The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1921-01-03
The Worlds
Oldest
LOUe Stories
~ MGubeTt st. Georges
Copyright, 1901. b. the Pres Publishing o..
lIne New York Evening World.
sAwAlNE AND THE LoATALy
LADY.

4 AVA NAAlA9Iilhh as KING Arthur
" and MS knights were celebrating
tho Nativity a maiden in dis
tress appeared claiming, az was the
habit in those days, protection from
the King. She had been on her way
to get married when approaching a
strange castle the knight she lovgdr
had been taken prisoner by enchant-
ment and she herself maltreated.
Immediately upon hearing this King
Arthur himself set out to redress this
wrong. But no sooner had he called
out MS challenge than he suddenly felt
hlnnsen weak, unable to grasp o weap-
on ana he was easily overpowered by
his opponent an evil, gigantic, churl-
ish knight Instead Of Immediately
throwing him into a dungeon the lat
ter gave Arthur a chance Of freedom.
telling him that IL in one year he could
discover what women wanted most"
ne would be free without ransom.
For whole year the King rode ask
ing his question to every woman he
met Many were the answers he re-
celVed; riches, spIendor, love, position,
pomp, hattery mirth, a handsome
lover beautiful children, beautiful
dresses, but in his heart he knew none
OF these was correct. One day, at
last when, the year being almost up,
he was riding dejectedly to offer HE
answers to his captor he was startlez
while in a forest by the sound or a
Woman's voice greeting him. he
looked about him and beheld a woman
SO ugly that he thought he must be
bewitched But she went on speaking,
saying she knew his trouble and would
give him the answer to his riddle II
ne would promise on his part to grant
any boon she might request. To this
he agreed and learned that what
women desire above all things is to
have their own way, which upon his
telling the churlish knight the latter.
though much angered, nevertheiesR
set him free.
ARTHUR then returned to the ugly
Ady and found that he had only
tumblcd from the frying pan into the
fire, for the woman demanded that
he find in his court some young and
courteous knight who would be will
ing to marry her. Now the King
could scarcely command one of his
knights to marry one so ugly and
deformed, yet on the other hand he
stood to break his kingly word where
before he rlsked only his life.
Returning to his court, Arthur next
uog huAAAlhOh6u al ms hAnlBnLS 10 q
hunting party and led them in tho
direction Of the loathly lady, whom
shortly they came upon sitting be-
meath a holly tree. Sir Kay and Sir
Mordred began TO jeer at her, but the
King commanded them to stop, in
forming them that he had pledged his
knightly word that one of them would
marry her. Upon this all drew daok
but Sir Gawaine, the Kings nephew.
who realizing the situation, and pity
Ing this woman 80 helpless among so
many churlish knights, dismounted
and lmelt at her feet. Taking her
hand and bending over It he said,
Lady, 1 will be your husband, loyal
and true, II you will have me-" At
first she could not believe he was So
rious, but when at last she realized IL
she sprang up weeping, which made
her seem uglier and her deformitles
more obvious as she stood, then
mounting on his horse rode TO
Camelot. That evening they were
married, but though none made her
welcome save Arthur and Guinever.
yet so perfect was Gawaine in court
esy, dignity and grace that none
dared laugh or even smile.
When his wife had retired, Gawain
thought OF her gratitude, and went 20
his chamber once more to assure her
OF his loyalty. Imagine his astonish-
ment on seeing a maiden dark, young,
lovely, TAN and graceful. addressing
him as husband. She told him shs
was the victim of an enchantment,
the conditions OF which now per
mitted her to be her own self half the
day and ugly the other half, accord
ing to her husbands desire. But
Gawaine, smitten by her charms and
wellnigh helpless, said that her
choice would be his. Whereupon shs
put him several difficult questions,
but he always gave her her choics.
Finally she burst into tears, saving
that by giving her her way In ali
things ne had released her from the
spell which a witch in jealousy Of her
beauty had laid upon her. Not only
that, but the churlish knight, who
was her brother, had been released
also and would henceforth serve him
faithfully.
The next morning when the knight
and the lady descended into the great
hall. where all were scornful1v await
ing the ugly, loathsome lady. thew
were duly surprised and punished FOR
their jeers, while the knights realized
how foolish they had been not 10 obey
the laws Of chivalry which they had
sworn to obey.