Connecticut western news., 1885-10-14
VOL. XV.

by this time had almost forgotten ms existence, so taken up was she in watching to ascertain if indeed spi- der bad taken a tenement under the embrasure outside her bedroom win dow. When shown into her presence the knight informed her in state. ly way that he had found papers that established his claim as rightful heir to the estate, that he had already talk en possession and would like her to deliver the keys immediately.
 The princess's manner was as formal as his own, and her tone as naughty, when, after little pause, she replied:
 "Sir Knight, doubtless thou art not aware that in the possession of the crown prince are papers showing that with this estate goes signet ring. The ring is always in possession of the rightful heir and that ring I have"
 The knight was exceedingly angry. but he brought all his arts of fascina- tion to bear upon the princess, think ing to induce her to show him the ring, but all in vain. Quite out of pa tience, at length he told her if she did not give up the ring immediately he would set every person on the estate to gathering spiders from field, forest, river, and castle and would fill her apartments, her clothing, nay even her couch with them. The princess quaked with fear at even the thought of this. and enveloping herself in her linen wrap preceded the knight to tho arsenal that was high up in one of the western towers. Here behind coat of mail that was hanging upon the wall she touched spring that opened a secret drawer within which was a small golden key. With this key closely clenched in her hand, and the willy knight close at her side, she pro- ceeded to the great picture gallery. There behind the life-size portrait of her own beautiful mother she found another secret drawer, and taking therefrom an ivory casket she unlock ed it with the golden key, disclosing the coveted prize.
 "Let me examine it, please" entreat- ed the knight.
 "Never," cried the princess. now that the ring was in her hand, impress ed by the instructions regarding it she had received from her parents. and dismayed at her own weakness in be- ing frightened in her own castle, amid her own people by stranger.
 F The knight, quite forgertiag-aA his assumed courtly ways, sprang to take it from her, when, quick as thought, she threw it out of one of the deep narrow windows that the knight had opened on account of the closeness of the air, in the long disused gallery. It flashed like coal of fire in the sum- light and was gone.
 Mad girll'' shouted the knight, an- grily. "It has fallen into the moat P and leaving the princess he rushed down the staris.
 With her heart beating wildly, and her eyes sparkling with excitement, the young girl leaned out the harrow window and looked far below to where the gray walls of the strong square tower were reflected in the still black waters of the moat.
 "Ah what is that?" she cried, for just below her, even within reach oi her hand the signet ring hung secure ly caught in the meshes of an ancient closely woven spiders web. Although the spider was close by. curiously re garding this singular prey, the prin- cess did not mind, but reached dowr and secured the ring without fear As she did so, standing there in front oi the portraits of her parents, she seemed to hear their voices, explaining once more the significance of the ring, ant setting forth her duty to all the de pendent people living on her estate.
 ITO whom much is given much shall be required" she said half aloud Dear me how selfish I have been, -and securing the ring to chain fastened about her neck, she, too, rar down the winding stairs, quite regard less of her linen wrap that lay forgot ten on the dusty oaken floor of tn gallery, and astonished her servant by dispatching acourier with lette to the crown prince.
 The knight meanwhile had set al the laborers about the estate to dEav the water off from the moat and scare the muddy bottom for the ring. Whil they were thus engaged, with til knight in the greatest excitement an
 followed by his servant, pacing bac
 and forth across the drawbridge,
 company of horsemen arrived wh had been sent from court. The Prir cess Philippine met them in the gal
 ments, laces and jewels of her beaut
 ful mother and on one dimpled fnge sparkled the signet ring.
 The grand old courier who bowe over her proffered hand, said: "You
 face and your bearing establish you identity for l knew your parents an
 grandparents, but this signet ring suf
 stantiates your rightful ownership t
 the estates beyond a doubt"
 The designing knight and his SCI |