Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1899-04-03

that the bad news is gently broken to
her."
Certainly not" said the king, EN-.
phatically. "My niece is alone an
swerable for her death, and she made
herself so thoroughly disliked during
her brief visit here that will not be
put to the expense of embaming her.
The Princess Alicia never was favor
ite of mine, and will not allow one
penny to be spent in buying the neces-
sary drugs and spices. / do not care
what happens to her. If you think
she is still worthy of being treated
with ceremony, then you must arrange
it among yourselves. care not"
The lord chamberlain then slg-
gested to the council of state that the
princess be packed in sugar and sent
to her mother with the annual gift of
preserves from the king.
This plan seemed to be so sensible
that everyone expressed himself will
ing to try it, and accordingly the body
of the princess was conveyed out OF
the palace and placed where the rays
of the sun would shine upon it, While
this was being done the chancellor
had an oblong- shaped box made for
him, and when it was ready they laid
the poor princess gently inside it,
then they thickly sprinkled her with
the finest sugar they could obtain and
carefully closed the lid
When the sweets were placed in the
still-room of Alicia's mothers palace
by its keeper the latters boy hungered
for them. At midnight he stole into
the apartment and began to eat But
q noise in one of the boxes alarmed
him and he screamed in terror. His
father coming to his rescue found
the princess sitting bolt upright in the
coffin.
"Your royal highness," he gasped
in astonishment. "What are you
doing here?" Then he recollected
what terrible temper the princess
possessed, and he feared that she
would naturally be vexed at finding
herself packed among the dried fruits,
so, in order to prevent a scene, he
humbly threw himself at her feet.
Pardon, princess" he entreated.
lp bhiOuSh uO lulu VI luaU
you were sent home in this condition.
L cannot understand how it occurred"
But, to his amazement, the princess
smiled upon him before she spoke,
and when she did so there was not one
trace of annoyance in her voice.
''There is nothing to forgive" she
said, kindly. 81 can't remember what
brought me TO this plight; but 1 am
sure you are not responsible for it.
Perhaps u note has been sent to me.
Let us seek it,"
So the keeper of the still room rum
mayed among the sugar, and present
ly he came upon the letter lying in
very crumpled condition at the bot
tom of the box. The princess read
the paper quietly through, and then
she looked heartily ashamed OF her.
self.
"You had better see it, I Think"
she said, shyly. cor stay, will read
it aloud. Listen.
GO TO her most gracious majesty the
Queen of Oden. Madam-On behalf
of the members Of the council of state,
l beg to forward herewith the pre-
served remains of your daughter, the
Princess Alicia, and also to inform
you that she met her death in an un-
expected mannm on Monday last.
Owing IT, the many unnecessary quar-
rels that took place in the palace dur
ing the period of her royal highness's
visit, his majesty, the King of Inany,
considers that he is entitled to refuse
to be put to any expense concerning
the young lady, therefore we, the
members of the state council, have en-
deavored to please you by embalming
the princess in suitable way, and
trust that you will forgive any slight
sickness the sugar may cause
Filialen, Chancellor
When the princess came to the end
of this extraordinary document she
sighed. 81 am afraid 1 have been
very tiresome," she said, regretfully.
"But at last am changed. I do not
think [ could be cross now, however
much 1 might wish to. What can
have caused this alteration, I won
der?"
Perhaps it is the sugar. suggested
the keeper of the still room, and the
princess clapped her hands.
"Yes; that must be it," she de-
clared. "The sweetness of the sugar
has so entered into my system while 1
lay in that box that it has completely
Transformed my nature. It must have
been fit of rage that so nearly killed
me, but how glad I am to be alive
still, although am very hungry. l
will never lose my temper again.
And the princess kept her word so
thoroughly that those about her never
even saw her frown, and her great i'm
provement was discussed all over the
city. Her cure had been so marvel
Gus that it became the fashion to wear
little lump of sugar around the neck
as charm against rage, and very soon
the country over which the princess
| reigned gained n reputation for not