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of Chzldren s Lzterature
December 2001
The Uruvemxty of Mlchlgan-Dearbom
Mardlglan Llbrary











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EDITH OGDEN HARRISON
Author of
PRINCZ JILVERWINQJ
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CHICAGO
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Uctober 17, 1903
THE UNIVERSITY PRESS
CAMBRIDGE U-B.A.


ILLUs]"nAT1oN§
“None of my jewels are
like the fairy’s” Frontispiece '
She was called the love-
liest Princess in the
world . . . . . .
Nerida had never been
lovelier than in her
bridal robes . . . .
The Princess fled from
the evil woma.n’s
temptations . . . .
The whole court waited,
in amusement, the
promised sign . . .
The child grew in beauty
and wisdom . . . .
PAGI
17
44
72
85
108


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THE STAR FAIRIES
HE star fairies live in those jewelled homes we
I see twinkling in the sky every night, shining
out like diamonds. No mortal could dwell in
them, for their blaze of light is so dazzling it would
blind and kill us at once. But the earth is so far away
that simply their sparkle reaches us, and does not even
frighten us but only makes us wonder at their great
beauty.
The star fairies are very busy, for they have many
things to do to help make all the pretty things there
[ 15 ]


THE STAR FAIRIES
are in our own world. They mix the bright colors and
paint all the beautiful flowers around us. The lovely
pink roses you see would never be so beautiful if they
were painted by mortal hand. Think of all the work
there must be in painting even one flower, and then
think of all the flowers in the world. It must keep
thousands of fairies busy all the time. And how hard
it must be to choose the colors—yellow for the butter—
cups, blue for the violets, purple for the pansies. Do
you think any mortal could ever get the perfect tints the
fairies do‘! When they selected green for the trees and
the grass they picked out the very nicest color that could
be thought of to make the forests and fields so cool and
pleasant. They also paint the stripes in the rainbow,
and they love that work, for those delicate colors are
their especial delight. And they also stain the sky that
rich deep blue we see in the big ceiling overhead.
But besides all these duties, they have another much
more important than any I have yet told you about, and
compared to it the painting of the flowers and the grass
and the rainbow and the sky seems a very small duty
indeed. Their real work is the care of the little children
in the world. As soon as a child is born it is given a
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SHE was called the loveliest Princess in the

world. (Page 81
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THE STAR FAIRIES
star fairy to guide and to watch over it through life, and
a new star is hung up in the sky to show how pleased
the queen of the star fairies is to welcome it. Do you
know the easiest way to lear n the number of children
born into the world’! Choose some fine clear night and
then count the stars overhead. If you succeed in doing
this, you will easily learn the exact number of little ones
in the world.
Well, once upon a time in a beautiful kingdom upon
the earth there dwelt a king and a queen who had one
lovely girl baby. She grew up to be a beautiful young
maiden, and her hair was as black as night, while her
skin was as white as milk. Her cheeks were pink as
the lining of a seashell, and her lips were like cherries.
She was called the loveliest princess in the world. Now
a young prince in the fairy star realm had been given
charge of this girl baby when she was born, and as she
grew up he had carefully guarded and protected her.
As he watched her become daily more beautiful, it is not
to be wondered at that when she was grown to be a
young woman he had fallen in love with her.
But every one knows a fairy cannot wed a mortal, at
any rate our fairy had never before heard of such a thing.
2 [ 17 l


THE STAR FAIRIES
her silken tresses were more to him than all the jewels
of fairyland, and he would not listen.
At last the queen sadly admitted there was a way
for him to marry his earth maiden. She had the power
to make him a mortal, but only for a short while, and
for every year of happiness. spent upon the earth as a
mortal, he must serve in fairyland one hundred years of
bondage. Ten years meant one thousand of bondage,
and twenty years of earthly joy was the most she had
the power to grant.
The fairy prince turned pale when he heard the
great test his love would be given, but he never hesi-
tated, and bravely answered.
“ Give me but the earth maiden for my bride,” he
said, “and for that happiness I am willing to suffer
anything. But whatever form my penalty takes, O
Queen, grant me my last request as a star fairy. In
serving these long, long years of bondage leave me
still my wings! D0 not take away from me those signs
of my royal blood, and when I am again changed from
a mortal to my fairy form restore to me at least my
wings.”
The queen granted the request, and then giving him
[ 20 l


THE STAR FAIRIES
her hand to kiss, she told him he could come upon the
earth and reign as king for twenty years.
Full of joy he thanked her and prepared to return at
once to the earth. Thousands of star fairies determined
to go with him, and give him a brilliant journey. Sail-
ing through the sky, their thousands of flashing wings
made a wonderful glow in the heavens, and then ap-
peared for the first time those strange Northern Lights,
which the wise men have so often since talked about
and wondered over. For, as they flew, their long shin-
ing skirts trailed behind them, and floating mysteriously
through the sky, great streamers of light were seen.
Sometimes they shot up in a pure white and silver light,
then they changed to a pale pink or orange, then died
away to a delicate green. It was the flowing garments
of the fairies, long and cloud-like, and their brilliant
jewels and necklaces with their golden wands that lit
up the heavens. They were doing honor and bidding
good-bye to their beloved brother.
The queen had given the star fairy the form of a very
handsome young man and she had provided a rich and
powerful kingdom for him to rule over, so that he had
no trouble in meeting his earth maiden and declaring his
[21]


THE STAR FAIRIES
love for her. When the father of the maiden saw a
powerful and wealthy young king come to woo his
daughter, he did not object to the marriage, and as for
the princess, when she heard the handsome young man
say how much he loved her, she quickly fell in love with
him.
So the marriage was celebrated with great splendor,
and the Northern Lights again appeared in the heavens.
The young king and his beautiful queen_ lived most
happily and ruled their kingdom most wisely for many
years. The star fairy was happier than he ever dreamed
of being, for he found his earth maiden more precious to
him every day.
In spite of all his happiness, however, the fairy suffered
pain in the thought that each day brought him closer to
separation from. those he loved so dearly. The time must
come, sooner or later, when he would have to leave his
wife and children, and return to the star land, and the
pain in his heart grew with each year that passed. At
last the twenty years had nearly gone, and as his wife had
noticed for a long time his increasing sadness she decided
to ask him the cause. Of late, too, those wonderful
shifting curtains of light in the North had appeared more
[22]


