The Washburn leader., 1913-09-05
Her Blerraiish
B, SADIE oLcon

By SADIE OLcOIT
King Exageres Of an island Of Greece
had but one child, 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 reflection Of her face.
Her mother, the queen, who was a
very beautiful woman, .concurred in
this plan and undertook to carry It
out. The child was kept in apartments
in which there was no polished surface
capable Of revealing to her her mis-
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, untruthfulness and other evil
things were held to be something apart
from her. Generous motives, honora-
BILE treatment, pity for the unfortu-
nate, were held up to her as models.
The consequence was that she, having
naturally inherited a sweet disposition.
grew up with an incongruity between
her spiritual and her material self-a
beautiful character, but the defect In
her eyes gave her disagreeable 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 Of It. At any rate. it IL prob
able that the beauty Of her soul
would not have developed az It; did had
a certain mahgnance 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 a serious
one. Nevertheless she must marry,
and the king entered into negotiations
with a neighboring 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 Exageres entered upon plans for
an alliance for his daughter, but when
ever the suitor saw the lady he was
to marry and her blemish he withdrew
his suit.
Then the queen came forward with
her woman's wit to accomplish what
her husband could not. She persuad-
ed the king to enter into negotiations
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 fiesh.
It so happened that king Of a
neighboring 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 courtship. but
that he must do his wooing blindfold-
ed. Only the day before the wedding
could he see his bride, and It he chose
he could refuse to marry her.
King Chalcus, not having heard OF
the princess blemish, was at loss to
understand such a provision. Being
young and with bit of romance in
his heinp. he consented and arranged
to leave his Kingdom for season and
make the visit
The princess, who had been told by
her parents that her suitor was to
learn to love her for spiritual reasons
rather than her physical self. was
much pleased with the plan and gladly
received her blindfolded suitof. Chal-
Gus was well formed. comely, accom-
plished and in every way fitted to
please a young girl The princess
straightway gave him her heart. and
he, listening to the lovable words that
fell from her lips. spoken in a very
sweet voice. was not slow In appre'
ciating her good qualities.
For a month he remained at the
court Of King Exageres. going about
free TO look upon everything and every
person except the princess. When
ever he was ushered into her presence
he was blindfolded, and when he left
her the bandage was taken or his eyes.
Every day he conversed with her. and
every day he became more pleased
with that loveliness Of disposition
there was In her.
Finally the queen told the young
king that he would be permitted to see
the princess. and he was warned that
IL he should see anything in her to bid
| distaste to conceal an expression Of his
feelings, though this was hardly nee
essary with well bred person. espe.
cially q royal one. When he and the
princess vert together the bandage
was taken Oh his eyes. and be beheld