Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-06-25

The merchant and his wife begged TO
be allowed To go with their child, but the
servant said his Queen ordered that she
should come alone, but promised that at
the end of three days II Bida wanted her
father and mother they should bc sent for
| When Queen Sari saw Bida she gazcti
| sprilbound for a minute at her beauty.
| for she had never dreamed that ono go
| fair was IN the world.
| leave us alone she said 10 the
| servant and poor Bida trenbled as she
| hooked into tho eyes OF the angry Queen,
| for she saw only cruelty therc-no spark
| of love. Let me return to my mother
| and father" cried the frightened child
| Into dark room behind her own the
Queen led her. for she was determined
the King her son, should never behold
this beautiful girl
That night when the Queen and the
King were dining, Bida's cries of grief
reached bis car What is that" he
asked.
The child of ono of the servants whom
| have punished for entering my apart
ments,' said the cruel Queen But
why think of that. my son? Tell me, do
YOU think your mother beautiful. and
would YOU take Queen to sit beside
YOU on tho throne II you found one who
was more beautiful than your MOTHER
If | bchcld one who had eyes that
cutshone yours and whose face was as
fair rs lily kissed hy the morning sum-
and whose hair was little Curls Of gold
falling over a neck rs fair rs the snow
then, mother, should be tempted 10
marry and make her Queen IN your place,
SAID king Mcngin.
The Queen listened with eyes abiazc
with anger and fear, for her son had
spoken SO nearly true Of the beauty of
Blda that the Queen was sure he bad
seen her Covering her face with her
hands she ran from the room saving she
was Ill and would retire. but not to her
room did the jealous Queen 90; she went
TO where poor frightened Bida cried IN
the dark
Cease" she commanded as she enter
ed the room. Your crIes will bring no
help Here you viii remain until your
beauty fades, for YOU shall not he Queen
in my place viii destroy your beauty"
Three days passed and the merchant
and his wife waited, but no message did
they get from the Queen But every
day they sent rich gifts TO the Queen and to
Bida and with loving messages which
never reached tho dark room where their
child was prisoner
Five days passed, and then the mer-
chant sent word that he must see Bda,
and asked when the wedding was to take
place that would make his daughter Queen
Tell him TO wait three days longer
and she shall return and prepare for her
wedding, but the Prince Is 30 in love
with her he cannot bear to part with her, 4"
was the Queens reply
One day when the Queen went in TO
look at her to watch her fading beauty,
Bida begged that only one favor might
she have granted that the Queen would
send for her little casket OF gold which
held the magic fish When the Queen
heard about this fish of magic charm she
sent at once for servant to fetch it
IRON the merchants house
Tell the merchant his daughter is so
happy she would remain longer with us
and has sent for her charmed casket
hidden in her jewel box"
To Bida the Queen said her parents
were glad to have her stay; they did
not want her to return for their son had
married and the wife had filed her place
| This piece of news almost broke poor
| Bidas heart and she cared not to live
| longer; indeed, she wished to die and
| end her suffering
Continued Tomorrow.