The Faery Tales of Weir

By Anna McClure Sholl

1908

CONTENTS

THE FAERY TALES OF WEIR

THE TALE OF THE BLUE GLOVE

THE INVISIBLE WALL

THE TREE IN THE DARK WOOD

THE CAT THAT WINKED

THE MAGIC TEARS

THE GOLDEN ARCHER

[Illustration: THE TOWN OF WEIR]

THE FAERY TALES OF WEIR

Only in far-away towns are the real faery tales told in shadowy nurserieswhose windows in summer open upon shimmering gardens and on whose wallsin winter the fire-goblins dance. Weir is one of these towns--a sweet, hushed place, lying where the hills spread broadly to the south sun, andthe trees are thick as in a painting. 

There are shops, too, with bulging windows through which you can scarcelysee the toys or the flowers or the sweetmeats, because Time hasfinger-marked the glass with violet and crimson stains that shift andmerge so that the contents of the windows are seen as through waveringsea-water. Beyond the shops are the houses asleep beneath great trees, their warm red bricks showing where the ivy has thinned. Their stackedchimneys send out faint blue spirals of smoke, to let you know that thefires are on the hearths and about the hearths the children are gathered. 

The little old churches placed where Weir drowses out into the country, have hoarse, sweet bells like the voices of old women who whisper of theChrist Child at Christmas time; and in the churches are windows as fullof color as the gardens of Weir. 

The sleepy, forgotten town was famous for nothing but its faery talestold long ago to children whose bright eyes have looked by now on widerscenes, and whose voices have died away on that wind upon which allvoices sink from hearing at last. I sometimes wonder whether inimagination they all troop back at the twilight hour: Hubert to cuddle upin the wing-chair; James to stretch out on the hearth-rug; Veronica andlittle Eve to nurse their dolls and gaze through the nursery window halffearfully at the striding dusk, or to listen to the tap upon the panes offlying leaves when the great winds rise. Where is Richard who alwayswanted "a tale never told before, " and small Spencer with his dreamingeyes and baby mouth? Where is quaint Matilda with her plaid dress and herstraight black hair; where is Ruth?

Wherever they are, I like to think that to them Weir is always their truehome; and their hearts really live in that broad shadowy house where thesteps of the staircase were so wide and shallow that each was a littlelanding in itself; and where the candles flamed at night in high sconces;and in the halls was a rustling of silk; and in the air the smell offlowers and burning wood. The nursery was high up under the eaves, sothat the rest of the house seemed far-away--a wonderful region wheremusic might sound, or where, by stealing down, one might see fair ladieslike the princesses of the tales smiling at gallant gentlemen. One's ownmother might turn, indeed, into a princess just before it was time to goto bed, with white arms and jewels upon her neck. 

Then one fell asleep knowing that no day in Weir could be without itsenchantment, whether the clouds seemed caught in the tree-tops, or thesnow flew and made the red roofs white; or whether the sun danced on thegreen lawns, for each day ended with a faery tale, and these are thetales of Weir. 

THE TALE OF THE BLUE GLOVE

The King of the South country was not as happy as a king ought to bewhose subjects are both peaceful and industrious. Every night when themoths were flying and the tall candles were lit in the hall, when thesoft air was musical with the strumming of harps, and the sweetcomplaint of violins, he would walk out on the great parapet with onehand under his chin and his head drooping; then the courtiers would say, "The King is sad. "

If he looked out he could see town after town, like strings of pearls andcorals, with blue smoke coming from the chimneys of red-roofed houses, and beyond the towns the sea like a green bowl. If he looked straightdown he could see a rush of color, as if the flowers were coming up tohim in billowy waves. 

But the King was not happy, for the reason that he wanted to marry histhree sons, and he didn't know of any princesses who would, so to speak, fill the bill. He had journeyed over the mountains to inspect severallittle ladies who were brought to him, in their stiff satin gowns tomake their curtsey and smile their prettiest, but none of them seemeddesirable for a daughter. The King knew, indeed, very much what hewanted. She mustn't chatter and she mustn't be too fond of chocolates ingold and enameled boxes; and she mustn't have likes and dislikes; andshe must be patient, for all really royal people know how to wait; andshe must possess the beautiful art of smiling. The King had seen her inthe frames of old paintings, still and sweet and jeweled, but neveralive and lovely. 

