The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-09-07
PRINCESS
MADRIGAL'S
WISH.
CONTINUED from page nve.)

--
witcal's Cave before the clock strikes
one"
Then the prince began to under
stand, and he was so happy that he
could scarcely whisper, Dear princess,
have you wished your wish tonight?'
YES said the princess very softly.
Then laughing gayly she added: How
glad am that did not spend my wish
when I was a little girl! For when I
was twelve years old I had quite de-
termined to wish that all the pianos
would vanish out OF the world. I ac-
tuaIly went as far as the door, and
only the darkness kept me from going
to the Witch's Cave"
BY this time they had reached the
home Of the Wishing-W Witch. The
musical clocks were sounding half-past
twelve. The cave was quite dark
except for little blue light, the shape
OF the crescent moon, which doated
or darted about in a restless way. The
princess sang a little song very softly,
and the blue crescent light stood still
as if listening and the princess made
her wish. Then the witch's voice said:
This wish was the hardest that ever
was wished, but I shall try to grant
it" The princess had asked that dhe
prince might have for one hour, the
most beautiful voice in all the world.
The blue crescent light seemed quite
beside itself, and darted about SO
quickly that you could never tell when
It would next appear; and the witch
was singing a queer song. The only
words which reached thu prince were:
THE echo of the song the dying
swan sings,
The feather that falls from Fancy's
wings
Then there was a moments silence
and the witch came out of the cave
holding in her hand a tiny vial. She
handed it to the princess, saying:
This bottle contains the charm
which, If rightly taken, will produce
the most wonderful. voice in all the
all time" However, I will not deceive
you" continued the witch, seeing the
princess was beginning to thank her
very warmly. 1.-The charm is after all
a worthless one; for although any one
may swallow 1t, it will have its magic
effect only on one who has been al
ways truthful; one little falsehood or
deceit would quite destroy the charm
Thereupon the witch vanished, and the
prince and princess turned towards
the castle. The princess was thinking
how hard a thing it is that a person
should have but one wish, when there
are so many lovely things to be de-
sired, and felt rather blue lest her
wish had been quite wasted; but she
was of a hopeful disposition, and her
spirits revived in answer to the princes
words Of gratitude.
do you feel sure" asked the prin-
cess, that you have always been
trutlaful?"
$50 sure" said the prince, chat
not try to sing single note until to-
morrow when / stand N the presence
of the king"
Dear me-" sighed the princess,
what an advantage you have had in
not being brought up at a rhynning
court"
AS they passed the musical clocks
chined one.
Next morning the musical festival
began quite early, as there were many
princes and many songs, and good
King Sofia was extremely happy, for
ne could never have too much music.
Many of the singers acquitted them
selves nobly, and just as the song of
beautiful dark eyed prince was dying
away in sweetest melody, the crimson
crested knight came forward with no
musical instrument in his hand.
"And, who comes here?'' asked the
king, in surprise, and what does he
wish?
The knight made bold answer: 'I
am King Fearless, and I love your
daughter. ] would sing a song to
gain. your favor" He smiled, con-
adently, at the Princess Madrigal, who
was trembling with fright, and throw
ing back his head, he sang a song of
such power and sweetness, that the
king wept with delight, and the prin-
cess almost tainted for joy, and the
musical throne played an accompani-
ment of such rare harmony, that the