The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-02-10
THE EVENING STORY
Prince and Beggar Maid
(By Agnes G. Brogan.


(By Agnes G. Brogan.)
The little governess had the child
in her arms as they rocked to and
fro in the freight.
Dear" coaxed the child. '.just one
bedtime story, please, of prince. a
princess and a golden castle
The governess sighed and gazed
musingly into the fire.
THE story I would tell tonight"
she said, lis of prince and beggar
Was the beggar maid very beauti-
ful? asked the child.
tender smile lowered above the
girls lips. The prince has told me
So" she said
Then go on.' urged the child, and
nestled closer.
"Once upon time, in a far coun-
try place, this little beggar maid tied
on her cloak, waved a last goodbye
to the empty home and started out
in the world to make her fortune. She
mad not gone very far when in the
pathway there arose a high noun
tain; she had Travelled up the noun
tain side before, but the father had
been with her then. to carry her over
the rough places and to point out the
flowers which grew here and there,
so she had not known how steep and
wearisome was the way But now
$1,000
long, long journey, she knew that she
must make the climb alone, and she
started very bravely.
Just as evening bells were ring
ing she reached the top, tired and
hungry, for-oh, so many things,
and then she saw that she was stand
ing almost at the gateway Of
wonderful golden palace. Here lived
the grandmother queen of the golden
purse the mother who was like a
beautiful butterfly, and, dearest of
all-the princess, Golden Hair.
Grandmother queen looked kindly
upon the beggar maid as they met:
Come she said, you shall live
with US and care for our princess
Golden Hair
loved by SO many people that she
was here, there and everywhere, and
the princess was very lonely little
girl until the beggar maid came.
Then all was changed: they had
needed each other SO much, these
together. Grandmother queen was
pleased, and the beggar maid thought
that she would live on and on in the
golden castle forever-and then, one
day, the prince came home.
1.-THE beggar maid was walking
alone in the garden when they met
by the old sun dial and it seemed that
their hearts went flying out to each
other, like little imprisoned birds
that had been released. And as the
days passed they spent many happy
hours together, standing long beside
the tinkling fountains, or riding
perhaps, in a fairy boat upon an en-
chanted river. and the prince had
forgotten that he must marry a
golden princess, and the beggar maid
had forgotten that she was a beggar
maid, until grandmother queen sent
49, y -
'sOh, the queen was angry, indeed,
and she said to the maid:
8" You must go very far away where
our prince can never see you again,
then he will wed a rich and wonder
full princess, who will help him to be
all that we have planned
But she would not 60. the child
cried sharply; "she could not go If
she loved him.
The governess smiled sadly.
'It was because she loved him SO
very much more than herself that she
heart ached at the thought of parting
from the Princess Golden Hair, and
she could not bear to say goodbye,
SO she decided to wait until all was
very still at night, and the princess
asleep in her little white bed, then
the beggar maid would go into the
room very softly and leave a kiss so
light that Golden Hair would never
know. Then she would steal down
the stairway slowly, slowly, tie on
her little old cloak and go out into
the world-once more alone"
Dear" asked the child, why are
you crying?''
"I believe" said the governess, with
an odd little catch in her voice, 81 be-
1feve that 1 am crying for the poor
little beggar maid"
ssOh, Uncle Will" called the child,
1ao
shadows. 1--WE thought you had gone
to the charity ball."
The man came and stood behind the
chair, looking down into the face of
the governess.
MAY I finish the story?'' he asked.
His voice was low and tender.
The girl looked up with wide,
startled eyes = then she nodded
dumbIy.
"WelI,' the man continued. this
poor sort of a prince knew nothing
of a foolish golden queens chatter,
SO he wandered about the gardens or
moped in the castle, looking always
in vain for certain maid who hid
herself in nurseries and out of the
way corners until she almost drove
the poor fellow distracted. He could
not work, you see. or play. or do
ANYTHING else in the world but think
of this one girl who alone could be
his princess. And one night the en-
chantment which had been cast over
him became so very great that it led
him straight to her side just in time,
I think He intended to wait as pa
tiently as he could until Golden Hair
had been licked into her little bed,
then when his true princess came
slowly down the stairs he would
clasp her close-never to let her go
again. and they would travel away
together
ssWhere would they go?'' the child
asked drowsily.
The governess laid her face against
the chi1d's as she carried her from
the room, and the joy in her voice
melted into a dream.
"They will journey on and on she
said, through sunshine and shadow,
always together to the very end of
the world. Copyrighted 1911 by
Associated Literary Press.)