On the evening when this tale begins the King was watching the threeprinces play at ball. The ball was of scented Spanish leather coveredwith crimson silk on which was stamped the sporting dolphin of the royalhouse. Sometimes it would drop to the green turf where the parrots wouldpeck at it, thinking it a gorgeous apple. The hooded falcon on thejester's arm knew better, for the jester fed him real apples. 

Prince Hugh, Prince Merlin, and Prince Richard were as supple as willows, as straight as pines, as graceful as silver birches. Their blond hairhung thick and straight against their necks and was cut square abovetheir level brows. Their manners were so good that their father didn'tquite know their characters; and that made the problem of their marriagesmore difficult. 

All at once, as on a stage, they stopped playing ball and began to lookat something or someone. The King followed their eyes, and saw a strangesight. A young girl with a great dog at her side was coming slowly overthe grass, her hands clasped above her breast, her long golden hairhanging nearly to the hem of her gown which was of coarse brown wool. Shehad no stockings, and on her feet she wore wooden shoes. 

That a peasant girl should walk across the royal gardens was enough tomake the princes stare. Then the King saw that they were looking atthe girl's hands, of which one was bare. On the other was a glove ofblue cut-velvet, heavily embroidered with a design of flowers whichcircled themselves about a tiny mirror set exactly on the wrist; noglove for a peasant!

She came slowly up the great stairs of the terrace as if she wereexpected. By this time the court-lackeys had rushed out, full ofofficiousness, to stop the outrage; but the King, at the end of a puzzledday, was in no mood to hinder the least diversion. He advanced to meetthe visitor, who raised to him a pair of beautiful blue eyes and smiled. 

"Where did she learn to smile?" thought the King, conscious that the gazeof the three princes was still upon the girl. 

She held out the gloved hand. "King Cuthbert, I am sent to your court byKing Luke. Will you be pleased to look in my mirror?"

Her wrist was raised to the level of his eyes. "What do you see?" sheasked in a soft, solicitous voice. 

"Myself, maiden, " he replied. 

She sighed, and the tears came in her eyes. 

"Who else could I see?" he exclaimed. 

She smiled and shook her head, then she nodded towards the three straightboys on the lawn. "Those are your sons?"

"Mine, indeed, maiden. "

"I am sent to make their acquaintance. I am the niece of King Luke, thePrincess Myrtle. "

King Cuthbert could not believe his ears, nor trust his eyes, for thePrincess Myrtle had great vaults of gold under the thousand-year-oldturrets of her castle; and pearls like pigeon eggs in the renowneddiadem with which the generations of her royal race were crowned kingsor queens. 

"My uncle sends me as a beggar-maid so that I can make a true marriage. Idesire to be loved for myself alone. Speak not of me to the court, butdeal with me as I appear to be. "

King Cuthbert gazed in admiration at her, for she had the voice of onewho thinks more than she speaks and feels more than she thinks, which isthe proper order for great and little ladies. "Here, " thought he, "is thechild I have been seeking. I will not tell the three straight-limbed ladsso beautifully mannered who or what she is, but I will say that a friendhath sent an orphaned girl to be protected by me; then I will watch howthey treat her, and learn at last what my sons are. "

"Princess Myrtle, " he said, "I will henceforth treat you as an orphanedand poor girl. Is that to your liking?"

"It is my wish, Sir, " she answered, and suddenly a rising wind blew allthe strands of her hair into a cloud of gold, so that her coarse wooldress appeared brocaded; and while she was thus sumptuously clothed agreat peacock in iridescent array strutted by her, and she placed hergloved hand for a moment on his shining feathers, looking, indeed, aprincess. Back of her the courtiers stared and rubbed their eyes. Thethree slim boys on the lawn were smiling. 

Prince Hugh tossed the scarlet ball to her and she caught it lightly asif she were making a curtsey. 

