faster and faster as the shining troop approached, for she loved her
king-papa very dearly, and was nowhere so happy as in his arms. When
they reached a certain point, after which she could see them no more
from the garden, she ran to the gate, and there stood till up they came
clanging and stamping, with one more bright bugle-blast which said,
"Irene, I am come."
By this time the people of the house were all gathered at the gate, but
Irene stood alone in front of them. When the horseman pulled up, she
ran
to the side of the white horse, and held up her arms. The king stooped,
and took her hands. In an instant she was on the saddle, and clasped in
his great strong arms. I wish I could describe the king, so that you
could see him in your mind. He had gentle blue eyes, but a nose that
made him look like an eagle. A long dark beard, streaked with silvery
lines, flowed from his mouth almost to his waist, and as Irene sat on
the saddle and hid her glad face upon his bosom, it mingled with the
golden hair which her mother had given her, and the two together
were
like a cloud with streaks of the sun woven through it. After he had held
her to his heart for a minute, he spoke to his white horse, and the
great beautiful creature, which had been prancing so proudly a little
while before, walked as gently as a lady--for he knew he had a little
Madhuri Noah
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