THE STAR FAIRIES
often and more brightly, and after each of these appear-
ances, her husband had seemed more unhappy. What
could it mean’!
.One evening while they sat together watching those
beautiful signals she questioned him, and he opened his
heart and told her his secret, concealing nothing from
her. She was of course very much surprised to learn he
was a star fairy, but her only thought was how dreadful
it would be to have to lose him, for she loved him dearly,
and she begged him to persuade his fairy queen to let
them be together in his exile. He kissed her tenderly
and promised to do as she wished, and the days went by,
and at last his summons came.
It was a clear and lovely evening. A slim crescent of
the moon hung over the earth and the heavens were
studded with the jewelled homes of the fairies. Never
had they shone so brilliantly. They looked like fire, and
their long rays darting down glowed like streams of light
on the water. The star fairy and his wife sat together
watching the night, and it seemed to them they heard
soft music, but it was only the beating of the waves on
the white sand.
At last in the far distance they saw a faint light
[ 23 ]


THE STAR FAIRIES
shimmer and fade away again. The queen crept closer
to her husband’s arms, for she knew the light was the
fluttering wing of a star fairy. Perhaps it was a signal.
Stronger and nearer came the lights, and presently they
saw amid all this splendor of opal and red and silver the
fairy queen herself. Her gown was silver and gold, and
on her forehead glittered one beautiful flashing star. She
had softened her brilliancy a little to suit mortal eyes,
and she was seated in a lovely rose upheld by butterflies.
“ The desire of your heart shall be granted, unselfish
soul,” she said to the queen, “ and if you have the cour-
age to share your husband’s days of bondage your love
will give him an immortal soul. A mortal can never
become a star fairy, but it is possible by some great sac-
rifice on the part of a mortal to provide a star fairy with
a soul. But for two thousand years you must both
wander upon the earth in the form I shall provide. After
that, if your courage does not fail, you will again have
your beautiful bodies and live together with immortal
souls in a star palace of your own choosing.”
Thus saying, the fairy queen was slowly borne away
in her rose car by the butterflies, and in a few moments
she had disappeared in the fleecy clouds. Looking down,
I 24 ]





Ks‘
THE GIFT OF THE BIRDS; OR, THE
TREASURE OF THE SOUTH
OWN at the plantation house where the broad
D galleries were supported by large red brick
pillars, the green window-shutters of a front
room on the second floor were flung wide open, for in
the room lay a little girl getting well. She was only
six years old and she had been very ill; but now the
gloomy days had passed, and, except that she was as
white as the big magnolia-blossoms on the trees, she
was beginning to be herself again.
[29]


THE GIFT OF THE BIRDS
gazed steadily back with its tiny bright eyes at Zeline.
It was about eight inches long, and its tail, which it
kept wriggling all the time, had black markings on it,
while its body changed its colors from brown to green in
various shades every few minutes. Zeline lay very quiet
watching it, and finally, losing its fear of her, the beauti-
ful little creature came closer, and at last ran across her
hand.
Day by day the lizard returned to watch Zeline among
her pillows, but it would dart away swiftly at the least
movement of the child or any sudden noise in the house.
Zeline was fascinated with her new pet and could talk of
nothing else. It helped her to pass away the time, and it
became so tame that it ate from her hand. One warm,
balmy day, as the little girl was watching it blink its
eyes and change its colors, she said:
“Oh, you wise-eyed lizard, if you could only talk to
me! ”
“ But I can,” promptly replied the lizard.
“ Good gracious! ” said the little girl, “ can you really
talk ‘Q ”
“ Certainly,” the lizard replied. “ I came especially to
talk to you, but you never gave me a chance.”
[31]


THE GIFT OF THE BIRDS
and was lying alone, covered up with brown leaves, but
it was not afraid and was cooing with delight when dis-
covered. As there was no one to claim it, the birds de-
cided to adopt it for their own.
“The little thing soon grew up to be a lovely child,
and became the delight of her adopted parents. They
built her a beautiful home of jasmine hedges and covered
it with leaves. They taught her to sing exquisite melo-
dies, and she lived a gay, light-hearted creature. Her
food was the delicious berries she found in the forest,
and her drink the crystal streams that bubbled through
them. All day she roamed the woods, but there was
not an animal or a creature in the broad forest that did
not love the pretty nymph child Nerida, so she went and
came unharmed.
“ Free to enjoy herself as she pleased, there was only
one thing she was forbidden to do : she could never enter
the marsh nor tread its enticing-looking ground. For its
soft green grass and its attractive flowers concealed dread-
ful terrors. An old witch lived there with an ugly alli-
gator for her son, and this horrible son demanded human
beings for his food. The birds feared that Nerida’s beauty
might make him want to devour her also.
s [ 33 ]


THE GIFT OF THE BIRDS
“ The witch adored her ugly son, and near the lagoon
in which he lived she had made her dwelling. This she
did by turning the land into a marsh; that is, she filled
the ground with reeds and rushes and soft grass, making
it look like land, and then soaked it through and through
with water, so that the beautiful earth one saw was
really not earth at all, but only a deadly quagmire.
“If one stepped out of the little pirogue or'canoe
floating on the bayou and tried to gather the beautiful
tiger-lilies or purple passion-flowers that grew every-
where about, he was never seen again. The moment he
put his foot on the marsh he sank rapidly to his knees,
and in spite of all his efforts to save himself, was drawn
down lower and lower into the mud. The old witch had
him in her clutches and would never release him. Only
his little pirogue was left floating down the bayou to tell
his sad fate.
“ Every one, therefore, was warned against the deadly
dangers of the marsh-lands. The birds could venture
there because their wings protected them, and if they
stopped to drink or rest, they flew lightly away again
unhurt. The witch hated them because they were beau-
tiful and innocent, but she had no power over them, —
[34]


THE GIFT OF THE BIRDS
she could harm nothing that could fly. So also with the
butterflies who came to sip the sweetness from the
flowers.
“Years went by and the wood nymph had grown
into a charming maiden. Her long hair fell to her knees,
and her bright eyes sparkled like dew-drops. Her pretty
teeth gleamed between her red lips when she laughed,
and she laughed long and merrily because everything
was bright and beautiful in the woods. The birds were
anxious, however, to see her well married, and in their
long journey northward they looked eagerly for a suita-
ble husband. But Nerida was not in a hurry, for she
loved her foster parents and her companions in the wood.
She loved the squirrels, and the red-throated lizards
were her delight, but she loved her liberty best of all,
and she would sit for hours on the banks of the sunny
bayou twining leaves in her hair and singing her pretty
songs.
“ One day a river god was swimming in the river, and
hearing the singing he stopped to listen. He thought he
had never seen anything more beautiful than Nerida, or
heard more bewitching music than her songs. So day
after day he returned to see and talk to her, and when
[35]