"Take the ball back to him, " said the King, "and tell him I sent you. "

As she went down through the parterres of flowers she was as straightas a delphinium and fresh-colored as a rose. Where the great treesclouded into the sky she looked as little as a floating petal; but whenshe stepped upon the sward, she seemed to grow tall like an upwardsoaring flame. 

Though she walked with such courage towards the three slim lads her heartwas beating fast, because she was afraid they would not be as noble asthey looked. For at court nearly everyone looks noble, and the PrincessMyrtle had learned how easy it is to keep your eyes level, and your headhigh, and your bearing proud; and how hard it is to preserve a sweetheart like a rose, within the shadow of this grandeur. 

So she went to meet the princes with a shy, hopeful manner, the scarletball in her hand, and her blue eyes addressed to theirs. 

"I am commanded by your royal father to return to you this ball, " shesaid. 

"I pray you tell me, " said Prince Hugh, "how you, being a beggar-maid, walk as if possessed of wealth?"

She smiled. "All people are rich. Some know it. Some do not. "

The princeling gave a royal whistle, and smiled at his brother Richard, who picked a white carnation and began to pull its petals. "Tell me, maid, why you wear the blue glove?" he asked. 

"To cover a hand still my own, " she returned proudly. 

Merlin said nothing at all. He took the scarlet ball, bowed, and turnedfrom her. She raised her eyes to the heights where the turrets cut thesky, black against gold, and the whirling sea-birds beat down the seawardrushing wind. Then stepping softly, she followed Merlin, who walked on toa place where the arching trees made a green cave, and in the depths ofthe cave was a fountain of marble sunk into a round of ferns. At the edgethe prince paused, then he dropped the ball into the water, and it sank, for it was solid and heavy. 

[Illustration: MERLIN DROPS THE BALL INTO THE FOUNTAIN]

"Why did you do that?" cried the Princess. 

He wheeled about, and looked upon her coldly. "Why have you followedme?" he asked. 

"To pick up the ball, should you drop it. "

"The ball is drowned, " he said. 

"Why did you put it in the water?" she asked. 

"Because you touched it, " he replied. 

She was very sad then. "You scorn to touch what a beggar-maid hashandled?" she asked. 

To this he made no reply, but strolled away into the green wood, whilewearily she turned back. The stag-hounds, with their collars of jade, came to meet her, and the three enormous Persian cats whose tails werelike long plumes. She stooped to caress them, and to hide her tears, forPrince Hugh and Prince Richard were coming towards her, and she did notwish them to know she was sad. 

They stood like twin trees regarding her, then Prince Richard spoke. "Will you sell your glove, beggar-maid?" and he drew a piece of gold fromhis purse. 

She replied: "I have more need of my glove than of your gold. "

"If you were a court lady, " said Prince Hugh, "you would know that oneglove is of no use to anyone. "

"If you were a beggar, Sir, " she replied, "you would be glad to have onehand warm. "

"I shall never be a beggar, " returned the Prince proudly. 

"Yet you begged your father for a cloth-of-silver falcon hood thismorning. "

Prince Richard laughed and his brother stared. "Are you a witch?" askedthe latter. 

"No, I am not a witch. I lost my way in the gardens before I found theright path. You were talking in the arbor by the edge of the lake, andyou implored your father, the King, like a beggar on the street corner. "

Prince Hugh's cheeks were red as peonies. "Your words are too bold, beggar-maid. If you will not sell your glove, I will take it. "

She stretched out her arm. "You will not be able to take what isnot yours!"

"Will I not!" and he rushed at her and began to tug at the glove. Hisface grew redder and redder, but he could not strip off the glove, whichseemed to have grown to the maid's arm. Suddenly he caught sight of hisfiery countenance in the little round mirror, and he left off pulling atthe glove, but his failure aroused emulation in the heart of PrinceRichard, who now began to tug at the glove as if it were heavy armor. 

The Princess Myrtle grew as white as a snow-drop in pale wintry sunshine, for it seemed to her that all three of the princes were of base metalbeneath their noble bearing. "Look in the mirror, " she said pitifully, "and tell me what you see!"

