Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1904-12-11
Her hajesty's Ruby Ring


new JOYS for her.
The king had a half brother the
Duke Of Iearts who besides being
misshapen of body and very disagree
able was sovery unreliable in his state
ments that be was called by the peo-
pie the Knave Of Hearts. The knaya
was 50 much stronger than the King
that it was his dearest wish to out,
live his brother whom he mad hoped
would de unmarried, for in that case
the knave would be king You may
t imagine therefore how he felt wheh
his brother brought a beautiful quee9
to the palace, but he resolved to al
once be rid Of her.
The knaye was friend Of the
Witch Of the Desert whom he often
consulted regarding his fell purposes,
for he was always revolving some
dark scheme in his mind. Witches
had a way of knowing everything
that was eong ON, and when the
knave told the Witch Of the Desert
how he hated his beautiful sister-in-
law the old woman said. Her ma
jesty wears a ring on her left hand
which has made her what she is.
Get that from her and keep it one
hour and she will be driven from the
palace
But that | can not do replied the
knave i heard the King ask her to
take il off and let him examine it, but
she said she did not dare to remove
the ring from her finger
'Induce her to touch ripe fruit with
that hand and You viii see said The
witch
THAT I will 90 at once" said the
knave, and going to the head garden
er he obtaiend some bunches OF white
grapes and some golden tanserlnes,
with huge bouquet or roses. Then
he sought the queen, who was read
ing poetrv book in the blue and gold
room.
The knave presented the roses,
which he was careful that she should
take in her right hand, and made the
queen pretty little speech, for the
scamp had very smooth tongue. Next
2a bold toward her crystal dish con
tanning the tempting fra. The qnean
laid the roses across her lap and with
her ri4ht hand took a bunch Of tn
cranes.
With great fIourish-and a gold
hn.fe-rhe knave peeled the taneer-
inc. a fruit 50 delicious chat the room
vas filled with a rich, spicy odar and
Offering il to her majesty he remarked
in his oily way: '.Tha grapes are
as valuable as Jewels, and The juice et
thcm is like wine hut they are said
to produce most delightful sensation
whom one takes bite Of a tan&erine
iard a grape Alternately
The queen laid the grapes Oh III
top Of the roses. and taking he taneer
inc in her right hand, took a bite pn1
il down and popped a grape into her
mouth with the same hand. 1t was
fplain thai she was not to be caught
in this way, but the knave did not
grow discouraged.
He said to the king DO you know,
my brother that Your queen could
bake the most wonderful pastry ever
seen before she became your royal
ccnsort? People who have tasted Der
cherry tarts say they never were
eoualed in this world
How wish could have tasted
some Of them, sighed the king. who
was fond of sweets But | never can
have that pleasure, for whoever heard
Of a queen baking tarts?'
1T is unusual" admitted the knave
"But she is so fond of YOU that she
will be glad to make them for you.
Elena was more than pleased to
oblige her good husband. and she sang
eaily as she fitted about the kitchea
and rolled out the pastry.
The knave, who had foloWei / Ter to
the kitchen, was very much nonpnss-
ed to find that the cherries had been
stoned beforehand and that the queen
poured them into the crusts With
golden spoon, held in her right hand |
After she had placed them into the |
oven he slipped a lot Of wood into /
The stove as soon as her back /
vas turned and then he cried: on |
sister, your tarts are buning!
Fogetting all about her charmed
ring, the queen flung omen the oven |
door end began to take ont the little |
pans with both hands. Some not iuice |
fell upon her hand, and the lug flew
off and into one of the tarts though
neither of them could tell which tart