Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-10-05

noise, SIS of thunder, and to her dismav, she
saw the wtch's lions rushing toward her.
She quickly reached for the honey cakes;
but they were gone, and the basket was
empty. Hearing the rustling in the branches
of the tree, she looked up and saw peering
through the leaves the ugly distorted face
OF dwarf, who said, in q sharp, piercing
voice:
"Queen, you are in great danger; how
can you hope to escape the lions, when you
have no sword?''
my honey cakes would have tanned the
furious beasts" said the Queen; "but 1
have lost them. Oh, save me from this
terrible DEATH
''On one condition shall I save you" re-
piled the dwari; "when your daughter,
Rosa, is 16 years old, you must give her to
me for ten years."
The Queen shuddered at the thought of
giving her beautiful daughter to this
hideous creature; but the lions came nearer
and nearer, and in her terror, the Queen
cried: "Save me, and 1 shall give you my
daughter"
She then fell into death-like swoon, and
when she revived she was in her own room
in the castle. And now the Queen fell very
i'll, and although the most learned physi-
the suffering one Then the Princess Rosa,
who dearly loved her mother, was sore dis
tressed, and thought: III my mother could
only be restored to health, never again
should 1 trouble her with my wilful ways.
1 shall go to the old witch in the desert.
She has healed others, and surely she will
not turn me away"
The Princess then prepared the honey
cakes for the hons, and began her danger
Gus journey. 1t happened that on the way
to the desert stood an orange tree loaded
with large, ripe oranges. The Princess
placed her basket on the ground and began
to pluck the luscious fruit But at the
same instant the roar of the lions sounded
with such force that the earth trembled,
Rosa FASTENED to her basket, only to find 1t
empty, and the honey cakes were nowhere
to be seen. Then the Princess wruup her
hands in despair and cried out with terror,
In a moment the dwarf stood before her, and
the lions became quiet and gentle and ap-
preached no nearer
"Whv do YOU cry so loud, and for what
reason do you come here?" asked the dwarf.
Rosa told him that she was on her way to
the old witch of the desert to ask the cause of
her mothers illness.
'Then YOU need 60 no further" said the
dwarf; the Queen is only grieving because
she has promised :hat when you are 16 you
shall spend ten wears with me-"
81 cannot believe that" said the Princess;
"for it is not possible that my mother should
promise me to so ugly creature as you,"
Il have spoken the TRUTH" said the
dWarti 'and unless you also give your con-
sent shall leave you to be devoured by the
lions"
And again the furious beasts began to
roar in such a irightful manner that the
Princess cried: Save me and shall do as
you DESIRE"
Immediately both the dwarf and the lions
disappeared, and the Princess sadly returned
home. Rosa went at nnce to her mother and
related her adventures with the dwarf.
And now, dear mother" she said, "you
must grieve no more; Tor have thought of
plan to escape this dread ul tate. 1 shall
go to distant lands, beyond the power of
this wicked dwarf, and there shall remain
for the ten years."
From that time the Queen began to i'm
prove, and when she had entirely recovered
the Princess made her preparations for the
long journey. AT last the day came when
Rosa should say goOdby to her home and
friends. The royal coach stood at the door.
and just as the Princess was about to enter.
four peacOcks appeared drawing a small red
chariot, in which sat the witch of the des-
ert At the same moment the dwarf him.
sell riding on a huge yellow wildcat rushed
into the courtyard and demanded the Prin-
cess. Then the brave Prince Henry, draw
ing his sword, stepped forth and cried: "Be
gone, wicked people, and leave nv sister in
peace, or IShall pierce you with my sword"
But the witch laughed scorntully and