"His own red face, I warrant, as I saw mine, " cried Prince Hugh; thenPrince Richard seeing how flushed his face was, drew away sulkily; andthe Princess walked from them up and up through the parterres of flowersto the terrace where the King stood in the evening light, his cloak blownout, so that the satin lining showed like a great magnolia petal. Hislong fingers rested on the marble balustrade, and the royal rings winkedwickedly at the Princess. 

The King said to her, "What did my sons say and do to you?"

Then she related everything. 

The King frowned. "But how do I know whether you are really the PrincessMyrtle? You may for all that be but a goose-girl or a beggar-maid. "

She replied, "Let me remain in your court three days as a beggar-maid. Ifat the end of that time you are not sure, turn me out. I, too, will besure of something at the end of three days. "

"Of what will you be sure?" asked the King. 

"Which of you is the real king here. "

Then King Cuthbert grew red like old leather, and laughed and sighed andfrowned. "God knows, I should myself like that knowledge. " Then hesigned to a court lady, who was looking on with proud eyes. "Come, DameCaecilia, take this beggar-maid to one of the suites in the palace, andput fair clothes on her, and conduct her to the dining-hall when thehour strikes. "

The court lady smiled to hide her anger, for she dared not disobey, andshe beckoned the Princess Myrtle to follow her. They went through a vastdoor into a corridor that ran beneath heavy arches, and the walls of thispassage moved as if alive, but it was only the draught swaying thetapestries with their gray trees and knights who rode among the treeslike heavy shadows, and long-haired women who watched the knights ridewhile they wove flower-wreaths. 

Then the proud court lady took the Princess up a winding stair, like thetwisted ways of life, down more corridors, then into a room, throughwhose windows high cypresses looked, and upon whose ceiling little cupidsflew about. 

"Now, beggar, " she said angrily, throwing open the door of a wardrobewhere hung silken things, "make the most of your luck. What will youwear? Here is mallow satin sewn with pearls, and with a running border ofjasmine flowers done in sweet embroidery silks. Will it please you? Hereis a silver cloth, studded with little coral beads over a petticoat ofancient lace. Here is black velvet softly lined with apricot brocade!"

"Nay, none of these will I wear, but my gown of good wool, and in mybundle are changes of linen, for I want no lace on my limbs. Send mefresh flowers for my hair, I entreat you, and I will bathe and so preparemyself for the court dinner. "

Dame Caecilia stared at her, and moved the golden combs and mirrorsabout angrily on the dressing-table. "You will lose me my place atcourt, " she cried. 

"Perhaps it is already lost, " answered the Princess. 

"You speak not at all like a beggar. "

"You never took the trouble to learn what a beggar really says, " thePrincess replied as she stripped the blue glove from her hand. 

Curiosity got the better of the court lady's anger. "What person gave youthat glove in place of alms?" she asked. 

"My godmother out of faery land!"

"Nonsense!" cried the Dame, and she departed for the flowers with a facelike a withered leaf. 

The little Princess leaned against the sill of the window and sighed, andlooked into the blue sphere of the night and wondered on what altar thehigh stars were lit. She thought of Merlin who had drowned his ballbecause her touch was on it, and her heart throbbed as if a hand weredrawing it from her breast to place it out of her reach. She had seenlittle maids among the golden shadows of her own court with their whitehands outstretched towards a heart someone had taken. Now the thrillingtouch of that theft was upon her own spirit. Her thoughts followed Merlinas if her substance had been changed into his shadow. 

All the court had assembled for dinner, when she entered the banquethall behind the shame-faced Dame Caecilia, who made a curtsey to thefloor as she explained to the King that the beggar-maid, being lackingin art, refused the silken clothes. "She would wear only this crown ofwood violets. "

Then the Princess curtsied, and all the courtiers laughed, but the Kinggravely bowed to her; and called, "Prince Hugh. "

Prince Hugh came forward, looking noble as was his wont in the presenceof his father. "What is your will, Sire?"

"I desire you to lead this maiden to the banquet. "

"Sire, I have already asked the Lady Diana, " he said and blushed alittle, for he was lying. 