THE GIFT OF THE BIRDS
the birds returned from their long pilgrimage they found
Nerida deeply in love with the handsome stranger.
“ When they found their beloved adopted daughter
was so happy, the birds gladly gave their consent to the
marriage, and wedding preparations were at once begun.
The birds desired Nerida to weave her own wedding-veil,
and they told her of a wonderful material they had seen
in the East. So away they flew to the land of Araby,
promising to return soon with the softest and lightest
stuff in the world to weave for the bridal finery.
“The wood nymph and her lover were happy and
contented, and were quite willing to await the birds’ re-
turn. Nerida always met her lover on the banks of the
bayou, and there, singing and twining garlands of leaves,
they passed many happy hours together.
“ One beautiful warm afternoon, as some lovely clouds
were floating lazily across the blue sky, she ran down to
meet him. Not a breath was stirring, for the day was
soft and mild, and the unrufiled waters of the bayou re-
flected long yellow beams, and golden lights quivered far
down in their shining depths. Suddenly a school of
tiny fish jumped up, showing their bright colors and
markings of green, while the water fell from them in
"-i F
[361


THE GIFT OF THE BIRDS
glittering showers, but save for this sudden disturbance
everything around was perfectly quiet.
“ The little maid was too early for the meeting hour,
so she sat and amused herself watching all the beautiful
things about her. How lovely the marsh was, with its
tints softened by a tender haze and its reeds and rushes
scarcely moving! There was a dreamy stillness every-
where, and the flowers were never more tempting.
“ A big star-eyed passion-flower growing close along
the border of the stream was most enticing. It grew so
near, Nerida thought that once across the bayou she
could pick it without an effort. And surely that was
not marsh ground it grew upon, for the grass looked
firm and strong beneath it. The great purple flower
with its delicate, white-crowned centre smiled across at
her bewitchingly. How lovely it would look in her hair
when she greeted her lover!
“ Another moment and the imprudent little nymph
had plunged boldly into the water and crossed the stream.
Soon she stood upon the spot, and the splendid flower
was already in her hand, when suddenly, without warn-
ing, the ground gave way beneath her feet. In an instant
she realized her peril, and screamed aloud in fear. Alas!
[37]


THE GIFT OF THE BIRDS
__. ——~ --1;_ ——_.
__1-
in the midst of the warm sunshine and breathing the
sweet perfume of the acacias, and I suddenly darted
away like lightning to find you. And here I am,”
added the lizard, “ will you help us‘l”
“But how can I?” asked Zeline, big-eyed and
wondering.
“ Easily! Ask your father to drain the marsh, and
that will drive the old Witch away. She cannot live
without water, and then we can rescue Nerida and her
handsome lover, and we shall all be happy again. You
must hurry, though,” he continued, “for if you will
watch to-night you will see how much in earnest the
old witch is that her ugly son’s marriage to our little
Nerida shall soon take place. She lights her lamps
early, and she keeps her frog slaves working all night
preparing for the wedding feast.”
So that evening Zeline begged her father to drain the
marsh, and he, amused at her anxiety, told her she was
a most wise little girl, for he had been thinking of doing
just that thing for many a day. Then she showed him
through the window the mysterious lights, flitting back
and forth through a pearly mist lying low over the reeds
and rushes ; for every night the witch spread this white
[42]


THE GIFT OF THE BIRDS
for the feast, and an orchestra of mocking-birds sang the
wedding march, while all the inhabitants of the woods
offered marriage gifts to the bride and groom.
Nerida had never been lovelier than in her bridal robes.
A beautiful dress made from the softest thistle-down en-
veloped her form. She wore magnificent pearls which
her lover brought her from the blue depths of the gulf,
but on her head she put only a crown of green leaves,
for the soft material which the birds had brought from
Araby for the wedding veil, she gave in her gratitude to
Zeline, who had. done so much for her happiness.
The witch’s power was utterly destroyed, and she was
compelled, in punishment for the evil she had done and
the many lives she had sacrificed, to weave an endless
shroud and hang it upon the trees. That shroud is the
beautiful gray moss you see hanging in graceful drapery
from the live oaks. The alligator was left in the lagoon,
but was forbidden ever to enter the salt waters of the
gulf again. He was to be hated for his cruelty by all
good fishes, and must avoid their haunts forever under
pain of death.
Then the faithful, happy birds made their present to
Zeline. Each one drew from its breast a single bit of
[44]


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THE LAND OF THE POLAR STAR
and never move it from the spot where the fairy King
should place it.
Now this city was filled with splendid palaces, built of
solid gold and silver, and studded with many rare and
precious stones. In the handsomest and costliest of all
these buildings was placed the great treasure. All day
long its jewelled rays shone out, so that no matter where
the fairies might be, they had no difliculty in returning.
But at night, when all its glowing light was thrown up
into the sky, to guide the sailors and save them from
shipwreck, they could not always tell the spot, for there
were millions of stars in the heavens and they were all
so much alike. Then the fairy King gave them a sure
guide : one night, as darkness fell upon the earth, there
crept up over the hills seven brilliant little stars all
a-glitter with fire and silver, and two of them pointed
toward another tiny sparkling one hanging exactly over
the palace treasury. This star has ever since stood like
a sentinel in the heavens, shedding its dazzling rays
directly down upon the palace containing the priceless
stone, and showing the way home to every little wander-
ing fairy.
F or a long time the people of the earth were faithful
[ 51 l


THE LAND OF THE POLAR STAR
the shining gem, and the temptation was too great—she
stretched out her hand and grasped it. But just as she
lifted it, a terrible noise like thunder broke upon her, and
the palace shook like a leaf. In her fright she dropped
the jewel, and it rolled away upon the roof, and was no
longer directly in the north. The terrible noise awakened
the city, and in a few moments the streets were filled
with people. In their midst appeared the fairy King,
and at sight of him the frightened Queen clung to her
husband for protection.
Stern and angry, the fairy King spoke: “ See how you
have valued the mark of my especial favor! This jewel
is contentment; but never again shall you enjoy it upon
the earth, because you have broken your promise. You
shall be banished from this glorious land where I shall
hide it, but always and forever you shall long for it and
seek it. That shall be your punishment.”
Then a beautiful yoimg fairy in a dress made of silver
and sunshine, sparkling like dew on the roses, ran forward
and threw herself at the fairy King’s feet.
“ Oh, Your Majesty,” she implored, “ be not too hasty
in your dreadful decision. The people of the earth are
ignorant of the great value and blessing of this jewel.
[ 53 l


