The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1910-04-15

|
the witches in fits of laughter on the
top Of the shed, and one Of them said:
what a foolish man he is! He
thought he was going to accompany
the Prince and Princess home! But
the first thing that will happen to the
Princess will be that she will find a
handsome little mule, and she will
take great fancy to ride upon it.
On her mounting it, however, it will
break down and throw her violently
to the ground; and whoever shall hear
this and repeat it shall be turned into
marble"
Although Pedro was angry and very
much alarmed on hearing this, he kept
still, knowing that he had gained the
ill-will of the witches by accidentally
discovering that the oranges and lem
ons were enchanted people and by
Disseminating them.
Presently another witch said:
Prom this mishap the Princess
shall be delivered; but she will see
a pear tree with very good pears on
it, that she will desire to eat. AS she
tastes them she will be poisoned; but
whoever hears this and repeats it
shall inevitably be turned into hard
marble"
To this yet third witch said:
From this danger the Princess
shall be delivered, but on the night
OF her marriage to tho FRINGE shall
1ico, -
shall enter into their room through
the window, and shall benead her as
| we'll as the Prince But whoever hears
| this and repeats it shall inevitably be
turned into marble"
AS she finished speaking, the
witches all flew off the roof of the
shed and vanished into the darkness
| of the night.
The next day the three travellers
resumed their journey, the Prince and
Princess feeling very cheerful and re-
freshed. Pedro, however, was sorrow
full. And by-and-by they saw a dear
little donkey standing at the gate in.
to field near the side of the road
OF course, as was to be expected,
the Princess instantly desired to ride
upon it. But Pedro quickly-and, as
it seemed to the kind Prince and Prip.
cess, most brutally-struck the donkey
a blow on the temple with club that
he was carrying for the purpose, and
killed the donkey.
The Prince rebuked Pedro for this
60o1 Drir
bled. But Pedro said nothing by way
of explanation.
A little way farther on they saw a
wonderful pear tree loaded heavily
with fruit. The Princess Immediate
ly expressed wish to taste the pears
No sooner had she done so, however,
than Pedro rushed on ahead, and,
knocking all the pears to the ground
with his club, trampled them under.
foot till there was not one left that
| was fit to eat
They proceeded on till finally they
reached the palace
The marriage of tn Prince and
Princess was solemnized with great
splendor and dignity; and almost i'm.
mediately after it Pedro announced
that he must sleep on that first night
in the room of the bride and groom.
The Prince protested that this was
impossible-that Pedro had in very
truth lost his wits!
Pedro remained firm In the matter.
and said that it must BE- as he said.
And finally, so insistent was he, that
he was permitted to stay as an armed
sentinel, standing by the window.
Far into the night he saw the witch.
like phantom, sword in hand, come
in to behead the Prince and Princess.
Immediately Pedro drew his own
sword, and a frightful struggle took
place between Pedro and the witch.
Round and round and round the apart
ment they went, wrestling and crap.
ping and slashing with their swords.
So fierce did the combat become that.
without the least thought Of so doing,
Pedro struck the cheek of the Prin-
cess and drew blood. She awoke in
stantly with CRY of fright and pain.
and began saying that Pedro was q
traitor who wanted to kill her.
The Prince was wild with anger that
one whom he had so loved and cher.
ished could be so base, and announced
that Pedro must die.
70 mighty and beloved Prince"
said Pedro, death is no terror to the
wise; but unjust suspicion from those
whom we love is not to be endured.
Therefore, o Prince, before l lay my
hand in Deaths for guidance to an.
other life, I beg of thee, as a last ia.
vor to one whom thou hast hcnored
with thy affection in times gone by.
that the King. thy father, will give
banquet to all his court. And at that
banquet will tell all there assembled
of these, my seeming starnge Deeds"
So the Prince granted this last re-
quest of Pedro's, and the King gave
great banquet; and Pedro on that &C.
casion sat at the royal table.
When all had eaten and drunk their
fill, Pedro arose in their midst and
related to them all that he had heard
the witches say on the night when the
Prince and Princess and he had shel.
tered under the she'd
AS he began to recount what the
first witch had said he felt his lees
begin to harden into stone.
AS he told them what the second
witch had said he was turned to STONE
up to his waist.
Not till then did the noble Prince
realize the fate that was Detailing his
favorite-the horrible catastrophe that
was taking place.