Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1879-03-06
Like should mate with like.

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called me q queen among women, and as
such, I shall wed among men with none OF
less rank than 3 king"
All the baron's entreaties failed to change
her decision. Jestingly she told him that
mans love was like a rainbow-as bright,
AS many hued, and as lasting-that his love,
as it came with the sunshine, would vanish
with the shadow, meaning that it would
last but a day. But when, upon departing,
he asked tor one tress Of her yellow hair,
she kindly gave it, and he. turning his face
toward her az he was aboat to depart, said:
Each night, at the loftiest window, in
the loftiest tower OF my castle, a bright
light shall burn until my love for you is
ended or I am dead"
Then he rode sorrowfully away. Belle
Breton, returning to her work, found her
lonely task no longer light. A knowledge
of beauty and power had Instantly given
birth to a craving tor something beyond
her present humble life, and as the shadows
began to fall, and the peasant and his wife
came not, she lighted the fire and sat mus
ingly thinking, while the one.eyed eat blink
ed and NODDED at the red Goals.
"If only my god-mo Their We're a fairy"
she said half aloud, and on the instant a lit
tle Gid woman stood before her. Belle new
er could tell whether she hoped out Of the
fire or in at tile door, so sudden and unex-
pected was her appearance.
What wish, my lassieY' said she. ~
In your god-msther, and just the best.na-
tured fairy the kingdom affords"
"a fairy! You look more like a WITCH =
exclaimed Belle, CHANGING from the pointed
green shoes she wore on her feet, to the
pointed green cap she wore on her head, and
thence to the huge yellow bag full of gold
she carried in her hand. But, pardon my
rudeness, g%od-mother," she continued, land
give me such gift as you think | shall most
need in life."
"She who designs wedding a king must
needs have the adornments OF a queen" re-
piled the fairy. This will bring to you
the fpidli,nent OF seven Wishes" and she
dropped what seemed to be a smooth white
pebble into the hands Of the delighted girl.
Wish not too soon. wait not too long, nor
forget that even a jest may hide a TRUTH
She spoke, and vanished as suddenly as she
had come.
Belle had hardly time to slip the pebble
into her pocket when the peasant and his
wife appeared.
"Father, mother, why so late,' she ques-
toned, but the peasant only said "Give
us some supper. good lass, and soon thou
shalt know all, for we have been to talk
with Merlin, the great enchanter, the most
famous man OF all these times.'n
AS Belle hastily prepared the frugal meal
she WAS tempted to wish for a table loaded
with the best the land afforded, but the
words. wish not too soon," rang in her
ears, and she repealed the thought.
The days fled on, and by chance or for
tune, the second baron came, saw, loved,
and wooed according to his nature but his
wooing sped slowly, for Belle only smiled
up at him with her bright blue eyes, and
refused to wed him, even though he was the
fairest of his race; and he sighed at parting
"Alas, for the honor Of my name, that /,
a baron, should be rejected by q peasant
maid alas, tor the homer of my name! ~
When there is a third, it always follows
the second. and so it was in the case of the
good baron, who in time fell in love with
Belle Breton.
Beauty is a good" said he, shut good
ness is a power. Honors are as nothing to
a soul like mine, and now my beautiful one.
il you will but consent to STARE nv lot in
life may yet become, what the Creator in
tended all R1ortals to be, fit to dwell on
earth so fair"