THE LAND OF THE POLAR STAR
True, they have been ungrateful, but do not on that
account condemn them forever to lose it. No matter
how severe your sentence may be, let them at least have
the hope of redeeming the jewel some day.”
The King looked down tenderly upon the fairy, for she
was his own daughter and favorite child, and gradually
the frown disappeared from his forehead.
“You are soon to be married, my child,” he said. “ I
will give you this precious gem as a wedding present,
and you may, if you choose, finally restore it to the un-
grateful mortals who have so carelessly lost it. But I
make one condition in trusting it to you: you shall
not give it to them or let them redeem it for a thousand
years! That length of time shall they suffer. In this
beautiful spot upon the earth you may live with your
husband and ten thousand fairies, and carefully guard
your treasure. For should this priceless jewel be taken
from you, or you in your tenderness of heart give it back
to the mortals before the thousand years shall have
expired, I condemn you, with your husband and your
followers, to dissolve and fade away into moonshine and
mist.”
So saying, the King lifted his daughter to his heart
I__ _
[ 54 I


THE LAND OF THE POLAR STAR
and tenderly embraced her. Soon afterwards the little
princess was married to the handsomest prince in the
fairy realm, and with her faithful followers she took
charge of the wonderful jewel.
But the earth King with his Queen and all their sub-
jects had been banished, and had gone weeping out of
the beautiful country they so loved. The fairy King
ordered the fairies to fan the waters of the ocean with
their wings, making them colder and colder, until finally
they fioze so hard that no mortal could ever cross them.
Then they wove a most beautiful, wonderful, sparkling
mass together, white and soft as thistle down, and
called it snow, piling it in glistening heaps around
their country. Lastly they spun a glittering cur-
tain of gossamer web, brilliant as the sun, and hung it
around their city, thus blinding any one who saw it
except a fairy.
Thus wrapped in its spotless mantle of snow, Fairy-
land awaited any invasion of the mortals. Many years
went by, and the people of the world were discontented
and unhappy, for they were always regretting the lost
jewel and the wonderful land where it lay hidden. The
fairies, however, occasionally came and visited the inno-
[55]


THE LAND OF THE POLAR STAR
men are blinded with the snow and driven back by the
ice barriers, which are the weapons used by the fairies.
Some day soon, for a thousand years is but a day
in fairyland, when mortals least expect it, the tender-
hearted fairy Princess in robes of shining light, with her
husband and their whole court, will pull down those bar-
riers of ice and snow. The ice will float away, and the
snow will melt, and the beautiful Princess will come
forth from her wondrous land with the precious jewel,
and with generous hands will give it again into the keep-
ing of the world. Then at last the brilliant jewel will
really belong to the people of the earth, and the glorious
land wherein it lies will again be opened to the world,
yielding its rich beauties to mortal eyes forever.
[59]






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THE FOREST OF RAINBOW COLORS
NE day a long time ago, the Sun-God was
0 sending down upon the earth a bright stream
of golden beams, which fell in a flood of glory
over a great forest. The light and heat thus given by
the sun was being taken up by the leaves and bodies of
the trees, for it was this which gave them their strength
and enabled them to grow so high. Big, towering trees
they were, and their long, green branches stretched out
in every direction, waving cool shadows which danced
along the ground.
The forest covered many, many miles, and the giant
trees, rearing their heads proudly at the thought of their
wide possessions, nodded a friendly good-morning to the
glittering sun.
[63]


THE FOREST OF RAINBOW COLORS
Now the Prince had not ridden far when he saw a
crowd of people ahead of him hurrying on toward a
distant city. On inquiring their destination he was told
they were going to attend a grand tournament, where
the bravest and most successful knight was to wed the
beautiful Princess Gwendolyn. The Princess Gwendo-
lyn was the only daughter of the King, and was the
loveliest maiden the sun ever shone upon. Rigel and
his followers decided they would ride into the city and
see the lady who was so beautiful, and also watch the
tournament, where they were told any might enter the
lists provided he was a gentleman and a brave knight.
They found the tournament was to take place on a large
open field near the King’s palace. A low balcony had
been built for the Princess Gwendolyn and her ladies-
in-waiting, so arranged that when a suitor entered the
lists he could ride up to the Princess and salute her.
As each knight bowed very low before her, the Princess
would take a ribbon from one of the ladies-in-waiting
and, leaning over, pin her colors on his breast. Then
the knight would ride slowly away to fight for the hand
of the beautiful maiden.
Prince Rigel sat upon his prancing black charger
[66]


THE FOREST OF RAINBOW COLORS
pinned it with the ribbon upon his breast. His eyes
spoke love though his lips said never a word, and when
she had decorated him with her rose and her colors, he
stooped and kissed the hand she extended to him, and
rode forward to join the other suitors.
The tournament came to an end at last. Princess
Gwendolyn’s dainty white hand was fought for long
and hard; but one by one the suitors were unhorsed,
until finally Prince Rigel stood alone, victorious! To
him belonged the most beautiful Princess in the world.
Had he done right in winning her without telling her
his secret’! He hardly knew; but of one thing he was
perfectly sure, and that was that he loved the beautiful
Gwendolyn with his whole heart. Approaching her, he
bent his knee and asked if he might speak with her for a
moment alone. She drew apart from her handmaidens
and granted his request.
“ Ah, charming and adorable Princess,” he began, “ I
love you more than my life, and if you consent to marry
me I shall be the happiest and proudest man in the
world. But before you consent to give me your hand, I
have a confession to make. Though I am a Prince of high
and royal blood, and therefore your equal in marriage,
[63]


THE FOREST OF RAINBOW COLORS
I cannot reveal to you the secret of my birth; and you
must promise in accepting me never to open the tiny
golden ball I wear about my neck.”
So saying, he drew forth the lovely trinket at his
throat and showed it to her.
“ Grave dangers might arise should you seek the
knowledge I must withhold,” he continued; “but prom-
ising this, O beautiful Princess, you will not regret, I
am sure, your marriage with me.”
The Princess Gwendolyn looked long into the clear
and honest eyes of her lover while he was speaking, and
what she saw there must have satisfied her, for she gave
him her hand, saying, “ I will promise all you wish.”
Then Prince Rigel joyfully took her in his arms and
kissed her tenderly.
Shortly afterwards they were married, and the people
said they had never seen a handsomer couple. The
Prince was well provided with gold and silver, and he
built his wife a magnificent palace and furnished it in
the richest manner. The palace was on the crest of a
hill and commanded a splendid view of the country and
valleys for many miles around. Far off in the shimmer-
ing distance they could see the great forest the Sun-God
‘ [69]