The King then asked a lackey to summon Prince Richard, who came lookingnoble as was his custom, also, in the presence of his father. 

"I desire you to lead this maiden to the banquet. "

Prince Richard still endeavored to look noble. "Sire, " he replied, "I amnot dining to-night. I have a headache. "

Then King Cuthbert sent for Prince Merlin. Now when the Princess Myrtleheard his name, it seemed to her as if musicians had begun to play in afar-off room. She drooped her head a little lest she should show tears inher eyes when he, too, refused her. He came up white and grave with alook that was not patient. When his father made the request of him thathe made of his other sons, Prince Merlin bowed and extended his arm tothe beggar-girl, but he was as silent as a wood before a storm. Only thePrincess quivered like a leaf that expects a great wind to pass. 

"Did you obey your father because you are sorry for me?" she whispered. 

"No, I obeyed him because he is the King, not I. I am sorry for myselfrather than you. "

Then the Princess felt her soul sink into a gulf, but she smiled andate the food that was offered her, and made no attempt to speak toPrince Merlin. 

All the next day she wandered in the rose-alleys, through marvelousterraces, and under the great trees, but no one spoke to her, nor couldshe see anything but vanishing forms; and so it was until evening, whenwearied, she sat down on a bench and gazed into her mirror and gave a cryof joy. "Now, " said she, "I love truly. By this sign I know I love truly, for I see Merlin's face in the mirror and not my own. "

Then she went alone to her rooms through the vast corridors, and stoodbefore the long mirrors which were not magic, but only meant toreflect earthly vanities; and from the shining marble floor came up akind of radiance about her. She opened the cedar doors of thewardrobes, and there issued a scent as of costly silk that has beenperfumed with iris root. 

The temptation was heavy upon her to clothe herself delicately that shemight please Merlin; and never before had beautiful clothes seemed sowonderful to her. She ran her long white fingers through the folds ofsilk, and let the laces cascade over her arms; but in the end she changedonly her wooden shoes for little dancing slippers of violet velvet, andagain she put fresh violets in her hair. 

When she entered the banquet hall, she found the King on the dais, and onone side of him stood Prince Hugh in a rose-satin dancing dress; and onthe other Prince Richard in a garb of yellow velvet. Both wore jeweledgirdles to which were attached little shining swords with opals in thehilts. About the throne were grouped the courtiers; and beyond thecourtiers were the knights and ladies of the frescoed walls which borethe history of King Cuthbert's ancestors; girls like drifting blossoms, matrons like sweet fruit, and knights like strong trees. 

The white velvet curtains before the tall casements shut out the stars, but all the heavens seemed recorded by the glowing wax-candles. Down thecenter of the room ran the banquet-table with dishes of gold; and plumageof rare birds nesting strange viands; and the sweet cheeks of summerfruits showing through the heaped blossoms of rose, gardenia, andhoneysuckle. There were sweetmeats on dishes of pierced silver andbetween these played into broad glass bowls jets of scented water, makinga lake where tiny swans swam. 

But all this beauty was nothing to Princess Myrtle, because she did notsee Prince Merlin in the room; nor at the banquet did he appear. So shecould eat but a little fruit, and that was without taste to her. 

After the banquet the court repaired to the dancing-hall, where alreadythe musicians were strumming upon their instruments, so that everyone'sfeet began to move rhythmically. Then King Cuthbert beckoned the PrincessMyrtle to him and said: "I see that you have put on dancing-slippers. With whom will you dance?"

"With myself, Sire, should I have no partner, " she replied smiling. 

At that moment Prince Merlin approached the throne clothed all in blacksilk, more appropriate for a scene of mourning than of festivity; and theKing said to him: "Wilt thou lead this beggar-maid in the dance?"

