The San Francisco call., 1898-11-27

might die and leave the other to drag out existence miserably in solitude, 10 old age They grew sad with tnlS thought and Alfred planned, secretly, to try to escape with Claribel 1T pos sible Claribel first learned of this plan when Alfred was asleep under ban van tree He talked aloud and Clarlbel heard and she was so frightened that she awoke him with her sobbing.
 GO not forth to sure death, my dear Alfred" she pleaded. If you were dead l would die with grief. While we are unhappy here. we are still together. Let us remain and perhaps King Va liant will yet send for us, being sorry for our sad fate.'
 Alfred did not believe that King Va liant would repent and he would not promise not to attempt to escape. Clar- ibel became so anxious that she would not consent to have him leave her for even a minute.
 By and by the giants who guarded the gates began to think that King Va liant would never send for his prisoners and they demanded that Alfred should open the gates and let them in, that they might feast upon the fruit and the fish and the game. Outside of the cas- tIe walls the country was a barren will derness haunted by ferocious wild beasts, who rOamed over great painless masses of gloomy looking stone. The giants beasts for food and the cries of the beasts and the shouts of the giants were dreadful Alfred turned a deaf ear to the threats and requests of the giants. But the new danger made him hasten his preparations to go away.
 First he made a tough yew bow and many arrows, and tipped the arrows with sharp barbs of fishbone. Then he made a coat of furs and lined the in side of the coat with pockets to carry food and drink for the journey; then he picked herbs for medicines. When he had made ready he told Claribel that he would try to escape with her. See ing that he was not to be dissuaded, Claribel agreed to go with him.
 But how will you get past the giants?" asked Claribel.
 ''To-morrow you shall see.
 All that day Alfred busted himself gathering fruits and the rarest flowers and game and fish. Late into the night the ovens of the castle roared, for AL fred was making a great feast for the giants The tables fairly gTOaEed with the weight of the good things that he placed upon them; and when Wreaths of flowers, prepared by the dainty fin- gers of Claribel, were used to decorate the banquet hall. and all the columns were wound with greens and flowers, and rare wines sparkled amid the nice viands, it must be confessed that AL fred and CIaribel had provided well to please the giants-for 1t was the pur- pose of Alfred to admit them to the castle and to make friends of them, if possible He well knew that there was great risk in this; for the ~iants, never having had any friends, knew nothing about friendship and they were even more ferocious than the wild beasts which roamed in the wilderness. But Alfred had his plan prepared to repay any treachery of which the giants might be guilty.
 When all was ready he requested CIaribel to dress in white and to place a wreath of flowers upon her head, that she might appear as beautiful as pos sible Then he caused her to stand at the door of the castle to welcome the giants when he should let them in. But, beware" he told Claribel, do not walk across the marble heart that is inlaid in the floor of the banquet room. I will act as the servant of the giants and will wait at the table. Sit you only in the chair that is covered with red. Make no answer to anything that Is said: but make it appear, when any question is asked you, that you are dumb.'
 Be sure, dear love" answered the beautiful Claribel. that l will do as you have said, and pray that the day may not part us forever"
 ''Tut, tut, no tears.' commanded AL fred: ''rnen do not like tears and your beauty must be at it's best to-day"
 With that he went out and parleyed with the giants, and they promised to let him and CIaribel go '~-th freely.
 (To be concluded next week)
 D. H. W.