THE FOREST OF RAINBOW COLORS
One day as she was returning from the edge of the
green woods, she saw the Witch of the Mountain appear
suddenly in her path. The old woman’s home on the
mountain-side was called the Hill of the Wind, for the
wind blew and moaned pitifully about it. It was built
on a high, narrow wall of rock, and jutted out over an
abyss, leaving just the narrowest path to walk on, and
even if the Witch had been agreeable she would not have
had many callers in such a place. But no one ever went
to see her.
Now, Gwendolyn was not glad to meet her, for where-
ever the mountain witch went she made mischief, and so
the Princess tried to pass her with a simple “ Good-
morning.” But the Witch was smiling a mocking smile,
and stopped her saying, “ Why worry your heart out,
my pretty lady, about a man who loves his secret better
than his wife ‘Q ”
“What do you mean “I” asked the Princess indignantly.
“ All day while you pine and fret,” replied the old
Witch, “ he carries out his plans, nor does he think of
you a single moment.”
The poor Princess looked very unhappy at these words,
but she would not allow the horrid old woman to speak
[71]


THE FOREST OF RAINBOW COLORS
of the Witch of the Mountain! The night was black
and the wind cut her soft cheeks like a whip, but she
hardly felt it; she rode on and on until she came to
the lonely house of the old Witch, who stood without
the door expecting her.
“ Quick, quick!” said the trembling wife as she reached
the house. “ Read the dreadful secret, and then let me
return to my husband. I feel terribly guilty in taking
the ball, but upon my bended knees I will beg his for-
giveness for it.”
“ Weak and silly woman,” sneered the Witch, “ why
are you sorry?”
But the Princess, pale and with flying hair, did not
answer; she only begged in a low voice that the Witch
would read the charm and let her hurry home.
The old Witch took the trinket and held it tightly for
a moment in her hands as though weighing it; then sud-
denly she thrust a sharp-pointed needle through it. In
an instant a tiny yellow flash leaped out and rolled down
the mountain-side. It seemed only a few drops of pure
gold, but a magic glow surrounded it, and the light
flamed as it rolled. It happened so suddenly, and the
precious liquid or flame rolled away so swiftly, like
[74]


THE FOREST OF RAINBOW COLORS
quicksilver, that neither of the frightened women was
able to catch it as it slipped by them. It was growing
bigger and bigger as it went down the mountain-side,
and when it reached the woods below, it shot up in sud-
den splendor, a great mass of fire.
What was it? They had never seen anything like it
before. Diamonds and rubies, sapphires and opals, all
melted together might show such colors, but nothing
else. In a few moments the flames were leaping up
among the trees. Oh, how fast they burned! The sky
overhead was all red with the reflection-the magnifi-
cent forest was on fire!
The Witch shrieked with delight at the awful damage
she had done, but the terrified wife crouched on her
knees in terror and remorse. Here it was Prince Rigel
found her, but she hardly knew her husband. Rays of
light seemed to flash from his eyes, and he looked as
though he were surrounded with the same strange flames
that raged below among the trees. But tenderly he
raised his wife to his breast, and said, “ Alas, my be-
loved! could you not trust me ‘Q See the fearful calam-
ity your curiosity has brought about: the world will
soon be utterly destroyed, and you have caused our
[75]


THE FOREST OF RAINBOW COLORS
etemal separation, for now I must return to my father
in the Sun. This was my secret, Gwendolyn, and this
magical fire, so necessary to my existence, is death to
yours.”
“ Do not leave me alone, my husband,” cried the un-
happy wife, clinging to him. “ I should die without you.
Can you not save the world in any.way '4”
“ If you had loved me,” he replied sadly, “ I might
have had the power.”
“ But I love you with all my heart,” said the wretched
woman, “ and I would give my life to prove it.”
“ Would you give up your life upon the earth for me?
Would you go to my father’s palace in the Sun ‘Q ”
Gladly she answered, “ Only forgive me this dreadful
thing and keep me with you always, for I cannot be
happy without you, beloved husband.”
At these words he clasped her in his arms and pointed
over the hills to the Sun rising slowly out of the sea.
The waters looked cold and steel-blue in the faint light
just breaking, but the sky was all a delicate pink with
the tender flush of early dawn. Calling his knights to-
gether Rigel gave them some strange orders, which they
hastened to obey. Gwendolyn saw a great light dart
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THE FOREST OF RAINBOW COLORS
Thus it was that the Sun-God saved the world fi'om
being destroyed by fire. In spite of all his efforts, how-
ever, some of the Sun fire sank deep into the earth and
hid under the mountains. Those mountains are to-day
called volcanoes, and sometimes powerful flames break
from them and shoot up with such fury that the earth
trembles, and we call it an earthquake.
When the fire was out the Prince turned to his wife,
who was weeping by his side, and in spite of all she had
done his heart was tender toward her, for her sorrow
was so great he could feel no anger.
“ Beloved,” he whispered, “come with me.”
Then she felt herself drawn gently to him, and lifted
in his arms, and she knew they were floating upwards
higher and higher. When at last they reached the Sun,
Rigel pleaded earnestly with his father, not only to for-
give his beautiful wife her foolish curiosity, but also to
make the world forget it and forgive her.
Moved by Rigel’s prayers the Sun King placed
Gwendolyn in the star-studded sky and called her the
Moon. And there she shines in glorious splendor, flood-
ing the world with light, and making the night even
more beautiful than the day. That she is a good and
[76]


THE FOREST OF RAINBOW COLORS
\
tender wife again and has earned her forgiveness, we
all know, for all the wealth of light she showers on the
earth is given her by the Sun ; without his loving, tender
glances she would not shine at all. So if he were angry
for a single minute, and turned his face away from her,
she could not give us any light, but would be dark and
gloomy. This Proves, therefore, that the Sun God and
his wife are contented, and so long as the moon continues
to shed her splendid silver beams upon the earth, you
can feel sure that Rigel and Gwendolyn are still per-
fectly happy.
[79]





THE LOST CITY
OF THE. SEA








THE LOST CITY OF THE SEA
ANY years ago, in a beautiful kingdom bor-
B4 dering on the ocean, there dwelt a handsome
young Prince who devoted all of his time to
study. He cared nothing for the amusements and pleas-
ures of the court, and found his recreation in watch-
ing the waters and the skies. It distressed his father
greatly that his only son never joined the youths and
maidens at their sports, and he despaired of ever get-
ting him interested in the affairs at court. Every one
called him a dreamer, because he spent his time in
day-dreams.
But one night the Prince did have a wonderful dream.
It seemed to him he was transported to a mighty empire
which ruled over a great continent. Rich and magnifi-
cent palaces filled the cities, and beautiful women came
[83]





