Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1888-10-06
V0MA AND VERA

earth, on a clear night, people could see
the gorgeous pillars Of her palace shining
in their lonely splendor. 1t is, however, u
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 emains of 1t.
From her palace Voma used TO visit tho
earth by sliding down a moonbeam, and
then people would wonder what marvel had
taken place, for night was made 50 lovely,
and earth seemed under such q spell Of
bliss. During her visit TO this world she
went into palaces novels, and she
always, by some means known TO herself,
rectified errors and helped the miserable
and oppressed.
Now, at this time, In the remote east,
there lived an ogre named Ugo. He had
a great, gloomy castle surrounded by high
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 darksome 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
| OETt, ullI BIG liza DSt NCd tilC liliotllto
Of the capsives. Being possessed of
a power Of doing universal good, she, by
a spell, caused the desert round Ugo's
castle to blossom in one night into a 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 q fair young princess
,on,aI Noro NINA h.inn liant Il, ,-nptla ~ n
tivity. She was the giants niece, and
was the only person to whom he had over
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 avcrted; and day by day Voma,
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 to 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 a!2o said: Promise me not TO
speak to any stranger, else the same
doom shall fall upon we both" And Vera
promised, but under her breath she
prayed TO all good fairies for help.
The next morning she YVES walking In
the garden singing a low, mournful song,
while her uncle, the ogre, was asleep In
his chamber. She was near the road that
led by the limit OF the garden, when she
heard footsteps and a voice singing mer-
rily. She looked up and saw u youth Of
p~rincely appearance, who paused beside
the hedge and gazed upon her with eyes
fun of admiration. He was about her
own age, tail and graceful, with dark
eyes and high, sunburnt brow, crowned
with a wealth Of brown hair, that fell In
waves over his temples. Lis sandals
were dust stained as If he had come a
long journey. He had a plain, broad belt
around his waist, from which hung a
short sword, whose hilt was one bright
jewel-the only ornament about his person.
Vera felt his eyes burning into her soul,
and felt half impelled 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 feel
thou art n prince, Behold me. the
Princess Vera, captive to Ogre Ugo.
There are his towers, and none who enter
therein again behold the sun. Pass on
thy way and do not pause or death will be
thine"
He answered her, Il am the Prince
Jewelbrand come out OF the far west.
Tell me, oh, Princess Vera, what hast
thou done that Ogre Ugo should hold
thee hereY'
Vera said to him. "Oh, brave prince,
both thy life and mine are imperiled by
our speaking. Ugo is my uncle and will
have me marry the Giant Of the West,
and / would die rather. Day after day |
linger here and pray to all good fairies for
relief. Day after day ! seem to pray in
vain, and ! fear at every moment that my
fate may be fulfilled. Pass on then. noble
prince, imperil not myself for me-"
But he replied firmly, Nay, but I will
free thee, though death should follow.
Fair princess, ] shall hasten to my own
land, whence | shall return with brave
warriors who will break the ogrc's halls
asunder and take thee forth"
Vera blushed, and, after a moments
thought, said: ''Go, then, fair youth, and
fortune follow thy steps" Then the
p-lnce clasped her to him and kissed hel
on both cheeks.
Just at that moment they felt the
ground under them tremble, and a great
shadow stood between them and the sun.
Looking up they saw the ogre, who an
grily lifted them and carried them into
the castle. He thrust Vera into u very
small room, and then going away with
the prince he flung him into a deep under.
ground cell, having first taken his sword
away from him. "Lie there and rot, Oh
toy princel" he said, and turning q huge
lock he left him.
Stunned O little at first, the prince be-
gan to recover and to move around his
cell. 1t was very dark, but he could feel
a great many objects lying on the damp
floor, and when his hand slipped on some
thing round and cold, which he knew to
be a scull, he at once felt he was cropping
among the remains Of the poor prisoners
who had persisted there before him. He
wondered if he should be the next whose
bones should crumble there in darkness.
He 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 he absolutely must escape
not for his own sake, but for Vera's, and
then he cursed the place ind the crue.
ogre who had cast him there to die. Their