Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-02-13

Prince. The hunters chasing a deer which took
refuge in the VOLTS den Red Riding Hood, who knew
all the animals in the wood. Just as you know your
friends, went to the opening Of the den to beg the
hunters spare the deer's life. And when the young
Prince saw her he forgot all about deers and hunts
He thought her the most beautiful creature he had eyer
looked upon. and sprang down from, his milk white
steed and Kneft and kissed her hand and begged her
to come back TO his castle with him.
Red Riding Hood much embarrassed that she
scarcely knew what say she told him, however. that
Mother Wolf was old and blind, and she could not
leave her. "a .sas
8 >The Prince Vas so enchanted with Red Riding
Hoods beauty and sweetness that he did not observe
things closely and never guessed for instant that
the Mother Wolf, of whom she spoke, was an ami
nal and not person. He promised to come back and
beg her hand of Mother Wolf, He assured her that
his father, the King, would send for her
On the evening of this same day the girls step
mother, having heard by that Red Riding
Hood still living and in the woods. gathered her
neghbors together and persuaded them that the
girl a witch who ought to be drowned.
Red Riding Hoods father dead and there
was speak for her. The stepmother reminded
those silly ignorant foolish folk how often they had
Red Riding converse with birds and beasts
and said surely there was one but sorceress who
could do that She declared that if they let this witch
live, she would cast evil upon them and their cattle
that the children would be deformed the cattle would
die in the stalls and they themselves suffer terrible
sickness.
In their terror of all these things they gathered sticks
and stones and hoes and pitchforls, and went out
shouting to seek the witch When poor Red Riding
Hood and heard this noisy rabble coming UP to
the den, she very much terrified. She had not
seen any human being save the Prince and his train
for more than year She dressed in skins which
the animals had brought her and which she had fash
Toned into robe
She stood up in the doorway of the den and looked
down the yelling people Mother Wolf stood there,
too, and though she could not them, she heard
them and her big white teeth bare, and she
snarlng in moment.
"Tel them that you will call every fierce wild animal
in the wood" she couuseled do not let them touch
you little daughter Listen to them! They will
you to pieces down there"
what is it you would :iave of me?" Red Riding
Hood called down.
"You are witch-a witch--a Witch the people
shouted back to her. "Come down and let US throw
you into the river-if you sink then we shall know
that you not WITCH.
"If you sink then you will be drowned" mumbled
Mother Wolff 'there is nothing so foolish people
If you float they will bum you for WITCH and If you
sink and drown. you will be just dead as if you
burned Stay with me, little daughter, and call
the wild animals to help you"
But Red Riding HOOD had looked into the faces OF
her kind she knew that these people were only foolish
and stirred up to evil beliefs by her wicked stepmo.her
Il viii 60 with you to prison." she saiJ, Il viii be
tried in the courts-brt not of you must touch me
will go without that"
She made ready to go and babe Mofher Wolf good
BY mo one of them darcs touch You" Mother Vol
cried joyfully "for see here the cats, who
afraid Of nothing; they will go with you and walk
each side"
Two great tawny panthers bounded into the bacl
of the den, and when they stepped out, walking or