THE LOST CITY OF THE SEA
up by the sea, it was certainly foolish to look for it.
However, being an indulgent father, he said:
“ If you can show me any proof of any kind that such
a city ever existed, I will consent to your undertaking
to find it.” ‘
That night, therefore, when the golden-haired Queen
appeared again the Prince told her what his father had
said, and begged her for some sign.
“Very well,” replied the Queen, “go to the water’s
edge to-morrow near mid-day, and in the sky you shall
have a sign.”
The next day at the appointed hour the whole court
gathered and waited, in amusement, the promised sign
in the skies, for none of them had any faith in the
Prince’s dream. But the young Prince never doubted
the beautiful Queen’s promise, and presently his faith
was rewarded, for suddenly, like a perfect picture cast
upon the heavens, they saw a marvellous sight. Far
away over the level of the sea beautiful clouds were
taking shape, and soon the reflection of the Lost City was
thrown upon the sky. The streets were all of gold and
silver, the palaces and domes were shining with jewels
and gorgeous colors. Nothing was ever seen more
[ 85 l


THE LOST CITY OF THE SEA
depths of the waters, hoping and praying for a glimpse
of the Lost City beneath.
One day, exhausted and faint with hunger and thirst,
he was bending over the side of the boat, when he felt
it suddenly drawn down into the water by unseen
hands. Slowly it sank into the cool, green depths;
lower and lower it went, and after the burning, parch-
ing thirst he had endured, the water was more
deliciously refreshing than anything he had ever ex-
perienced before. Presently he opened his eyes and
looked about him. Exquisite blue starfish floated near
him, and white ones with rosy-tinted veins; sea-urchins
and sea-cucumbers floated by, and strange and wonder-
ful creatures of all kinds. Far off, hanging from the
slippery rocks, he saw what looked like white leaves,
but when he came nearer he found they were delicate
little sponges. A group of larger ones, soft and beauti-
ful, clung to the reefs.
Suddenly the boat stopped before a great gate of
red coral. The Prince stepped out and fastened the
boat, and walking up to the gate tried to unlock it. It
swung slowly open before him, and he found himself in
the streets of a beautiful city. His heart beat madly
[88]


THE LOST CITY OF THE SEA
as snow, in others it took on a soft rosy pink. The
doors of this palace were cut out of the rarest opals.
Smrounding the mother-of-pearl palace was a garden
filled with wonderful shrubberies, and in the courtyard
leading up to it were living whales spouting out water.
Magnificent shells half as tall as himself bordered the
path on either side, and these beautiful sea-shells were
all lined with the daintiest pink you ever saw. He ad-
vanced towards the palace and finally entered one of the
opal doors, which swung back before him as silently as
the coral gates had done.
The Prince found himself in a vaulted room brilliantly
lighted and handsomely furnished. Several doors led
out of it, and he approached one and knocked. In a
moment it was opened by an old man with a long white
beard and flowing white garments, who held in his
hands a bunch of keys. As he unlocked and opened the
door the young Prince heard joyous strains of music.
Two beautiful dancing-girls, richly dressed, came gliding
into the room, and knelt and kissed his feet, crying, —
“We are your slaves, —command us, O mighty
Prince, and we will obey you.”
Prince Nizir, though very much startled at their ap-
[90]


THE LOST CITY OF THE SEA
not long been under the sea,” she continued, “when I
determined to give employment to my people by this
industry. It was an easy thing to take the salt from the
water, but how to supply the people on the earth was
not so easy to determine. We had not the right to go
upon the earth, but I soon learned we might work under
it, so we tunnelled the whole world. After doing this it
was an easy thing. to plant salt mines everywhere, and
this we have done, so that to-day every portion of the
globe is supplied with salt made in the building you now
see.”
Nizir, looking closely, saw hundreds of sparkling forms
flitting through the factory, their clothes powdered with
the beautiful diamond dust they called salt, and when-
ever they moved they flashed forth brilliant light. These
people were kept busy night and day supplying the
world’s demand for salt, and keeping the salt mines
filled. .
On the second morning, when the Prince awoke, every
body was clothed in a bright green, and the lovely Queen
appeared wearing a green silk dress with an emerald
necklace. The third day her dress was pale blue, with
flashing diamonds and turquoises for ornaments. On the
. "’~
[94]


THE LOST CITY OF THE SEA
home. They need not stay long, he argued, and could
soon return to the Sea City. Now his wife loved him
very dearly, so he had not much difficulty in persuading
her to do as he wished. She told him, however, that
during her stay upon the earth she must keep absolute
silence. She would not be allowed to speak a single
word, but must remain dumb. Only upon this condition
could she accompany him before the time allotted for his
reign should expire.
Prince N izir agreed to the condition and said it would
be an easy matter to explain her silence to his father.
Their subjects consented reluctantly to their departure,
and very soon afterwards they started on their journey.
They found the Prince’s boat where he had left it fastened
to the coral reef, and soon after getting into it they rose
on the top of a wave and floated on the broad blue
waters of the ocean, and not many hours later Prince
Nizir pointed out to Cleito the tall towers of his father’s
palaces.
His subjects, who had mourned him as dead, came
running out to meet him, and soon the shore was lined
with wondering people. He greeted them joyfully, but
they were terrified and frightened at his appearance. He
1 [ 91 ]


THE LOST CITY OF THE SEA
Now King Nizir was madly in love with his Queen and
spent as much time with her as he could take from the
cares of state, but all of his tenderness did not make her
happy, for her listless and indifferent manner never
changed. Only when he would sit beside her talking of
her beautiful home, and telling her how he was arrang-
ing to return to that wonderful kingdom beneath the
sparkling waters, would she show any interest.
The gossips at court whispered that the Queen was one
of the shipwrecked people and the daughter of a great
sultan; that she had disobeyed her father’s command in
running away with her lover, and that when her lover
was drowned she did not care to live without him. It
was said that she and the King alone were saved from
the sinking vessel in that awful storm, and that the King
went mad from hunger and thirst, and imagined every-
thing about the Lost City and his life there with the
beautiful Cleito, and that he had mistaken the daughter
of the sultan for his bride of the ocean. Thus the
court gossips talked, but the Queen never broke her
silence.
One day, radiant and smiling, the King came to his
wife and asked her if she would like to ret1n'n that day
[99]


