Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1885-10-16
The Princess Philippine.
BY MRS. ANNIE a. PRESTON.

BY MRS. ANNIE A. PRESTON.
The Princess Philippine dwelt in an
ancient, gray, stone castle standing on
the banks OF a small river that divided
beautiful green valley in northern.
Germany. Broad, fertile fields and
green pastures, dotted by herds OF the
famous black cattle and by flocks OF
snowy sheep, with here and there q
peasants or a herdsman's cot, lay each,
side the stream On either hand deep
forests stretched up the sides OF the
high mountains that sheltered this line
estate, of which the Princess Philip
pine was sole heir, from the rough
blasts of winter. The Princess Phil
ippine had neither father, mother,
brother nor sister, but she had an in
dulgent guardian and when a mere
child had been bstrothed by her pa
rents to his son, the brave, young
Prince Basil who lived just on the
other side the high sheltering monn-
tains.
With such charming surroundings
it would seem as if the young princes
ought to have been very happy littn
maiden, but | am very sorry to relate
that she allowed her life to be made!
miserable by her uncomfortable and
unreasonable fear of spiders. Spiders
love the dust-hlled crannies of a vast
old castle like that of Castle Philippi
and why should the spiders that had
held possession for more than zoe
years be put to rout on account of the
whim of chit of girl?
The Prince Basil asked the princess
something of the kind on the occasion
Of one of the frequent calls he made al
the castle. accompanied by his la,ia
mother, The Princess PhilippiagsaS
saying that he had no regard what hs
for her fine sensibilties, aud she Aei
surprised to see that his mother
and smiled at him instead of ch t'jass
him for his rudeness. So, sad ttknst
the young couple had their first =,
rel, and the young prince rode hone mai
high dudgcon, declaring there wa Dp,
reason in spirited young fellow beiof
tied to a girl who would not walkIt
the park, sail on the river or ride 10 lig
forest on account of her silly dread .
spiders, who even would not W.;
about the saloons and galleries of lon,
own fine castle unless she was enNdo,
oped from head to foot in sheet-l ,
wrap of glazed white linen be,
81 have danced attendance upoI, ~
ghost as long AS can endure it," wi,
said, "and now | am going awaybe
see the world" And so he went. tor
The parents Of the young Prince !,
sill were greatly chagrined at this
arrangement, for in Germany betrotl; 80
has always been held almost as sacl !
as a marriage, and they said:
will leaN G her entirely to herself for
season and see. Perhaps She W.
come to her senses enough to real -
how foolish it is for her to set hers
up as being different from all the r ~
of the world. SO with one accord
her neighbors and friends declar,,
I'VE will leave her alone with
morbid fears"
Philippine now shut herself up v. ~,
her attendants in her own apa =
ments, that were all hung with p
blue satin, and passed her time in ms
ing sure no spider Of any kind in5 ia
ded her premises. Naturally enoui ~
now that there was no supervision "a
her friends and guardians, everythf DIS
went at loose ends about the cas- lo'
and the estate, and the news the ess
went abroad, no one can tell how, .eh
the world. gaL
One morning there came riding y
to the castle drawbridge knighH
armor mounted upon a milk-wh ]
charger and followed by an attendfhe
whose steed was as black as coal. l1the
knight demanded to see the Princlhe
Philippine, and when after much The
lay he was shown to her preseneekni
informed her he was her cousin, foil
times removed. and proposed payand
her a long visit. con
Very well" she said, Il never hpad
heard of you, but that may MI Pes'
strange. Pray make yourself comfnel
allie and give orders that the r,bs vi
you may choose for your own mak pa
thoroughly swept and busted I
made free from spiders, for | SUD Pve
there is not In the world such anskiac,
s9ider-invaded place as this SAM eder
castle Philippl." gra
Day by day the knight made 4 tai
elf at home about the prem lses The
ing orders TO the servants and n 7
ging as if the estate was his own Ian
when he began to make free wi OF
the secret drawers and papers i hos
great library. sitting over them tror
far into the night, the old ser ieti
shook their heads AMI said, one ID lin,
ther, "Ah, his presence here ha
80 good" -e