The Prince's face grew as white for a moment as the lace of his collar, but he replied proudly, "At a ball a man chooses his own partners. "

Then the Princess Myrtle's heart felt as weary as feet on a long road;but she awaited patiently the King's next word, which was spoken toPrince Richard and Prince Hugh, inviting them to dance with thebeggar-maid. Each made an excuse. Then King Cuthbert addressed her. "Dance with yourself, beggar-girl, " and he had the heralds proclaimthat this stranger who wore brown wool in court would go on the flooralone. Everyone laughed and clapped their hands, only Prince Merlin bithis lip and looked prouder than ever, which, when she saw, the PrincessMyrtle thought, "I will dance so beautifully that he will ask me to behis partner. "

Then she let down her hair from beneath her crown of flowers, and wentinto the center of the circle that the court had formed, and began tosway a little like a flower in the breeze. Soon the court found itselfswaying with her, so that it was like a garden when the wind rises. Butwhen all were moving, the Princess saw that Prince Merlin stood like apine-tree that will not bend its head unless the tempest comes out ofthe North. So she changed from a flower to a butterfly and began afluttering, glancing motion, and threw back her golden locks likewings. Everyone watching her became very still, only Prince Merlinmoved restlessly, and once he put his hand across his eyes as if thesun were in them. 

When she had finished the King cried "Bravo, " and then the court crowdedabout her, and Prince Hugh and Prince Richard asked her to dance withthem; but Prince Merlin did not ask her, though he led out many ladies;and because of that it was as if she were dancing in the snow and rain, or on sharp stones. 

The pain in her heart grew violent, and drove her at last to theorange-tree near which he stood. On the edge of its marble tub she satdown to rest, and all at once a golden orange dropped in her lap. Sheheld it out to him. "You have drowned your scarlet ball, take this. "

"Nay, for it is perishable, " he said. 

Then tears like pearls came slowly from her eyes and she was drivento say: "You alone have not asked me to dance. Did not my dancingplease you?"

He replied, "I am not like my brothers, " and he bowed and left her. 

That night she lay on her broad bed beneath silken covers and sobbedbitterly because her heart told her that Prince Merlin was noble; yet hermemory stung her with his cold words and averted eyes. Soon the third daywould be over, and she would have to leave the court; for even if KingCuthbert acknowledged that she was a princess, what did that matter ifMerlin did not know that she was his queen?

All next day she sat on the terrace which looks seaward and counted thesails coming up over the horizon like white petals blown from aninvisible garden; and she would say, "If five come within a space of halfan hour there will be hope for me"; but she always lost count, inthinking of his face. 

That night she took off her woolen dress and she clothed herself in lacesand over the laces she put on a cream silk gown all woven with appleblossoms, and she placed flowers upon her hair; then flashed before themirror and smiled to see herself so beautiful. "Surely, " she thought, "hewill not turn from me to-night. "

Then she put on her dancing-slippers; and went down. When she enteredthe banquet hall there was a stir and a murmur; and even King Cuthbertwas silent with amazement over her beauty. Prince Hugh and PrinceRichard came forward to meet her, and they bowed low, and looked verynoble, indeed. 

"Our father has played a merry jest upon us, " they said. "You are, indeed, a princess and no beggar-maid. " Then they began to dispute whichshould take her in to dinner. But her eyes were all for Prince Merlin, who, when the courtiers crowded about her and proclaimed her a princess, looked straight away from her. This was as a little sword in her heart, but the grief that dimmed her eyes made her appear even more beautiful. 

After the banquet all proceeded to the dancing-hall, and King Cuthbertgave his arm to her. "Now I know thou art the Princess Myrtle. Which ofmy sons hast thou chosen?"

"A woman is chosen; she does not choose, " she replied, for her heart washeavy. "To-night I must leave your court. "

"Wilt thou continue thy search, Princess Myrtle?" the King saidanxiously. 

"No, I will return to my Kingdom. "

"And what wilt thou do there?"

"I will weep, " she answered. 

She danced a measure with Prince Hugh and a measure with Prince Richard;then she saw that though Prince Merlin was in white satin and gold he didnot dance, but stood alone by the orange-tree. 

When she was free she sent a herald to fetch him, for now she desired nolonger to play a part, but to be herself. He came slowly to where shestood, and bowed before her in silence. 

"Tell me, Prince Merlin, " she said, "if you agree with these courtiersthat to-night I am become a princess?"