THE LOST CITY OF THE SEA
to her beautiful home in the sea. She was startled at
his question and a little frightened, but she nodded an
eager assent, and when the ship came entered it with a
smile. She had dressed herself as a bride for a wedding,
all in white, with a veil upon her head and lilies in her
hair. Then she and the King sailed merrily away in the
early moming mists to find their beloved city.
They never returned to their earthly kingdom. Their
subjects offered large rewards for finding the boat with
the mad King and his beautiful Queen, and the seas were
searched for many months, but without success. Some-
times a white-sailed vessel was sighted and chased, but
when caught it was never the King's ship. With the
passing of the days people noticed strange and myste-
rious things. Often the wind swept by groaning and
shrieking in agony, and often the mariners sailing in
their stanch little crafts were startled by seeing close
to their boat a phantom ship. As soon as they turned
their lights upon it and gave chase it would disappear.
And sometimes to this day, in a big storm, or again
on a quiet night, sailors see a white sail slip close by
them, with two figures on the deck, a man and a woman,
and the woman is dressed in bridal robes and is very
[ 100 ]


\
I
I  _ i i “i  @-







_‘§1=:},§ _/£7




THE WHITE PALACE
N a country of wonderful beauty, where the green
I fields sloped down to the water’s edge and the
trees waved their long, green branches under a
smiling sky of sunshine, there once ruled a King and a
Queen. The country was rich and prosperous and the
people were thrifty and happy, and all would have been
well had it not been for the Queen’s ambition.
Now the Queen was young and handsome, but she
was also haughty and proud, and in her selfish way she
tried to make every one around her believe that what
she had was the very finest and best in the world. Her
palace, her lands, her clothes, her jewels, she urged with
arrogant pride were better than any one’s else in the
whole wide world. But the King was so busy, that he
[ 105 ]


THE WHITE PALACE
hardly noticed this weakness of his wife’s; and besides,
he really was so devoted to her that he would probably
have been the last to see it anyway.
The pleasures of this royal couple were many, but one
drop of bitterness always mingled in them—they had
no children. The Queen was constantly wishing for a
child and hoped when it came that it would be the most
beautiful and the most brilliant in the kingdom.
One day, after many years of waiting, their hearts’
desire was granted in the birth of a little daughter.
She was as dainty a little Princess as could be found,
and lay like a pink rose-bud amid her white pillows.
That night while the Queen was watching her little
one, there appeared beside the baby’s cradle a tall fair-
haired woman. She wore a crown of seven stars upon
her head, and a magnificent cloak, heavily embroidered
in many colors, fell from her shoulders to her feet. One
arm was outstretched, and in it she carried a wand.
“ I preside over the cradle of the new-born,” said the
handsome woman to the Queen, “ and I have the power
to grant any wish you may make for your child. Choose
well, for one alone can I give.”
Then the Queen, lifting herself on her elbow, gazed
[ 106 ]


THE WHITE PALACE
asked an explanation, but the golden-haired woman
replied, -
“ Your daughter’s life alone will develop the answer.
Guard well the veil. You have chosen her life and
H
cannot alter it now.
The poor mother, terrified at these words, called
loudly for her maids, but when they came the stranger
had vanished, leaving only the white veil, soft and fine
as a spider’s web, spread over the sleeping Princess.
The Queen at once took every precaution to preserve
the veil. Placing it in a tiny golden box, and sealing
and locking it, she hid it in the Palace treasury, putting
the key of the golden box around her neck.
The King, alarmed at first at the story of the mid-
night visit from the star-crowned woman, shared his
wife’s anxiety, but as time went by they gradually
forgot their fears.
The child grew in beauty and wisdom; her eyes were
large and brown, and her hair curled in soft ringlets
about her face. Her cheeks were like peaches and
cream, and every one marvelled at the wonderful love-
liness of the little Princess Helice. Her first lisping
words were so bright that people stopped to listen, but
[ 108 ]


THE WHITE PALACE
they did not remain long, for almost immediately she
began showing the fatal gift she possessed, —she could
read the thoughts of other people’s minds. Sometimes
it was most embarrassing, and her parents soon realized
what a disagreeable power it was.
Once, when Helice was a little older, a Princess quite
high in rank stopped to caress her, saying, “VVhat a
dear you are! ”
“ Then why do you think I cannot be human because
I am so queer’! ” asked the rash little girl.
Another time, a courtier picked her up and held her
high on his shoulder to view some passing pageant,
and when he put her down bowed low, saying, “I am
honored to have held the King’s daughter.”
“Why, then, do you think it is a pity I was ever
born, and a misfortune for the kingdom that I am
here?” inquired Helice.
Every day such things happened, and in spite of the
fact that the Princess was growing more and more
beautiful she was more and more shunned. Every one
feared her words. The minute her bright eyes fell upon
their faces she could read their innermost thoughts, and
no one could ever keep a secret before the little Prin-
‘ [ 109 ]


THE WHITE PALACE
cess. It was a very uncomfortable state of affairs, to
say the least, and the unhappy Queen acknowledged
she had made a fearful mistake in wishing so much
wisdom for her little daughter.
Helice at first did not mind it, but finally she dis-
covered she was not like other children and this made
her very unhappy, for she was a tender-hearted little
girl, and she did not wish to hurt people’s feelings. So
she begged her mother to destroy the veil, and relieve
her from the hateful spell, but this the Queen would
not do, knowing well that if she did her daughter’s life
would dissolve like foam.
Time went by, and things were all in this unhappy
state, when some visitor at the court related a story
which greatly impressed the little Princess. It was
called “ A Just Punishment,” and was as follows.
There once lived a great tyrant of a King who deter-
mined to increase his riches by means that were very
dishonorable. His Queen, who was equally ambitious,
was even more wicked than he, and together they
planned to fool the already oppressed people, and de-
mand more taxes. They had discovered a small stream
of water in the depths of a large forest. It flowed out
[ 110 ]


THE WHITE PALACE
“ O beautiful Princess,” began Olenus, in rich, low
tones, “the King has surely won you fairly.”
Then the Princess, who again felt her heart beat
strangely, said, “Make haste to answer our riddle”;
and ordering her herald to come forward, he read the
following:
“A man had twelve sons, and each of his sons had
thirty white sons, and thirty black daughters. These sons
and daughters died every day, yet they were immortal.”
“ The answer,” replied the young Count, steadily
watching the Princess’ lovely face, “is this. The year
has twelve months or sons. Each of these months has
thirty white sons or days, and thirty black daughters
or nights. They consequently die, yet they live always.
Am I correct ‘I ”
“Yes,” murmured the Princess, pale as death, “that
is the true answer.”
“ Then upon my bended knees, I demand the fulfil-
ment of your promise for my friend and King.” Saying
this, Count Olenus advanced, and kneeling held out
his hand. White and trembling, but with the dignity
of a Princess, Helice laid her hand in his, and said in
a low, soft voice,-
[117]


