The Washington herald., 1912-08-25

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wicked thing. LET me get into the
shade and in few days shall become
pale again"
The prince said nothing. but begged her
to sit In the carriage.
II cannot leave here until you shoot
that gold duck; I should like to have
bite Of It at my wedding feast" said the
false woman. The bridegroom and his
servants tried for, a long time to hit the
golden bird. They wasted great amount
Of sunpowder. but the golden duck, in
spite Of all the shooting, remained un-
hurt.
The dusky woman felt rather gloomy
because the duck remained alive and
looked very much disheartened when she
took her seat in the princes coach, but
soon recovered her spirits through the
princes kind and sweet attentions, and
in short time they arrived at home. At
first the old king did not at all like the
looks of his future daughter-in-law, but
on his son assuring him that in a few
days she would gain her fairylike beauty
his mind was set at ease. They married.
and as the young wife for several months
was still sunburned, the prince gradually
grew cool toward her. The gypsy woman
noticed that, and in order to revive the
spirits of her royal husband she announced
to all the country that there would be .
great feather picking held henceforth
three times week in the royal palace,
and everybody, rich and poor, was in
vited, the princess being glad to see any
one.
By this time the golden duck had re.
gained her girlform again, and entered
service not far from the royal mansion
and worked diligently. She also went to
the first feather picking meeting and, not
saying word to any one, sat at the end
of the table and made herself busy.
We'll, my dear queen" said the prince
to his wife. tell all these people here the
story which happened to you when your
envious sisters would not let you 70 to
church. Tell them also who helped you
clean the wheat" Now, the gypsy had
no idea about these events, but still COM
menced to chatter away all that came
into her head first. Among other things
she told them that she crept through the
keyhole in the gate and collected all the
girls in the neighborhood, and with their
help she finished the wheat cleaning.
That wasn't quite so, most gracious
queen" said a girl with a pretty voice,
1t was from the chimney stack and from
the top of the boarding and, from among
the branches of the mulberry tree that
the poor girl did her peepins. But the
poor girl only told an innocent fb. 1t
was the same girl with whom the prince
fell in love, for whom the prince searched
with his servant, whom he seated in the
willow tree, whom you pushed into the
lake and whom your husband tried to
shoot. The poor girl is nobody else but
myself"
The prince at once recognized his sweet
heart and rushed toward her. The gypsy
woman pretended to faint away but pre-
ferred to come TO very soon; she knew
that death was what was awaiting her,
so she stole away and took to her heels,
and when they wanted to catch her in
order to punish her she was over dales
and hills.
Then the prince married his dear little
girl. 1t was grand wedding, with plenty
to eat and to drink. After dancing for
three weeks three days and three hours
we curled into an egg shell and swan
down the River Danube. II you don't be-
lieve my story, here l am,
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS