Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-31
THE MAGIC RUBY.
By DORIS WEBB.

Inns - our one SIZE toAo
In all our poverty I have never parted
with it. 1t will not open now. but when
you have done a deed noble and glorious,
and have made great sacrifice. the spring
viii answer your Hghtest touch"
So F1orian set out to seek his fortune.
and his heart was light, for he was young
and brave and strong. For many days he
travelled, and at length he came to city
whose walls were of ivory, and whose build
ings were beautiful with Jasper and carv-
ings.
Happy the people who live hereP' he
thought. Then as he looked about him he
saw great number of men, old men and
young, strong men and weak. gay knights
and poor plough boys, streaming in the
same direction. He followed with the
throng, and as he walked an old man next
him told him what caused the crowd. 1t
was a long story. but Flortan listened with
interest.
Long ago." said the old man. "a baby
prince was born in the palace. He was
a rarely beautiful child and the pride OF
the kingdom. On his christening day he
was plishted to the lovely Princess Beat
rice, then baby. daughter OF the great
King Ferdinand, whose kingdom Is toward
the rising And on that day the Won
derful Magic Ruby was fastened TO the
baby princes dress 1t was the supreme
treasure of the country, for 1t had one mar
velous quality. He who owned II could see
who loved him best. But on the night of
that day a terrible thing happened. The
baby prince was stolen from his cradle.
That Is all that has ever been known. And
now the Princess Beatrice Is wonderfully
beautiful woman, and her father says that
IL the stolen Prince Eustace Is not discoy-
cred within four days her troth to him Is
broken. So our good King Maurice sum-
mons all to aid in one last search for his
lost son, promising an immense fortune to
him who can find the youth. identified by
. Tot yxrfrh M
and l. you find the prince your fortune Is
made.
Gladly did FIorian hurry to the palace
with the others, and when he saw the good
old king. bowed with sadness, who wished
them all godspeed on their quest, he lenged
with all his heart to find the lost Prince
Eustace.
Early the next morning he started out
and travelled toward the east for many
weary miles, questioning, searching on all
sides. But no trace of the lost prince could
rest in cool. shady place beneath an oak
tree, far from all men. He slept a short
while and when he awoke 1t seemed as II
gentle spirit of peace had fallen upon
him. Looking up he saw maiden bending
over him. She was more beautiful than
anything on earth. Florfan loved her In
an instant. He forgot all about his quest
as he talked with her and listened TO her
wonderful voice. At last he told her the
search he was making and she sighed. =.
81 will tell you what will surprise you"
said she. am fTlnCcSS ocdlifSc- ooiu0~
times in the cool evenings leave the pal
ace and come here by myself. oh, try. try,
good youth, to find the prince for me-"
Then Flor!an felt sad. for he loved
who should marry her. But he said moth
ing and before he knew 1t the princess
was gone
The next morning he started out again,
and as he passed through a thick wood he
found crane struggling in a bush OF
thorns Il was much wounded and seemed
exhausted Fiortan. who was kind, released
the bird, not without su1ering many
scratches himself. Then, TO his great as.
tonishment, the crane, set free, turned and
spoke.
and to reward your humanity I will. II you
wish. find the stolen prince for you"
Florian thought Of the princess and her
wonderful blue eyes.
NO" he answered. roughly, It do not
wish to find the prince" land he turned
away.
That night he went again to the oak tree
and the princess was there.
Have you found the primer" she asked.
anxiously.
mo" answered Florian IN a. low voice,
and he hung his head
''Oh. find him. find him for my sakeI''
she cried imploringly, and then she hasten
ed away.
The next day FIorian set out again. and
again he met the crane. do you now wish
bird. Florian thought Of the princess and
her radiant golden hair.
Nor he cried fiercely. and was gone
That evening, under the oak tree, he met
the princess again.
Have you found the prince2 she asked.
There is only one day left OF the four my
father allotted" r.s-
Florian answered in e. low voice. II have
not found him
The princess eyes filed with tears. but
she said never a word and withdrew.
The next day Florian went to the wood
where the crane dwelt. The bird flew to
him. .......
For the last time ask you. Shall find
the prince for your" It said. Florfan
thought of the beautiful soul of the prin-
cess, and he thought Of the tears in her
King Maurice. and his heart was oiled with
remorse.
Yes. yes" he cried; "fnd the prince
Beatrice shall wed him, ana I-but am
nothing. Find the prince. good crane"
Very WE'LL" answered the bird. when
you get to the oak tree the prince win be
there" 80
So Florian hurried back to the oak tree.
but no one was there. Il must wait for
the prince" he sighed He sat down on
the ground and lifted his hands TO his
breast. They touched the locket. and In
stantly 1t sprang open.
True" he said sadly, 81 have made a
sacrifice. but what profits Nr' Then he
examined 1t. What was his amazement to |
find inside ruby. red as poppy, pure as
q crystal. Then, as he looked upon IL, he |
saw growing clear within the face of Prin-
cess Beatrice.
THE magic ruby he cried. IT myself |
am the missing Prince Eusticei"
Then the princess came swiftly through |
the trees.
My prtncei'' she cried You are the |
Prince Eustice, and now / can tell the
secret which has preyed upon me for 30 |
long. My fairy godmother, who loved me |
well. determined that I should wed no un-
srorthy prince. and fearful that you should |
be spoiled by the luxuries Of the court, car
rfed you away TO live unknown In a distant
land Now she has proved your worth and
your great unselfishness. For she was the
crane who spoke to you, and who knew
her secret was forbidden to speak, for she
declared l should never wed you IL YOU |
did not prove yourself noble and generous. /"
The princes heart leaped with Joy, but he
trembled when he thought how nearly he
had missed this happiness.
And so the prince and princess went
quickly to the courts of their fathers, and
the good King Maurice, retoiced to find his