness she had come to be
known throughout the kingdom as My
Lady Dlsdain.' She WAS beautiful
there Is no denying 1t; but. alas. she
knew it too we'll
Again and again she had been told
by lords and princes who had sought
her hand that she was far loveller than
any other woman they had ever seen.
From fur and away came men OF title,
of wealth. of historic fame, all eager
to wed this fair maid, but she would
have none of them.
'Find me man whose beauty shall
be greater than mine" she cried Mt
length. and will marry him"
Princes who had Mt glance con-
Quered maidens' hearts came, secure In
the thought of victory. but went, van
pushed by the proud curl of the prin-
cess lip and the moclNng CLEAN of the
princess eyes. Some. however, re-
malned at the court, and, finding favor
In the hearts of the maids OF honor,
consoled themselves with wives less
beautiful perhaps than the princess,
but fully as charming In their way.
Today the princess sat alone. She
had forbidden her attendants to follow
her and had come TO the rose garden
to find peace and quiet Not one In all
the laughing. merry crowd but paid
homage 10 her high estate; not one OF
those who had sought her hand but
stood in awe of her
Suddenly her cnr caught the sound of
II song. Nearer and nearer IL came till
the princess could distinguish the
words
Through tho silver mist
OF the blossom spray
Trill the orioles. list
To their Joyous lay
sang the full deep voice of man. She
started to her feet. her face turned In
the direction of the voice
"'whnt In all tho world. IN nil the world.
they say.
rs half so sweet. so sweet. Is half so
sweet May? "
AS the last note died away the singer
came into view. He was tall and
straight us an arrow, and he swung
along with an unstudicd grace far diff
fcrent from the carefully acquired strut
of the courtlcrs
His thick dark hair was tangled and
powdered with the dust of the road.
An unkempt beard dlsiigured his face,
but his eyes We're clear and bright
The princess surveyed him with sur
prise and ever increasing wrath. Had
the keepers failed In their duty that
such man had gained entrance to the
palace grounds? How he carried him,
self. she thought One might think him
the owner of the grounds, ut least, If 1t
were not Tor his clothes.
At this moment the man became
aware of her presence. As she stood
there, her eyes blazing, her figure drawn
to its full height, her attendants would
have trembled rs they awaited the
words her highness might speak. Not
SO the man. lie paused Ia his rapid
walk and waited for her to speak.
why are you hereY' she demanded.
"My lady" the man replied, Il Will
tell you. / have heard of the beauty of
the princess, and | have come to look
upon her and to see for myself If she
IL all That report has said"
"Be satisfied" said the princess, rails
ing her hand with a gesture of dis
mlssal. You have seen. Now go, and
go quickly, for | am the princess"
you" exclaimed the man. lie step
ped back few PAGES, still keeping his
gaZe fastened upon her face. Il might
have known And he turned to 60
stay" said the princess lmperlous-
~. Does report say truef'
Madam" the man replied as he
faced her again, they told me that q
man could not look into your eyes with
out being dazzled by the light Of them.
see In them the Hight Of anger. of
scorn, but not the light Of your soul.
l can look Into them, and your eyes
shall fall before mine. When the glad
light of love shall shine In them then
one may Indeed be daZzled. Your high
ness speak truly"
The princess was looking straight In
to the glowing eyes Of the man For
space they looked at each other then
the blue eyes Of the princess fell.
The man continued: your hIghness.
they said you were graceful. You are.
but let me show you this willow sap
ling. See the slender curves and the
sweeping grace Of the young treei Can
you, with all the aids of art, be as
pleasingly graceful? Madam, they told
me your voice was sweet and gentle,
that Its tones were like music. They
spoke truly, but 1t Is not heart music.
TO the careful ear It's tones are hard
and without beauty"
The princess proud head dropped as
she stood like child humbled by re
Duke as she listened to the earnest
words Of the wandering singer.
Your hlghness. your people respect
you and show you reverence. They
honor you, but-do they love your
The voice was gravely questioning,
and the princess was compelled by the
quiet force of the man to answer.
Without lifting her head she answered,
mo"
MADAM, throughout this kingdom
and kingdoms far away went forth
your word-'Find me a man whose
beauty Is greater than mine and / will
marry him Princes from many lands
responded. but to one and all you said,
NO Whyr
Again the voice questioned The
princess lifted her head and looked In
to the eyes Of the questioner and an
swered:
Because not one had greater beauty
than mine"
Raising his hand and taking a step
forward, the man spoke with vehe-
mence: For that reason you sent away
that northern prince and laughed him
to seorn, and because he was so hum
bled he returned to his home q hater