The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1913-09-12
Her BIenniish
By SADIE OLCOTT

King EXageres Of an island of Greece
had but one child, Il daughter, who was
born with a great blemish, inasmuch
as she was what we now call cross
eyed. The king, fearing that this de
feet would sour her disposition, order
ed that she should be brought up with
out ever seeing Il reflection of her face.
Her mother, the queen, who was II
very beautiful woman, concurrcd in
this plan and undertook to carry it
out. The child was kept in apartments
in which there was no polished surface
fortune, and every one who came near
her was directed on pain of death to
refrain from mentioning it to her.
The princess was carefully brought
up to contemplate the good. All self
iShnesS, untruthfuInesS and other evil
things We're held to be something apart
from her. Generous motives. hOnora-
bic treatment, pity for the unfortu
nate, were held up to her us models.
The consequence was that she having
naturally inherited Il sweet disposition
grew up with an incongruity between
her spiritual ana her material SClf-a
beautiful character, but the defect in
her eyes gave her a disagrecable eX
preston.
1t is quite possible that had the prin
cess grown up conscious of this look
on her face her disposition might have
partaken oC it. At any rate it is prob
lbIe that the beauty of her soul
would not have developed as it did had
1 certain maIignHncc there was in her
face been constantly before her.
When the princess became of an age
to marry the problem before the king
and queen, her parents was serious
one. Nevertheless she must marry,
and the king entered into negotiations
with ncighboring prince for an al
lance. The prince came, saw the prin.
cess and went away, making some ex-
cuse for not proceeding further with
the negotiations Again and again
King EXagcreS entered upon plans for
an alliance for his daughter, but when.
ever the sutor saw the lady he was
to marry and her blemish he Withdrew
his suit
Then the queen came forward with
her wOmans wit to accomplish what
her husband could not She persuud.
oil IN RI inf IN
another time for their daughters hand.
but this time to introduce the suitor
to the princess soul before permitting
him to see her in the flesh.
1t so happened that king Of a
island died at this time
and was succeeded by his son, ChalCuS
This young sovereign, being ambitious
to extend his domain and knowing
that, King EXaGeres having no son, his
daughter would be queen at his death,
sent an ambassador asking for the
princess hand. Word was returned
to the king that his suit was accepta-
BILE to the king and queen and invit-
ing him to enter upon a courtShip, but |
that he must do his wooing bindfOld- |
ed. Only the day before the wedding |
could he see his bride, and if he chose |
be could refuse to marry her.
King Chalcus, not having heard of |
the princess blcmiSh, was at loss to
such a provision, Being |
young and with a bit of romance in |
MS being, he consented and arranged |
to leave his kingdom for a season and
make the visit.
The princess, who had been told by
ler parents that her sutton was to
earn to love her for spiritual reasons
rather than her physical self, was
much pleased with the plan and gladly
received her blindfolded sutton. Chal-
ms was well formed, comely, accom-
Dlished and in every way fitted to
please a young girl. The princess
gave him her heart. and
le, listening to the lOvable words that
ell from her lips, spoken in very
sweet voice, was not slow in appre
Eating her good qualities.
For a month he remained ut the
curt of King Exageres, going about
rec TO look upon everything and every
person except the princess. When
,ver he was ushered into her presence
lie was bIindfOlded, and when he left
Ter the bandage was taken off his eyes.
Every day he conversed with her, and
very day he became more pleased
With that lOveliness of disposition
here was in her.
Finally the queen told the young
ling that he would be permitted to see
he princess, and he was warned that
he should see anything in her to his
istaste to conceal an expression of his
ceilings, though this was hardly nee
ssary with a well bred person. espe-