Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-03-27

A FAIRY TALE.

A vagabond, with bare feet and hair
floating on the wind, passed along the
street before the palace of the king. He
was very young and very beautiful, with
golden curls, great black eyes and
mouth as fresh as rose after the rain.
AS if the sun took pleasure in shining
upon him, he had more light and JOY upon
his rags than the noble danes and gentle
men, grouped in the court of honor, had
upon their satins, brocades and velvets.
''Oh, but she is beautiful cried he,
suddenly stopping before the palace,
where he saw the Princess Rosalind tax
ing the air at her window. And really it
was impossible to find anything on earth
more beautiful than the princess.
Immovable, with his arms raised to-
ward the lattice, as if to an opening into
the heavens where they entered into Para
disc, he stood there, and would have re-
NAMED so all night if the guards had not
chased him away with their halberds and
their hard words.
He went with bent head and faltering
steps, Everything was dark before and
around him-the sky, the trees, the
fiowers-since he could no longer see
Rosalind. He thought the sun was dead.
He sat down under an oak at the entrance
to the wood and began to cry.
"Why are you SO unhappy, my child?'
asked an old woman who came out of the
forest, her back bent under load of dried
fagots.
"What good would it do to tell you, my
good woman? You can do nothing for
me-"
t'May be You deceive yourself" said the
bag. At the same time she arose and
threw off her load of fagots. She was no
longer an old woman, but most beauti-
full fairy, dressed in a robe of silver, her
hair wreathed with flowers and precious
stones and her voice sweeter than the song
of the birds.
ooh, good fairy" cried the vagabond
falling on his knees, ''have pity on my
misfortune! / have seen the daughter of
the king standing at her window and my
heart is no longer my own. feel that 1
can love no other woman"
s'GoodI" said the fairy, s'but that is not
such dreadful misfortune"
1T is for me, for shall die if do not
become the husband of the princess"
'Well, what prevents your becoming
her husbandS She is not betrothed to any
one."
''Oh, madame, look at my rags, at my
bare feet. / am but poor beggar of the
streets"
should not be loved-even devotedly loved.
Make wish and it shall be fulfilled"
II wish to be the most powerful prince
on the earth, SO that l can marry the
princess that adore"
$50 be it," said the fairy with sigh;
~ only hope you may be happy" Then
with golden rod she touched him on the
shoulder and straightway the beggar was
changed into q magnificent prince, daz-
cling in silk and jewels and mounted On
splendid charger at the head of troop of
plumed courtiers and warriors with golden
armor and trumpeters proclaiming his
rank.
So great a prince is always well re-
ceived at any court The father Of Rosa
lind treated him with most distinguished
consideration. For a whole week balls
and fetes of every kind were gotten up in
his honor; but he cared nothing for all
these pleasures.
Every hour of the day and the night he
thought of Rosalind. When he saw her
he felt his heart overflow with delight;
when he heard her speak he thought be
listened to the music of the angels; and
once, when she gave him her hand in the
dance, he came near swooning outright.
Yet there was one thing which troubled
him; she whom he loved SO dearly did not
appear to take the least notice Of his devo-
ton; she was nearly always silent and
melancholy. Nevertheless he persisted in
the demand he had made upon the king
and queen for her hand, and you may be
sure the royal parents took god care not
to refuse so desirable a husband for her.
And thus the vagabond that was was
about to marry the most beautiful princess
in the world. So great was his happiness,
SO wild his delight when the king gave
his consent that he INDUCED in the most
eNtravagant capers, little in keeping with
the dignity of his rank, and with trifling
encouragement he would have danced the
can-can all alone, in the presence of the
whole court.
Alas, this great Joy was of short dura-
toni On pain of disobeying the royal and
paternal will, Rosalind one day fell faint
ing into the arms of her maids Of honor,
and when she revived declared with sobs,
and wringing her hands, that she would
never marry-that she would kill herself
before she would marry the prince.
More desperate than one is able to ex-
press, the unhappy lover-in spite of ETH
to the chamber where
they had carried the princess, fell upon
his knees, and extending his arms toward
her, cried: "Cruel one, take back those
words which kill mes"
Slowly opening her eyes, she languidly,
but firmly, replied:
prince, nothing can overcome my res
olution-I will never marry you"
''What! You have the barbarity to tear
a heart that is all yours! What crime
have committed to merit such punish
ments Do you doubt my love for you'
Do YOU fear that / shall cease to adore
you? All, if you could only read my
heart, you would no longer have any
doubts or fears; and if you cannot be
moved by my entreaties, will find way
to remedy my woes. Give me hope,
princess or shall die here at your feet" :
He was carried away by his love, and
said anything and everything that the
most violent grief could inspire in break
ing heart
Rosalind was touched by his entreaties,
and said: Unhappy prince, if my pity in
stead of my love can be any consolation
to you l give it most willingly. l am
much more inclined to your entreaties
because / endure myself the same tor
ments that you suffer"
"What is it you say, princess"
"Alas, il / refuse to marry you it is be-
cause / love another without hope-a
young vagabond with bare feet and hair
floating on the wind, who passed before
the palace one day and regarded me with
tender, loving eyes, but has never re-
turned Him only Will l marry, but no
other"
Overcome by amasement and despair