The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-12-03
MACEIETTE.

thought she would go and battle in the
lake near the waterfall. As she APP
preached the bank she looked musingly
a long time at the water-deep. clear, III
multuous-for Madelette was the daugh-
ter of a water elf. and the fury of the
cataract was TO her sweet music She
disrobed placed her dainty clothes I'M
der a willow tree. and splashing gayly
into the lake swan from end TO end as
easily and gracefully as a swan. For a
whole hour she played in the running
water, unconscious OF everything save
that she was very happy
After she had enjoyed herself for a
while. she returned to the bank, for il
vas now late. and that evening she was
going TO the ball OF Titania- But. alas.
Inc crafty wind. like a thief. had carried
the clothes away on his wing, and Made
lette searched for them in vain. She
was angry when she heard the deceitful
breeze rustling the branches overhead.
happy TO see her so beautiful and white
and laughing mockingly as II 10 applaud
the success Of its trick. But her anger
did not bring back the clothes. and il
was cruel fer the gentle bather 10 have
TO so through the fields as little dressed
as a lily. Truly, she was very much
ashamed, and she felt a great chagrin
also as she thought Of the dance. for it
is not customary for young girls 10 go to
a nance without any robe But happily
along the path she came to an old tree
with large, smooth leaves on it.
Take one of my branches. poor little
girl. said the tree, and make yourself
a dress of my foliage
Madelette chose the branch thickest
with leaves, but try as she would she
could not make them stay on her skin
They fell to the earth, although they
would gladly have remained attached 10
so pretty, snowy white a body Made
lette in despair continued her walk, car
rying the branch with her. At a turn OF
the lane she saw a thornbush, which
seemed to realize at once the trouble she
was in.
My sister, said the kind shrub. take
some OF my thorns. and they will serve
you as pins TO fasten your gown"
The fingers of Madelette seized upon
the sharp points and tried TO force one
of them in her soft skin so as TO hold
the tickle leaves. But at the first trial
drop of blood rose on the thorn, and
she gave a cry OF pain.
And then the Virgin Mary, not wishing
that the young girl should go about like
that, let fall upon her Celestial distaff
some threads of cotton right at the feet
Of the distressed little one. Madeiette
picked them up eagerly, seated herself
on the bank of a stream and in less time
than It would take the wind to strip
the leaves off a trembling rose she had
made herself a robe brilliant as the corse-
let of a beetle. The thorns were good
needles, the thread of the Virgin held
delightfully."- the leaves together, and what
better thimble could one wish than the
egg Of a little bird? Madelette now went
on entirely happy and very proud OF her
new toilet.
"Fie, fe," Kissed a sharp voice which
came from down there under a wild rose
bush, upon tne blunder who would go
TO the ball OF Titania without neck
lace!"
Pretty serpent of green and gold, ="
said Madelette, will you be my neck
lace?'
Very willingly" replied the serpent.
Madelette picker him up from under
the flowers and placed him on her Shout
der, and then the cold, glittering thing
wrapped itself gently around the warm
neck of the young girl.
"Oh, Madelettel" cried some shining
glow-worms, You would go to the dance
with no Jewels in your ears
Come here, then" cried Madelette,
and she hung from each of her ears
beautiful living ruby.
Thus gayly attired, Madelette went 10
the ball of Titania The little fairies
trees. and Madelette was so pretty in
her splendid costume that the king of
the gnomes. Who had been invited TO the
fete, fell in love with her.
he invited her to dance.
Refuse" said me serpent, moved by
jealousy and putting its head of green
and gold close to the ear of the child
But the blushing young girl paid no heed
to this remark.
Sweet one" sighed the king during
the waltz, 1T IS late, and If you only
say it 1 viii so and await you down
there and we shall be married
Il should like it well, my lord" said
Madelette.
DO not go" came the piercing wills
per of the serpent when the waltz was
finished. But Madelette pretended not to
have heard and seeing that the king
ROW started out she went below and
found him awaiting her.
Take care" cried the serpent. and
opening his little mouth his fangs dart
ed Overwhelmingly in the air.
Madelette felt her living collar tighten,
but so joyous was she at the thought
of being married TO the king Of the
gnomes that she did not realize what it
meant.
My lord" saiu she to the king. speak
to me of love, and I Will give you my
little finger TO kiss"
At that instant they heard keen hiss.
Madelette turned pale and suddenly with
a moan duh and brief she feu down there
at the feet of the king, strangled-dead.
The serpent stole away through the
grass and the king OF the gnomes return
ed TO the ball to search for another
bride.-.F-on the French.