Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1885-10-16

watching to ascertain If indeed spl-
der bad taken tenement under the
embrasure outside her bedroom win
dow. When shown into her presence
the knight informed her in state
" way that he had found papers that
established his claim as rightful heir
to the estate, that he had already tax
en- possession and would like her to
deliver the keys Immediately.
The princess's manner was astormal
as his own, and her tone as naughty,
when, after a 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 a signet ring.
The ring is always in possession OF
the rightful heir and that ring
have"
The knight was exceedingly angry
but he brought all his arts of fascina-
ton to bear upon the princess. think
ing to induce her to show him the
ring but all in vain. Quite out of pa
thence, at length he told her if she did
not give up the ring Immediately lie
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
ouaked with fear at even the thought
of this, and enveloping herself in her
linen wrap preceded the knight to the
arsenal that was high up in one OF the
western towers. Here behind a coat
of mail that was hanging upon the
wall she touched a spring that opened
a secret drawer within which was
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 OVID weakness in be-
ing frightened in her own castle, amid
her own people by stranger.
The knight. quite forgetting all 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 a coal of fire in the sun
light and was gone.
'.Mad girlP' shouted the knight, an
grilv. at has fallen into the moat y
and leaving the princess he rushed
down the starts.
With her heart beating wildly, and
her eyes sparkling with excitement
the young girl leaned out the narrow
J window and looked far below to where
} the gray walls of the strong square
tower were reflected in the still blacl
waters of the moat
"Ah what is that?" she cried. fol
lust below her, even within reach o
her hand the signet ring hung secure
" caught in the meshes of an ancient
closely woven spiders web. Although
the spider was close by, curiously re
3 garding this singular prey, the prin
cess did not mind, but reached dow
and secured the ring without feal
l AS she did so, standing there in front o
=, the portraits of her parents, she seeme'
r to hear their voices, explaining ono
more the significance of the ring, an
b setting forth her duty to all the de
pendent people living on her estate.
"To whom much is given niue
: shall be required" she said half alouC
"Dear me how selfish I have been,
J. and securing the ring to a chat
y fastened about her neck, she, too, ra
g down the winding stairs, quite regar'
. less of her linen wrap that lay forgo
u ten on the dusty oaken floor of tt
o gallery, and astonished her servan
by dispatching courier with lett
? to the crown prince.
: The knight meanwhile had set
the labOrers about the estate to ORA
the water off from the moat and sear'
the muddy bottom for the ring. VIII
. they were thus engaged, with Il
knight in the greatest excitement al
followed by his servant, pacing ba'
= and forth across the drawbridge,
. company Of horsemen arrived vi
had been sent from court. The Pri
!" cess Philippine met them in the 60
- ments, laces and jewels of her beau
fui mother and on one dimpled fng
" sparkled the signet ring.
n The grand old courtier who bow
- over her proffered hand, said: "Yo
= face and your bearing establish 20
"A identity for knew your parents a
grandparents, but this signet ring ST
j, stimulates your rightful ownership