THE WHITE PALACE
desert where the sand-storms rise and sweep across
countless miles of waste, the fame of her great beauty
had reached them, until they all longed to see her;
and how, hearing of her marvellous loveliness, their
King had determined to win her for his bride.
“Tell us of your country,” said the‘Princess one
night. “What is it like?”
“I will try to describe it,” said the count softly, and
he began.
“ In the far East, as you know, lies the country of
Bengalia. Its great cities and its beautiful villages are
the pride of its people, and its fame for wealth is as
wide-spread as its reputation for its magnificent mosques
and temples. For since the first King of Bengalia ruled,
wisely and well, it has ever been famous.
“Once in the long ago--it sounds like a pretty
romance-a charming little Princess was given a bit
of country by her father, and put at the head of a
nation. She was a Winsome maiden, though rather
young for such a responsible position, but she was as
wise as she was beautiful, and governed her people
well. She soon made her domain a charming spot;
fields were cultivated, flowers were planted and grew
[ 119 1


THE WHITE PALACE
side of the mountain, and he ate up all the sheep and
cattle, and finally ended by demanding the hand of the
dainty little Princess in marriage.
“ The people refused his demand and made war upon
him, but he was so powerful he could crush whole armies
at once, and so they determined to try some other means
than fighting to rid themselves of him. They sent an
army of bees to sting him to death in the night, but his
skin was so thick that when the bees stung him he just
turned over and said, ‘ Dear me, how annoying the mos-
quitoes are to-night,’ and went right to sleep again.
Then they sent a lion to eat him up, but when the lion
saw how big he was, he became so frightened he could
not even roar.
“ Finally the Princess, who was as brave as she was
beautiful, determined to face him herself, and at the
head of a large army she advanced to meet him. But
he just snatched her up when he saw her and put her in
the high tower. Then he destroyed her lands, ruined
her fields, and turned the country into a trackless desert,
with nothing but scorching sands everywhere, and the
unfortunate people were turned into hills of stone and
left to whiten beneath the blazing sun.
~i
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THE WHITE PALACE 
“ After he had put the country under this awful spell
he sat himself down, determined to wait until the poor
little Princess would consent to marry him. All day he
left her locked in the tower while he looked for food,
and at night after his long tramp he would return and
climb to the top of the tower and demand of her in a loud
voice if she was ready to marry him. But the Prin-
cess, miserable as she was, always answered, ‘ No, you are
a cruel monster and have destroyed my faithful people and
my country, and I shall never marry you, for I hate you.’
“ The old giant would chuckle to himself, and leaving
a jug of water and a loaf of bread outside her door
would say, ‘Very well, my pretty one, this is all you
shall have to eat until you consent,’ and would hobble
down the steps again.
“ So the poor little maiden sat there alone, and spent
her days singing to keep up her courage, though you
may be sure her songs, like her heart, were very sad.
One day a handsome young Prince, who was hunting and
had lost his way, stopped before the tower and heard
her lovely voice. Amazed, he asked who she was, and
in sad tones she told him her story.
“The young Prince determined to rescue her, and
[ 122 ]


THE WHITE PALACE
going to the forest he met a friendly giraffe who kindly
consented to assist him. The giraffe accompanied him
to the tower, and then stretched out his long neck for
the Prince to climb up on, and in this way the young
man soon reached the tiny window through which came
the Princess’ voice. Looking in, the Prince saw the
most beautiful Princess he had ever beheld, but he also
saw that the window was barred with iron and that he
could not open it.
“ He did not despair, however, but telling the lovely
maiden to keep up her courage, he went back to the
forest. There he'found a little animal with soft fur and
very strong feet, called the mole, which always digs
into the earth, and asking the little fellow to return with
him, with its assistance he dug ia big hole under the
steps. This hole he lightly covered with dirt, and then
sat down to wait for the old giant. Of course he hid
himself well so as not to be seen. The giant came as
usual that night, and walked up the steps to the tower
and asked the Princess if she would marry him. Then
the Prince cleared the dirt from the hole, and in a mo-
ment the steps gave way and the old giant tumbled
down and was killed.
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THE WHITE PALACE
see the narrow strip of green fields richly cultivated,
crawling like a lizard on its banks, and back of the green
strip lies the desert with its yellow sands, while amid
these sands rise the tawny hills, barren and stern, stand-
ing like sentinels guarding the great treasures of the
country,—-and to this lovely land, fair Princess, my
King invites you!”
The story was finished and the Princess arose, almost
in tears. She knew not why, but she was very sad.
The next day the King would arrive and she must
marry him. Was she unhappy because she was to go
to the fair land of Bengalia Olenus had so beautifully
described ‘I
The morning broke clear and brilliant. The King
had arrived in the night, and his army of white tents lay
beyond the city. The bride, colorless as a lily in her
snowy clouds of lace and satin, stood silent amid her
laughing maidens. She felt like a victim prepared for
sacrifice, and her mournful eyes lingered on all her be-
loved and beautiful possessions in the White Palace.
But she had given her pledge and she must fulfil her
promise and marry the King.
At last the hour had come when she must go to meet
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THE WHITE PALACE
him. Stately and dignified, she approached the throne-
room where he awaited her. So sad was she that she
could hardly raise her eyes to greet him when he ad-
vanced and took her hand. When she did gain her
courage, however, to look up, she saw the King of Ben-
galia, smiling with love before her, was none other than
the handsome Count Olenus !
The pale little Princess quickly became a blushing
rose when the King whispered, “ Forgive me my decep-
tion, beautiful Helice, but I determined to gain your
heart as well as your hand, and this seemed the only
way.”
They were married immediately, and after the cere-
mony the King of Bengalia drew his charming bride
away from the throng of merry-makers out into the quiet
garden, sweet with roses and honeysuckle, and it seemed
to them they were the happiest people in the world.
The evening was strangely beautiful. The glitter of the
day was passing and soft shadows were creeping up over
the hills, but the sky was all a delicate rose pink. The
King was telling his bride of the beautiful home he had
prepared for her beyond the sea, and the life of happiness
they would lead there together, when suddenly in their
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