Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-12

served many fairy tales orisinstin in sn
Gent lcre nei1d n the s, tsass q R.sutY
etc.
There was once a very rich man Wit
a blue beard for which he came to b
called Bluebeard. since beard of tht
color was most unusual and very notice
able perhapS il was on account Of tn,
hue of his beard that strange Storie
were told about him; then, again, mayb'
the stories were true.
At any rate. 1t was commonly Sait
that he had been married several times
though no one knew what happened Il
his wives AT the time this story open;
he was again without a wife-she hac
disappeared, no one knew where or how
But he was so exceedingly wealthy thai
mothers were quite anxious to marry
of their eligible daughters to him. sc
he had no trouble in securing a neigh
boris beautiful daughter for his new
wife.
In fact. Blubeard made himself sc
gracious and gallant that Fatinla, ms
chosen bride. began to like him rather
we'll. At FIRST she deteSted his blue
beard. but after a while she came to
think that maybe it wasn't so blue as
abe had thought. and that 1t was even
rather handsome and certainly quite
DISTINGUISHED to have blue beard. so
thew were married and for time they
we're quite happy.
But there came q time when Blue
beard had TO go away on journey. 30
he called his young wife 10 him ana toio
her. saying that he wished her to nave
. good time in his absence. He gave
her the keys 10 all his castle. with per-
mission to roam at will among his great
IN hearts C0n-
tent all his wealthy possessions. she
could Use any key on the ring-eXcept
one, a very small key.
What is that key for?" Fatima asked
Bluebeard became grave.
THAT KEY unlocks the closet at the
end of the great hall on the ground
floor" he said. But you must not open
that door. Use any other key you wish
20 into whatever room you like, but
this closet must never be opened
Why" asked Fatima. Please tell
me why"
You must not ask" answered Blue
beard That is something you must
never know. II you disohey me by so
much as peeking through a crack IN
that door. you will be severely pun
tshe6"
Fatims was frightened by this and
promised to respect his commands. SO
Bluebeard left and Fatima amused her
self at will about the castle, inviting
many OF her friends to show them her
husbands riches But Fatima could not
forget the little key and the mysterious
closet which 1t would unlock, what
marvellous treasure could be concealed
there that her husband should not wish
her TO look at 1t?
The more wonderful we're the things
IL fva
more wonderful Fatinaa thought the
treasure In the forbidden closet must
be. For whom was Bluebeard boarding
it? Why couldn't she look at 1t?
Wasn't she his wife?
The more she thought about 1t the
more it seemed TO her there could be
no harm in looking. She would tell no
one. 1t was only that her husband did
not wish her to show the contents of
that closet TO any one else. He could
not possibly object If she peeked and
kept the secret to herself.
In front of the door, however, her
courage weakened But she finally IN
serted the key in the lock. 1t squeaked
terribly evidently being rusty from long
disuse. Finally the door was unlocked.
Fatina opened the door little by lit
tie. Then she saw the closet had no
windows and was very dark. Then, as
she opened the door wider, light came
IN from behind her. The sight she then
saw petrifed her with horror.
There, hanging on hooks by their
long hair. were the dead and bloody
bodies Of Biuebeard's former wives.
There were seven of them. Fatirna
hastily tried TO close the door, and IN
doing so dropped the key, which became
stained with blood. She finally shut the
door and locked it again.
Fastna fixed everything 50 that Blue
beard would never know she had dis
obeyed him. But the blood stain on
the little key would not come Of. She
tried everything she knew, but 1t would
not rub or wash or scrape on.
Bluebeard soon returned and asked
for hts keys. Fatinna, trying hard TO
be especially nice TO him, sought to
make him forget the keys. But he
wished TO have them at once, so she had
TO give them to him. She had first re-
moved the little key to the closet, hop
ting he would not miss it.
Where Is the key TO the closet?'
Bluebeard asked at once.
Fatima at last had 10 give her htis-
hand the bloodstained key, and he no.
ticed the telltaie mark Immediately.
How came It there?" he demanded.
II don't know" she said, terribly
SYou are lying to me" said Blue
heard You know very well. You
could not resist your curiosity. You
had TO look In the forbidden closet. AL
the rest Of the castle was not enough
for you, Just because l had forbidden
one door Well, now you know what L
there, and as your punishment you, too
must 20 into that closet-to stay among
those who went before you"
Fatina begged for mercy, but Blue
beard was determined and cruel. He
told her TO prepare herself for death
Fa1tma finally asked for time in which
20 pray, which was granted.
Nov, 1t happened that Fatima's strong
young brothers were on the way to visit
her that day, and she had hoped thai
they would arrive In time 10 save tlel
itfe-if she spent long enough at hel
prayers Her sister, Anne, was there
with her, so she sent ..nne up into on
Of the castles towers to watch for tn
brothers and To signal them TO make
haste
After a time Bluebeard, having pickec
out q sharp sword for the horrible deco
he was about To commit, called Fatims
10 come 10 him But she delayed ant
called up 10 ask Anne II she saw he
bgotherE
L see nothing but the sun and ~.
gYsEs" Anne answered.
Bluebesrd called his wife again.
Dent you see any cne?" Patimi
asked Of Anne desperately.
Il Do see great cloud Of dust salt
Ann
Come. come" cried Eluebeard "Hur
~ up"
Fatinna stlll remained In her room
near the tower
"SAter Anne" she called softly tel
me what you see nov