Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-06-17


could find no enc suitable TO be her hus
band. She was very beautiful and she
daughter of great king, and one after
the other kings came 10 court her, but
her only answer Was:
No; will never marry until king
comes who can conquer ell the kings;
the world, and no one can bold herself
higher than ]"
At last. one morning. a buels played
at the gate of the castle, and some one
asked for admission.
"who is tbereY'' asked those who
guarded the gate.
"The king who conquers all kings"
answered voice. sand be comes TO court
the kings daughter"
Then the draxbridee was let down and
they flung the gates vide open, expect
ing king to enter with q great retinue
of attendants; but, instead, one mighty
figure entered alone, dressed in srmor,
with the visor closed, 80 that his face
could not be seen. He bowed low before
the king, who desired to know his name
and country.
my name you know. sire" replied
the armed figure. My face you shall
soon see. / am king of all kings, foI
never vet have | met king | cOulo
not conquer. ! have heard of the
Tame of your beautiful, proud princess
and am here to claim her hand; for
make no empty boast, as she shall &C
knowledge"
The old harpers sitting at the foot OF
the throne struck their harps and began
to play; bat IN spite of themselves the
harps began TO vail, and the notes were
the notes OF a faneral song.
Tue king reproved them, bat the ghost
who stood there in his armor. waved bis
hand TO them.
"Sad music suits me BEST" he said
"Go on"
And they played. being unable To stop
so that a listener would b ave believed
that some great grief had come 20 the
royal family, and TO these notes the prIn
cess entered, at her fathers summons
all in white, with gems in her hair, pale
as q pearl, beautiful "a a fairy.
She looked at the new conner; be re.
Qarded her from beneath his vizor.
1.-The king who has never failed Il
conquer any king he has met, and who
will continue to conquer all kings, hal
come 10 sffer you his hand" he said
Twill you be his queen, beautiful prin
cesar
The princess looked at him gravely.
1T was not beautiful king whom
you desired 10 marry, but one who coulC
conquer all other kings" he said. Yot
will see my face soon enough"
The princess shuddered. but she held
her head high.
Assuredly," she answered, "you ar,
right. Only prove that what you say i
true. and will marry you. though yo'
are hideous as ever man can be; bu
| give the proofs"
The figure Ia armor shook with a deeI
laugh.
MARRY me, princess" he said, "anC
l will lead yeu to the spot where ar,
those kings whom | have laid low
Marry me, and We will 20 with the king
your father. the queen, your mother
the harpers, the soldiers, and all the
court, and see the spectacle. Ii / snow
IL not to you, you may break your wed
ding ring and take back your vow, auC
return to this earth free Of me forever
more"
His words carried belief with them.
II will marry you.n said the princess
"and take you at yeur word"
Then the harpers played, and the
maidens brought the wedding veil, and
the marriage ceremony was performed
and the great procession set forth from
the castle TO see IL the king in armol
had spoken truth and was really con
queror of all kings. And he rode on q
great white horse. such as ne man had
ever seen, with his princess behind him
on pillion.
On she rode, over the hills and away
but they saw no castle, and day faded
and night came, but still they did no,
halt; but at last. when the moon was up
the armed rider led the way down into
deep valley and there commanded them
to halt.
~ am come 10 my kingdom" he said
and all is as said"
The princess looked about her and
saw on every side only tombs and vaults
and graves.
"What does this meanT" she cried.
Where Is yonr great palace, your mighty
towers, your conquered kin2s?"
As she spoke, the harp in the harpsrs'
hands began TO play again of themselves
"a waiting tune, never heard before,
that froze the blood of the listener ),
and the bridegroom answered.:
Behold! these are the tombs uf kings
| have conquered them, every one.
but touched them and they fell befor,
me. So kings will fall until there are no
more. Beautiful princess, you desired
for your husband the conqueror of nj
other kings. There Ia none bat myself
am your bridegroom. Behold me.
am Deathw
He lifted his vizor; all saw his awful
face. He rode toward the old king and
took hts hand.
81 salute my brides father" he said
and the old man dropped lifeless in the
saddle. I" pay my duty to my bride,
mother" he said, and stopped to kiss
her hand. She shrieked and fell intS
her ladies' arms.
Kings and queeusr' cried the bride
groom, II, Death, conquer them all
Come TO my arms. s.-s -.:.-. = .s:;-cx oh
you fairly.
He clasped her TO his breast. wher,
she dropped like crushed lily, anS
spurred his horse toward the tombs
A storm. black and terrible. swept mp the
valley aud quenehed the moonlight, aud
the courtiers and the soldiers. bearins
their dead king and queen, rode back Il
the castle, while the rain beat upon them
AID the hands Of the harpers, still movsS
by some unknown power, played dirgs
never heard before.
As for the proud princess, no one evel
saw her again. Only when certain long
white clouds sw ep across the sky, coun.
try people will whisper to each other
That IL the wedding veil OF the PROUD
princess"