Smyrna times., 1912-09-25
A King S
Daughter
By EDNA R. JENKINS

kings protection and compels him tn
find ii husband for her
These husbands, however. are all law.
breakers. They are not sent to prison
or fined or executed, but are condemn.
ed to marry one of the kings adopted
younger daughters. The condemned
men are allowed to make their own
selection. but with certain limitations
Those whose offenses are light are per
mitted to choose from among the bet
ter grade of women. the most attrac-
tive in physical appearance and amia-
bility. while the grave offenders must
marry the uglieSt and worst tempered
Now. there was in that country a
man who was very poor. so poor that
he could not give his daughter a dow
ry, and. although she was comely and
Of very amiable disposition. for this
reason her father could not provide a
husband for her. One day Ehrika.
who was but seventeen years old. was
walking in the public gardens when
young man barely a year older than
she passed her and looked at her ad-
miringly. She dropped her eyes before
his gaze. but not before she had seen
that he was handsome young fellow.
and. judging by his dress and appear
ance, he was gentleman.
Sometimes love comes like fash of
lightning. and so it did in this case be-
tween these two young persons. Young
Didarien could not forget the little
maid he had seen in the park, and
Ehrikas heart had been inhamed by
the sight Of the handsome youth. He
walked in the park the next day at
the same hour. and so did she, each
hoping they might meet.
And so they did. This time Didarien
spoke to Ehrika. and after that they
met often in the park. though the par
ents of neither knew of their meetings
One day Didarien's father said to
him:
my son. we have very little prop
erty, and it is time you were making a
marriage that will assist us. l have
an offer for you from one who is will
ing to give his daughter a handsome
dowry."
The young man said nothing to this.
for he was not expected to say any
thing. The matter had been arranged
by his father. and that is all there was
about it. The settlements were made
and the wedding day fixed.
But just before the nuptials were
to be celebrated Didarien was arrested
for theft He had gone up to man
who carried his purse in his hand on
the street. snatched 1t and ran away.
This. of course, put a stop to his
matrimonial affair. The father Of the
girl he was to marry Of course de-
cIined to permit his daughter to marry
a criminal. and the father Of Di-
darien was plunged into grief on ac-
count of the disgrace his son had
brought upon himself and the oppor-
tunity he had thrown away.
"Oh. my SON." he exclaimed, "how
could you have done such a thing
knowing that you gave up more than
there could possibly be In the purse?
You will now. instead of marrying
lady with a dowry, be obliged to marry
one of the kings younger daughters.
BE thankful. my father. that l have
not committed a heinous crime, like
murder. There were in the purse
stole only. a few copper coins, so
will be permitted to choose for my
wife one of the most desirable of the
kings daughters"
But you will get no fortune with
her.
Il may get something better than
fortune"
The old man turned away angrily
and would have nothing more to do
with such a hopeless case. Didarien
was sent to the place where the kings
younger daughters were assembled,
each to choose husband from among
the prisoners. He stood up in line
with his fellow prisoners, and the
young women east Elances at them
with view tu selecting one who was
the least re-. ,ulsive. of the lot
Suddenly young girl darted from
the line of women and. rushing to-
ward Didarien. they threw their arms
ABOUT each other
II choose this man for my husband"
she said.
Then Didarien was permitted to go
with her II he married and was again
free man
After DidsriPn had been betrOthed
by her father he met Ehrika in the
park and told her what had happened.
Then they laid plan together The
girl went to her father and told him
that she wished to be entered as one
Of the kings younger daughters. Since
he could not give her dowry he con
sented
When the couple left the place where
they had been married many persons
were standing about to see the strange
couples come out, for the prisoners
were usually a hardened set. and since
none but the ugliest and worst temper
ed women were registered as the kings
younger daughter they and their hus-
bands were usually jeered by the
crowd. But when Didarien and Ehrika