Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1872-06-13

road, than the six gifted attendants be-
gan 10 ask what recompense they were
to have for their services.
The recompense belongs to me-" said
Lightfoot I" for, if had not outrun the
princess, we might have returned as we
came"
And, pray" says Fine-ear, "what
would you have done, if l had not heard
you snore ?''
:" think you must both acknowl-
edge" says Marksman, that our sue
cess was owing to my shooting the arrow
exactly into Lishtfoot's ear.
L cannot help wondering at your
arrogance" says Stronghold "pray
who brought away the treasures To
whom. can you be indebted, but to
me ?"
Thus they were going on, when For
tnnio said:
MY friends, you have all performed
wonders; but you should leave to the
king the care of rewarding you. And
should his majesty fail to reward you,
yet you shall have no reason to com.
plain, for l will take upon myself to
crafty your largest expectations"
King Alfourite beheld him with
amazement, and embraced him in the
utmost transport; and his bravery so
increased the attachment the princess
had conceived for him, that she, that
very day, desired to speak with him in
private.
Fortunio sent her for answer, that he
could not have the pleasure of waiting
on her. The princess, enraged, ran to
the king in the middle of the night, and
declared that Fortunio had sent Strong.
back to her chamber to carry her away,
that he might marry her that, previ,
Gus to his late enterprise, he had him.
self engaged in similar attempt. "In
short, dear brother" said the artful
creature, nothing bat the death of
this presumptuous wretch can satisfy nv
vengeance, or insure my safety"
The kings affection at hearing this
was greater than can be described, and
the next morning he ordered Fortunio
to be taken into custody, and to be
tried.
In vain did Fortunio plead hi, inno-
cence; no one believed it possible for a
great princess to invent so wicked a
falsehood. So the judges declared him
guilty, and condemned him to die.
The king left the court shedding
many tears; but the cruel princess staid
to see the sentence executed. The off
Ger, approaching Fortunio, opened his
shirt, that his heart might be bare to
receive the darts but no sooner was
this done, than all the beholders saw
a woman.
Every eye was Immediately turned
upon the princess, to reproach her with
the baseness of her conduct N bringing
so false an accusation against an limo
cent creature, and one, besides, who
had shown such unexampled courage
and done the state such signal serv-
ices; while she, unable to bear the shame
that awaited her, took out of her pocket
a sharp knife, and plunged it into her
heart, saying: "Fortunio is revenged
of my injustice"
The hero was led in triumph to the
palace, and the king made an offer of
his hand and crown to Fortunio. Their
marriage was celebrated with the great
est pomp. The old earl and his two
daughters were sent for on the occasion,
and ever after remained at court. The
first care of the new queen was to pro-
vide magnificent stable for Comrade
She settled a handsome pension on
Stronghold, Lightfoot, Marksman, Fine
ear, Command. and Tippler, who all lived
together in splendid castle few miles
in the country.