Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-08-23
VOMA AND VERA.

the gorgeous pillars Of her palace shining
il their lonely splerdor 1t is, however, a
long time since the beautiful fairy De
parted from the scenes Of her labors, and
her palace has for ages been lying in ruin,
although in fine weather we may still see
the remains Of it.
From her palace Voma used to visit the
earth by sliding down a moonbeam, and
/ then people would wonder what marvel had
taken pl.ce, for night was made SO lovely,
and earth seemed under such q spell Of
bliss During her visit to this world she
went into palaces and novels, and she
ALWAYS, BY some means knswn to herself,
rectifed errors and helped the miserable
and oppressed.
| Now, at this time, in the remote east,
! there lived an ogre named Cgo. He had
a great, gloomy castle surrounded by hi Oh
walls, and containing many dismal cells,
into which he had thrust thousands Of
poor creatures, in his cruelty, and they
never looked again upon the sun. Into
these darkSone dens the light of day
never penetrated, and sad indeed was he
whose lot it might be to be cast into
them. Voma had been IN this castle; she
had been through it unknown to the
ogre, and she had observed the miseries
of the captives. Being possessed of
a power Of doing universal good, she, by
a spell, caused the desert round Jgo' 5
castle to blossom IL one night into beau
tiful garden, from which the wind, carry
ing the sweet smells Of the flowers, blew
into the castle and refreshed the poor,
weary prisoners in their misery.
In Ugo's castle fair young princess
named Vera was being kept in gentle cap
tivity. She was the giants niece, and
was the only person to whom he had ever
been kindly He wished her TO marry
the Giant of the West, who was very
cruel and ate human beings Naturally
Vera was opposed to this, but she paci-
fed her uncle by not directly refusing, in
the hope that the fate he planned for her
might be averted; and day by day Vona,
the fairy, was watching her, and had
woven around her spell by which neither
bird nor beast nor flower nor any living
mortal could harm her.
Vera was not confined to the castle, but
was allowed to roam at will in the garden.
The ogre, however, said 10 her: Promise
me not to go beyond the garden. for
shall watch, and IN the hour thou goest
thou shalt die" So Vera promised Her
uncle also said: Promise me not 10
speak to any stranger, else the same
doom shall fall upon ye both" And Vera
promised, but under her breath she
prayed TO all good fairies for help.
The next morning she was walking IN
the garden singing a low, mournful song.
while her uncle, the ogre, was asleep II
his chamber. She was near the road that
led by the limit Of the garden, when she
heard footsteps and voice singing me--
rily. She looked up and saw q youth of
princely appearance, who paused beside
the hedge and gazed upon her with eyes
full of admiration He was about her
own age. tall and graceful, with dark
eyes and high, sunburnt brow. crowned
with wealth Of brown hair, that fell in
waves over his temples. His sandals
were dust stained as if he had come
long journey. He had a plain, broad belt
around his waist, from which hung a
short sword, whose hilt was one bright
iewel-the only ornament about his person
F-era felt his eyes burning into her soul,
and felt half inpelled to tell him her
woes, and ask his help; but remembering
the promise and the threat, she raised her
face and said, "Oh, gentle youth l feel
thou art q prince. Behold ne, the
Princess Vera. captive to Ogre UEo.
There are his towers. and none who enter
therein again behold the sun. Pass on
thy way and do not pause or death viii be
thine"
He answered her, II an the Prince
Jewelbrand come out of the far west
Tell me. oh. Princess Vera, what hast
thou done that Ogre Ugo should hold
thee here?'
Vera said to him. "Oh, brave prince,
both thy life and mine are imperiled By
our speaking. Ugo is my uncle and VIII
have ne marry the Giant Of the West,
and would die rather. Day after day
Hnger here and pray TO all good fairies for
relief Day after day seem 10 pray in
vain. and fear at every moment that my
fate may be fulfilled. Pass on then, noble
prince, iDperil not thyself for ne"
But he replied firmly NAY. but viii
free thee, though death should follow.
Fair princess, shall hasten TO ny own
land, whence / shall return with brave
warriors who viii break the ogre's halls
ssunder AID take thee forth"
Vera blusbed, and, after a moments
thought, said: Go, then. fair youth, and
fortune follow thy steps" Then the
prince clasped her to him and kissed her
on both cheeks.
Just at that moment they felt the
ground under them tremole and great
shadow stood between them and the sun.
Looking up they sew the ogre, who an
grily lifted them and Carried them into
the castle He thrust Vera into very
small room, and then going away with
the prince he flung him into deep under
ground cell, having first taken his sword
away from him Lie there and rot, Oh
toy prince he said. AID turning 8 huge
lock he left him.
Stunned little st first. the prince be-
gan TO recover and to move around his
cell Il was very dark. but he could feel
8 great many objects living on the damp
floor, and when his hand slipped on some
thing round and cold, which he knew 70
be scuI, he o. once felt lie was groPinE
sclolg the remains CT the poor prisoners
who lad persisted there before him he
wondered II he should be the next whose
bones should c-cuble there II darkness
lie also wondered what would be the fate
Of poor Princess Vera and In the dark
dungeon his love for her grew deeper.
He felt that lie absolutely must escape.
not for his own sake, but fo- Neras and
then he cursed the place and he cruel
eyre who had cast him there 20 Gle. Then
lie would lie hal. dazed, but would start
up and cry for Vera till TIE walls re
echoed as though the dead bones around
had sprung Up to life and shoated Ter
name. Then he would c-y: 1t IS q
dream There is 10 Vera" Bat her
ima9e would return TO him so clear TIA.
the delusion vanished
Meanwhile Vera, sitting where size had
fallen, weeping bitterly and II fea-,
svvaftai she -s-r-~ ~ -ha ORA Ee ca-1A