Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1886-01-09

0oio VI you, Out that NAV not be |
strange. Pray make yourself comfort
able and give orders that the rooms |
you may choose for your own NAV be
thoroughly swept and busted and
made free from spiders, for I suppose
there is not in the world such another
spder-invaded place as this same old
Castle Philippi."
Day by day the knight made him
self at home about the premises, Civ
ing orders to the servants and mana
ging as if the estate was his own. hut
when he began to make free with all
the secret drawers and papers in the
great library, sitting over them until
lar into the night, the old servants
shook their heads and said, one to an
other. "Ah, his presence here bodies
no good"
After some weeks he demanded an
other audience with the princess, who
by this time had almost forgotten his
existence, so taken up was she in
watching to ascertain if indeed spi-
der had taken 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 TAX
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 a little pause, she replied:
"Sir Knight, doubtless thou ant 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
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
thence, 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 enveiopinI herself in her
linen wrap preceded the knight to the
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
secret drawer within which was
small golden key. With this key
closely clenched in her han !, and The
willy knight close at her side. size pro
ceeded to the great picture gallery
There behind the ife-slze portrait O.
her own beautiful mother she found
another secret drawer. and taking
therefrom an ivory casket she unlock
ell it with the golden key, disclosin.
the coveted prize.
Let me examine it, please entreat
ed the knight,
Never" cried the princess. nov
that che ring was in her hand, impress
ed by the instructions regarding it sh
had received from her parents. an'
dsmayed at her own weakness in be
ing frightened in her own castle, annie
her own people 10y stranger.
The knight quite forgetting all hi:
assumed courtly ways. sprang to tax
? it from her, when. quick as thought
/ narrow windows that the knight ha
e opened on account of the closenes
f of the air, in the loag d;susel gallery
t II dashed like coal Of fire N the sun
i light and WAS gone.
. Mad girl ;" shouted the knight. AZ
T grily. 1T has fallen into the moat
and leaving the PRINCESS he rushe
h down the starts
% With her heart beating wildly, an
G her eyes sparkling with eXcitemen
= the youlr r,rl leaned ont the narrU'