Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-08-27
whom 1 should first see on Saint Johns

whom should first see on Saint Johns
and he should take of me one kiss from
my lips. holding my face in his two
hands. and saying beforetimes, Elaine
I give thee back thy soul!' And after
this thing 1t would come to pass thai
l would be free as ever before and nc
man might trouble me more, but only
mine own lawful husband have power
over me. Therefore" concluded the
maiden, and her glance fell away from
the kings face, and she stared down al
the road, plucking timidly at her dress
therefore have sought thee out"
But" cried the king. "dost thou
! mean-?"
AYE" she whispered, and her eyes
! lifted and sank again, thou art the
knight"
AS the king stared in wonder and
amaze he saw the soft color spread over
her from throat to brow like an unfold
ing rose, and If she was fair when she
was white, she was ten times fairer
when she was pink. And the king
laughed a great laugh that rang
through the forest and made his horse
pick up it's ears in fright
"Zounds!" he cried. so thou art
begging a kiss Of me, lady?"
AYE" she said again, under her
breath, a vast trouble and confusion
come upon her.
And thou lowest me as thou sayest?"
At that her eyes were drawn to him
again, and she stood gazing very pit
eously. 1T Is not of my making" she
said at length. "and 1t is past mine own
mending. I have dreamed Of thee a
month past My soul goes out to thee
as water in tide. do pray thee mer-
cifully to remove the spell. He that is
to be my husband returneth next
month, and would fain be free when
we wed. or scarce know how I shall
comport myself"
And thou lowest me as thou sayest?"
he asked again.
Beyond life" she said family. Be
yond ALL" Indeed he could see as he
regarded her. the longing Of her eyes
and the tender yearning Of her lips.
Nov Heaven bear Witness" cried
the king, that am good Christian,
a good sovereign, and good husband!
Come hither, maiden, and will give
thee back thy love-"
The maiden stirred toward him, and
then held back. 1T Is wondrous
strange" she breathed; "for now thou
art to me as is naught else in the world.
Thou art dazzling as the sun. I trem-
BILE at so great nearness, and yearn
for that kiss as do parched buds for
dew, or the night for stars. And to
know that this for which I long will
end all longing-scarce indeed can I
credit it,"
So saying, she drew near fearfully,
and the king bent, for he was tall
man and she but slight maiden, and,
taking her face in his two hands, he
said over her the words, Elaine, I
give thee back thy SOUL" and kissed
her upon the lips. And the kiss stir
red him, though he was a good man
and temperate, and he cried. II will
give it thee in royal measure" and bent
again till his long hair, yellow as
broom flower, mingled with the red
gold Of her curls, and he kissed her
again very, very, very slow.
Then strangely. wonderingly. he
raised his head, and stared at the maid
en- as a man who had drunk deep of
wine and forgotten the world, stares
on awaking, at those about. She had
slipped back from his arms; she look
ed at him, she looked up at the sky,
she looked at the green woods, and then
her lips curved and her eyes sparkled,
and she laughed softly under her
breath.
why, see, 1t Is true!" she said, and
flung wide her arms as If some burden
were fallen from them. II am free
maid again. My heart is glad. And
thou" her eyes returned searchingly to
the kings face, thou art no more
than all other men, though indeed ever
my king and sovereign" she thrust in,
in pretty haste, whom I do thank
ah, from the heart that thou hast freed,
do thank thee!" Lightly she caught
his hand and kissed It,
Still the king stood staring upon her.
Her eyes were blue to him as forget
mo note ,uo cbad v,itb dau, bar slyi, ,yo @
the soft flush Of a rose-leaf, and her
hair held the glory Of sunshine. She
was fair to him beyond a dream Of
fairness. and dear beyond all desire.
At her touch he trembled, and a great
pain seemed to drive through his heart
Heavens above" he cried out, breath
ing heavily, what hath come upon me?"
The maiden, drawing her mantle
about her to depart, gazed back at him.
"Alack!" she cried out, "alack and
alas! And forgot to warn thee! 1t is
bitter reproach to thee. Thou shouldst
have kissed me but the needful one
time. If beyond that the man ventur-
ed, so spake the witch woman, then
would he draw on himself the same
curse. He would long for me beyond all
longing, and desire would ever be a
burning sword in his heart. 1t is a
great pity" the maiden added, stepping
backward into the forest and regard
ing her king with big sad eyes because
for that curse she spoke no remedy
Woman's Home Companion.
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