The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-06-03
THE UGLY PRINCESS.

9uA the elueSL was TAR as the sun ana
he had besides the gentlest bearing, for
he was the heir and many duties came
upon him.
One day the king called the three
princes to him.
My sons" he said. 1T is now time
that you were married Take horse then
and ride to the castle of the King of
Diamond Fields. Choose each of you
one of his daughters, hut choose wisely;
to one of you / will give the castle of
the east and to another the castle Of the
west but to the one who brings the fair
est bride in through the palace gates
will give my kingdom and my crown
after me-.
That was the news for the three
princes They ran joyfulIy to the great
gate and there, sure enough, were three
gallant steeds standing waiting, their
brides all of gold, paving at the
ground in their Impotence.
None of the castles Of the east or
west for me- said the second son, set
Ting his velvet cloak
"Ah. but wait little till you have
won the fairest BRIDE" said the third,
laughing and shaking back his black
curls
The eldest prince said nothing, but
his eyes were like the sky and his hair
was yellow as ripe corn as the three
rode together through the bright morn
ing.
When they reached the castle Of the
King Of Diamond Fields a great ball
was going on In the hall was a throng
Of lovely maidens fair as the day, but
among them all the fairest wore gilt
tering cOronets for they We're the king s
two eldest daughters, One flashed like
a diamond. the other glowed like apearl
and they alked proudly. as though no
one was good enough for them
But who is that in gray yonder IN
the corner2'' asked the eldest prince.
pointing to a small figure sitting by
herself with head oent down
Hush" answered a nobleman, we
do not speak of her; that IS the ugly
rs She wicked that she is 50 pgly?''
asked the prince. me-
/ NO answered the nobleman: for
the matter Of that she IS good and gen
tie as an angel, but in TINS kin tlt IL y
is beauty and high bearing tnat "s
think Of"
Sure enough she was ugly Her eyes
? were dull her lips pale and plncneu, nsi
skin was all of dead white, and as Tor
hair no one could tell about that. Ior II II
was hidden quietly under the gray ca p
Besides this her feet, though they We're
little. were pftifully twisted. The. prince
iooi[ed At her. and as he looked lie
thought he heard the breath OF a. httie
And now the trumDets sounded for
the dance Down the hall swept the
princesses. and the three princes hearts
fiuttered as they drew nearer. Inc Two
younger ones glanced at their pro1lief.
for her must choose the hrst just theti
from the corner came the same SCUM.
little tired sigh.
NV brothers" said the eldest prince.
/ Il am going to dance with the ugly
q Both the princes laughed rudely, and
in a few minutes the second was bow
: ing before the diamond princess. who
/ held out her hand to him haughtlly
enough Next followed the third primes
] with the pearl princess, Who laughed
Saucily with her bright eyes.
The eldest prince bowed low befor-
the ugly princess. Now, no one had
, ever before done an honor to the little
ugly princess, and when the prince
spoke to her she blushed because of the
stranSeress Of it, and 10. the color
spread over her white face and glOwed
there like a new-opened rose.
Truly thought the prince. this is
no such ugly partner Nor was this
the only marvel When the princess
feet touched the floor for the first tirnH
in step with the music they fell as light
as thistledOWn. and when the prince
glanced at them they were quite
straight and pretty. None laughed now
for among all the dancers the hghtesg
OF foot was the ugly princess: her step
; was the sWiftest and still her color
glowed like soft rose She was too
shy to speak, but when they came t.
say goodnight her voice was low and
sweet Ike bells at evening.
: That hight the three brothers slept all
in one room.
the second prince; she viii wear my
fathers crown royalty
Il have no fears with the pearl Prin-
cess said the third. and when I am
the King you must both bow low be-
fore me"
{ The eldest Prince had not spoken, for
he was looking out into the moonlight
he was thinking of the ugly princess
gentle voice and of her signing. Now he
spoke, but it was slowly. And l. he
said, am going to marry the ugly prin-
cess
You viii be a fool for your pains, .
said the other two. and laughed again,
for each now felt sure of the kingdom
The next morning the Two younger
! princes asked, one the diamond. the
other the pearl princess, in marriage
and the ladies consented. for they knew
the conditions, and each in her heart
! felt sure of her conquest over her sis
{ ter
The eldest prince stood before the lit
tie ugly princess. It may be that I
shall be the least in my fathers king
dom" he said. but will you be my
Wife2"
The blush on the ugly. princess cheek
grew deeper. Slowly she raised her eyes
and 10, as they met the princes look,
kind and gentle. the color in them deep
ened till it was ike the blue Of still
! lake; they We're no longer dull, but
shone W at him like stars. Then the
: prince kissed her Deeper and deeper
DAuSnEQ the DIInEESS ana Sl6 uIODDGl
= her eyes. but her lips smiled and grew
rosy till 10. they We're of the prettiest
s shape in the world Joyfully then she
{ put her two hands into his and joyfully
he held her in his arms.
The next morning they all rode back
: from the kingdom of the Diamond
Fields, and the diamond princess was on
: her Jet black steed and the pearl prin-
cess in her spangled litter. but the
= prince and the ugly princess held hands
together in the sunshine When they
came to the city the trumpets sounded
and the bells pealed all together. AL
this time no one had seen the ugly prin-
, cess hair for it was still hidden under
her gray cap Now IN all the kingdom
no one was so much loved as the eldest
e prince and as they rode through the
streets some enloolxer seeing that he had