The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1895-02-11

lowers and i'm spite of her cries AID tears
and her parents protestations, ciriied her
off and locked her up in the tower OF ms
castle.
Her parents were nearly distr AGED. End
did not know what to do. AT last ls1iolph
said:
Come, let us go to the prince. To-day he
is to be crowned king, and ne VII su-eV
hear prayers, anu have oar uduSnter
restored to US.
30 uonnlng their best apparel, they has
tened INTO the town. The streets were fined
with people all in their holiday attire, talk
ing ana laughing, and every once III while
shouting, Long live the KING.
Our Two frlenuS were too SAD To take part
in the merrlment around them. but hurried
to 'he street. where the procession was To
pass, and, taking their stand, waited for
the approach oil the king.
at last, with much bio".ng of trumpets
and wastRy, CT nags, The procession came
by.
When the coach in which sat the king
WAS opposite them, RudUlpA and his wILe
rushed out into the street and, dropping on
tkeI: knees cried out:
PITY, on, noble prince; pity us and hear
cur prayers"
The new king, who was very kind man,
ordered his coach to be stopped and com
anded Rudolph and his wife to be brought
to him. that he might hear what they de-
sired of him.
Now it so happened that the wood
cutter came towards the coach with his
hands clasped before him. the rays of the
sun fell on the ring given him by the bear,
and which he always wore. lighting 1T up SO
that it shone with great brlliancy.
When the king saw it he started back, ex-
Claiming:
who are you. ana ~vhere did you get
the ring on your hand?"
Sire" said Rudolph Ell am a poor wood
cutter, by name HudDiDh This ring was
gwen to me many years ago by poor bear
VINO had been badly wounded and whom
we took in and cared for until ne recOv-
cred When he was leaving he gave me
this ring, telling me to wear it always,
and that some day it might serve me 4
good turn"
"Ah!" said the king, lit is the same and
you are that Rudolph to whom l owe my
life"
Then, seeing the look of establishment on
the face of Rudolph and his wife, he con-
tnuCd: But come, get in the coach and
go with me to my palace and 1 will tell
you nay story and endeavor to show you Il
little of the gratitude L feel for you.
Now" sad The king, when they had
arrived at the palace. 4 will explain what
seemed to antonlsh you SO much, and TO
do SO l must so back to the time when L
was a very small child.
But in the trst pace you must know
that the bear you so kindly sheltered ana
cared for and myself are one and the SAME.
For many years l was under the enchant-
ment OF a wicked fairy and IL is only
short time since / resumed my natural
form. This was the way 1t happeucd:
Nnen l was about nve years of age, my
father, VINO then king of tins country,
mad occasion to so on long journey. AS
lie was returning home about noon of the
second day. he passed by 4 magnificent
orCn1rd, and, feeling hungry, he
"a sd md ,,F trUIif
Now this orchard belonged a fairy
who never allowed any one to touch the
fruis but herself, ana coming upon my
father just he was remounting his
horse. with some in his hand, she became
fur.ously angry, and though my father
begged her pardon and offered her any
thing she wanted in payment, she would
not listen to him.
To revenge herself she changed me into
a bear and ordered that l should roam
about The world wild beast until my
fathers death and my own accession TO
the throne.
This, as you know. has lately occurred,
AMI while L mourn for my dear father l
also rejoice at recovering my natural form.
You already know hoy you cared for me
when | was sick and wounded, ana now il
remains for me TO show that l have not
forgotten what | owe to you.
But come, tell me OF yourself and why
7 find you here? and what has become of
my old playmate, the little Freida?'
Then Rudolph related how he had left
his old home and had taken up his abode
in this far-off country. and then told of
how this great baron had stolen the little
Freida and that they had come that
morning to implore his help in rescuing
her.
When the king heard what had befallen
his little playmate he babe them take
courage. for he would soon have her re-
stored TO Them
So calling together his soldiers and vas
sails, he set out together with Rudolph, at
the head of a long rctinue of men and