Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1912-04-02

mission. The king babe me presen:
to you this silver cup. in memory OF
your kindness to the queen"
He unfolded from its wrappings a
massive cup bearing the royal in.
sigma, and with bow handed it to
her.
The king condescends to give me
this!" Anna cried. Take him my
most humble and grateful thanks
She poised the vessel on her shape.
ly hand. her poetic eyes cleaning
with delight.
81 have several books treating Of
this lodge" said the duke. II am
sure they would interest YOU May
come again with them?"
Thank you. very much I shall
be glad to have them" was Annals
reply,
The duke returned in a few days
with the promised books; this visit
was followed by others from time to
time, until strong friendship had
grown up between the nobleman and
the workmans daughter.
One day the duke said: 1T is not
right that your life should be spent
in obscurity. again entreat you to
let me give you a place at the court"
you are most kind Anna an
swered, and your friendship is to me
as If star. had descended into my
life. She went on, when you first
talked to me- in a way to which, in
my class, am not used, was in an
other world, and yet one to which
seemed to belong. You spoke of
things of which l have thought and
read. But when alone, have real
lied the folly of disturbing my peace
and nursing impossible ambitions"
But" urged the duke, with tone
of entreaty, Il offer you an honorable
place in the class to which you by
nature belong. You can be one of
the ladies of the court. | would take
you as pure gem out of unworthy
surroundings :" He took a chair di-
rectly in front of her, and pursued.
al court your life would be brilliant
and varied. You would live in pal
aces that are dreams Of beauty: ride
in carriages, have private boxes at
the operas. ride on hunts through
meadows and forests You would
shine in brilliant dances; be trained
in painting and music; your mind
would drink knowledge from the lips
of statesmen and travellers. You would
daily hear wit and dazzling talk; be
clothed in finest raiment, and adorn
your apartments with things of beau
ty fitted for your setting. All these
offer you. with my friendship"
you can never know she an
swered, rising and walking across the
room, how your words allure me.
but was not born to such surround
ings. would be still but a girl Of the
people among court ladies" She
bowed to him. you are good to think
well of my mind and nature; your
kindness gives me pleasure. My
Judgment tells me am simple
maiden hearing tales of grandeur that
belong to the nobility. but not to me-,
But" he said, standing before her
and speaking with great earnestness
You ignore your natural gifts: you
would adorn the court"
She walked to the window and look
ed out for a moment; then turning,
continued:
Were at court, besides being hui
inflated by my own deficiencies, r
would be an object of suspicion" Her
color rose, but she looked straight
forwardly at the duke. People
would whisper, Who is this girl OF
the people whom the duke thinks SO
fair?'" With most charming manner,
she said: Il have learned to appre-
ciate your highmindedness; but I
would do a great wrong not to fol-
low the best light that is in me and
/ see plainly that it would not be
well for you nor me II ! were at
court"
The duke was at loss to satisfy
this delicate mind, but replied blunt
ly. 'At court we do not attach weight
to gossiping talk; and see no 9TH
err way to have. what has become the
joy of my life. your society. If +
continue to come here. it may be
known that a nobleman visits you, in
disguise, and you would be more
harmed than IL you were at court"
He saw. by her face that he had fail
ed to convince.
But care much for things your
class ignores" she said standing up.
81 would not expose myself to the
criticism of society for the world; /
fear that am not strong enough to
give up your friendship altogether,
but cannot go to the court i beg
of you, great and noble man as you
are, to leave me in the simple life
in which you found me-" The duke
looked upon her as on a being from
a higher sphere. and saying, II obey.
To take you to court would be like
casting an angel into mire," he bowed
low, and slowly left the room.
CHAPTER H.
When the nobleman had gone,
Anna went to her room and cast
N Is