The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-07-31

ND and cry for Vor0 I'LL the Walls TO
echoed as though the dead bones around
had sprung up to life and shouted her
name Then he would cry: ut Is
dream There Is no Vera" But her
image would return to him SO clearly that
the delusion vanished
Meanwhile Vera. sitting where she had
fallen. weeping bitterly and in fear.
awaited the return of the ogre. He came
at last, laundering along the passage and
looked into the room.
Princess Vera" he said grimly, you
have broken your promises which you
gave me. Now hear me. Tomorrow at
daybrcak you shall 60 TO the Giant Of the
West to wed him. Tomorrow, also at
daybreak, the dainty prince shall die"
So saying. he bolted the door and went
noisily to his room. For long time Vera
sat weeping, and at last night came.
Through a grated window overhead she
could see darkness coming down. Soon
the little stars burst through the sky.
and gradually growing brightness iii
the blue darkness told her the moon was
climbing up her path OF light. The soft
moonbeams stole into the room. They
only made Vera more sad, for they re
minded her that when the moon should
disappear from the sky. and day break
over the world, her fate would be fulfilled
and her misery complete. So she only
wept the more. Suddenly the room
seemed brighter and, looking up. she
saw large moonbeam floating In at the
window. and carrying in with it Il beauti-
full little figure. clad in fine green gauze,
and with crown of jewels like tiny
needle points in her loose golden hair. In
her right hand she carried a little golden
wand, tipped with a minute gem. Her
feet were encased in delicate green Silk
slippers, and her chariot was sweet bud
of blue bell.
She came forward in the room and said:
"Do not weep. o Princess Vera am
the Fairy Voma, princess among fairies.
and having seen your woes from my
palace in the moon, am hear to save you.
Open that door, walk out to the garden
where you met the beautiful prince, and
ere the moon goes down to rest your
prince will be with you, and you will 10
safe"
But you forget, most kind fairy, said
Vera, half smiling through her tears,
that there are locks and bars, and sen
tries TO be overcome, and | shall try in
vain Nay, my uncle, the ogre, may hear
me and STAY me"
"IIa, hal" laughed the fairy, with
laugh like the Jingle of silver bells. Take
this blue bell. and 10 door, though bolted
with all the bolts of earth, shall refuse to
open, no sentinel presume to wake, and
as for thy uncle, tho ogre, leave him to
me-"
But the prince began Vera.
"Gol" said the fairy, and leave him
also to me.
So Vera went; and To- every door
turned on its hinges as though no bolt had
ever been there, and she passed on, and
every sentry slept the sOunder as she
passed. On she went, and paused not
till she was safe beyond the walls and at
the spot where she lad met the prince,
and there she waited.
The fairy, meanwhile, went to the
princes cell. and she awoke him from
slumber, saying: Arise, o prince No
longer Jewebrand but Lovingheart
Arise, and go forth to meet the princess
who awaits thee where we met Lol am
the Fairy Voma, a princess among fairies
come to help yo both. Arise and go! and,
when We meet, pause not but flee to thy
home And he arose, and lo every door
turned and let him pass, and the sentries
slumbered and heard him not. So he
went forth and met Vera and kissed her
in the moonlight; and Vera and he, paus-
ing not. fled away westward, marveling
what Fairy Voma would do to Ogre Ugo.
Now, when Voma entered the ogre's
room, the ogre sat in his chair asleep;
and, as he slept, his long shaggy beard
and mustache waved like banners with
his heavy breathing. The fairy smiled,
and, taking a jewel from her crown, she
pressed it between her hands and crum-
bled it into dust. The moon was nearly
set Voma took the dust and sprinkied
it over the ogre's mustache and head, and
then sprang upon moonbeam, which was
stealing from the chamber, and in mo-
ment she was flashed back to her fairy
sphere.
AT the same instant the ogre, inhaling
deep breath, drew up his nostriis the
minute fairy dust and emitted Il sneezc
like thousand thunders. Sneeze after
sneeze. rolled forth The castle rocked
and groaned, the roof cracked, and then.
with crash that woke half the world
from sleep, down fell the whole massive
building and crushed the ogre and his
sentinels into nothingness. So persisted
Ogre Ugo.
Vera and Prince Lovingheart heard the
crash, and felt the earth shudder at the
shock. They fled the faster and reached
the princes home after many days jour
neying. There Vera and he were married,
and war was carried on against the Giant
of the West-now the last of the giants
and he fell before the princes sword.
And when the old king died the prince be.
came king, and lived to see sons and
grandsons, and daughters and grand
daughters playing around the royal foot
stool Lauchlan MacLean Watt in
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