The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-06-23
A STRANGE ADVENTURE.


charming story one Redclosk becomes
the hero of pretty tale in which he re-
lstes his strange adventures with little
dwarf. One night while at one OF those
quaint German inns, very fine carriage
drove up, and as there seemed to be none
present to hand the occupant out our
hero stepped to the door, and 10! there
appeared beautiful lady, unattended
The traveller was not averse TO accepting
his polite offer, and tripping from the car
riage to the inn she requested him to
carry to her room box which she had
brought with her, giving special caution
to handle it fright side up, with care" as
we mark express packages that are to be
thrown about. The box was carried into
the room and then they had supper to-
gether and parted. The next day they
met again, when, getting better acquaint-
ed, his newly found friend invited Red
cloak to go on with her as travelling
companion. The offer was gladly accept
ed. At the same time our hero was put
in special charge of the precious box, and
given peculiar key that would unlock
any room in which the box was to be
carefully placed, and once withdrawn
from the door, no other key would fit it
What was there mysterious about this
box? Well, wait little and you shall
see!
Sometimes his fair lady would disap-
pear for days together, and then, still SUBJ
ject to her orders, he would take the box
carefully into the carriage and go on alone
When we nseded money all he had to do
was to thrust bis hand into pouch on
one side of the vehicle, and lol there was
plenty of gold that never failed; or on
the left, a pocket of exhaustless silver!
Sometimes when he had reached an inn
room alone, suddenly his fair companion
would appear at the door as if she had
just dropped down from heaven OF
course he was always delighted to see
her, bat her strange vanishing and ap-
pearing made him very curious to clear
the mystery surrounding her, until one
night when riding alone, the box before
him rs usual on the opposite seat, sud-
denly he saw flash of light through
crack in it! Drawing so near that his
nose almost touched the box, he peered
through the chink, and what do you think
he saw? Why, inside was complete
room with pictures, fireplace, lamps
burning, table and chair, and in the lat
ter who should be sitting but the very
lady who was sometimes by his side, only
she was now the daintiest little bit OF a
thing He was carrying her about, house
and all, in that boxl Soon the light went
out, the carriage arrived at an inn, the
box was placed in room as usual, and
he was left alone to dream of the strange
sight until morning. Then he told her
what he had discovered and she confess
ed that she was naturally dwarf, some
times appearing in mortal stature, and
that she was princess of royal family
among the dwarfs who lived far away in
the hooks OF the mountains. She was
travelling in search OF husband, and if
he would consent to become dwarf she
would take him back to her mountain
| home and show him all the strange sights
among her people.
Now Redcloak hardly fancied the idea
of being 30 little, but he was full of an
adventurous spirit, and he liked the prin-
cess so much that he could hardly stay
away from her. Accordingly he agreed
to become dwarf, and they got into
the carriage and away they went, miles
and miles, until at last they arrived
at secluded place among the mountains.
Here they stepped out into the grass near
cave, and the princess took his hand
and slipped magic ring on his finger.
As he felt the tightening pressure he be-
gan to endure great torture, and at the
same time shrank and shrank until he
became as small as the little princess by
his side. The grass around them now
seemed an endless forest of great trees
through which the two picked their way
until they came to miniature palace.
Here number of musicians were play
ing and a regiment of the tiniest SOL
diers imaginable advanced to escort the
couple to the king. or course, they were
received in royal style, and feast with
the daintiest dishes and bits of food was
spread in their honor. Then it became
known through the palace that the prin-
cess had brought home husband, and
the wedding day was announced. But
before its arrival, Redcioak had seen
everything in the dominions OF the Lilipu-
tisns, aud besides, the more he thought of
it the less he fRncied the notion of being
dwarf all his days, although the hus-
band OF princess. So the day before
the event was TO come off, he tried to run
away in the tall grass, but a multitude
OF little ants sent out by the kings Or
ders to find the wanderer brought him
back. Once in a while there is an I'M
willing bridegroom, and our here was one.
But when the hour came at last, he stood
up like q man, 30 to speak, and became
the little husband of the little princess.
There were the usual congratulstion, the
presents, the kisses, and royal feast was
served, the plates being no larger than a