"I do not agree with them, " he answered. "Clothes do not make aprincess. "

Then they looked at each other. "Will you meet me, " she said, "on theedge of the wild forest in half an hour's time?"

"I am your servant, " he replied. 

She stole away to her rooms, where the moonlight lay athwart thetessellated marble floor, and opened the casement and placed the lampthere, which was to be the signal for her attendants to have her horsesready on the edge of the wild forest. Then she put on the gown she hadworn as a beggar-girl, and her wooden shoes, and let her hair down overher shoulders. 

The way to the wild forest was haunted with shadows and little fleeingthings; and the night-owls called, but she remembered the look inMerlin's eyes, and conquered her fears. 

And there he was waiting, with the moonlight gleaming on his white satin;and his face turned to the path up which she came. 

She held out her hand to him with the blue velvet glove upon it, and shesaid softly, "Will you look into my mirror, Prince Merlin?"

"I am your servant, " he said again, then looked. 

His eyes became full of light. "I see your face, " he cried; and sank uponone knee. She gave him both her hands. 

"What am I to you?" she asked. "A princess?"

"No, " he whispered. 

"A beggar-girl?"

"No, " he whispered. 

"What then?"

"Thou art my love. "

Then all the birds in all the world sang in her heart. "Tell me, " shesaid, "why, then, didst thou sink thy ball?"

"That no hands should ever touch it after thine. "

"And why didst thou say when thou didst lead me in to dinner, that thouwast sorry not for me, but for thyself?"

"I feared that thou wouldst never love me. "

Then she laughed joyfully and asked, "Why didst thou say 'I am not likemy brothers' when I asked thee to dance?"

"I wanted thee for thyself, not for thy dancing. "

And now the stars moved all to nuptial music. "One question more, " shecried. "Why didst thou say 'Clothes do not make a princess'?"

"Because I knew thou wast a princess the first hour I saw thee. "

"Rise up, my Prince, " she said. "We have a long journey before us. "

"I hear the neighing of horses, " he said, "and the moving of feet. "

"My attendants, " she replied. "My foster-mother rides with them. She gaveme the blue glove, and told me he should be my husband who should see nothis own face in the mirror, but mine. "

"I see thy face everywhere, " cried Prince Merlin. 

So he kissed her, and they rode away with all her train through thesighing night-wind and beneath the summer stars to the land of their joy. 

THE INVISIBLE WALL

On the edge of the Dark Wood dwelt for a time a Wizard, whose life hadbeen spent in the acquirement of many wonderful arts. As a young man hehad wandered over Europe from university to university, until one day hebecame aware of the true secret of education and burnt his books. 

Then he dwelt for many years in the mountains, gazing into the darkmirror of his heart, plumbing the blue ocean of the sky until the hourfor which he longed arrived, bringing Wisdom, who appeared to him as ayoung, fair being in the twilight. 

Leaving his hut he came forth to meet her. "I had thought to greet you atnoonday, " said he. 

"That is because you live in an age which thinks that to know is to bewise; but only those see who shut their eyes. Not in the glare of noon, but at twilight will you find me. "

"You are a beautiful maid, Wisdom, " said he who was on his way tobe a wizard. "But why do you wear coarse linen who should beclothed in satins?"

"To travel light, " she replied. 

"And why do you smile who should look sad?"

"To be wise is to be happy. "

"And what will you have me do?"

"Remove from here to the village that is near the Dark Wood. Go throughall the countryside proclaiming that King Theophile will shortly make warupon the inhabitants, but bid them feel no terror; only they are to buildan invisible wall. "

"By the books that I burned, that is a strange command!" cried theWizard. "Of what materials is this wonderful wall to be built?"

"Of their sacrifices, their renouncements, their good deeds, "replied Wisdom. 

"But they will call me mad, " cried the Wizard. 

Wisdom smiled. "Did you expect to be really wise, and yet thoughtsane?" she made answer. "Have the courage of all great follies and youwill yet save The Kingdom of the Dark Wood, which is the fairland ofthe Princess Myrtle. "

Upon which the Wizard took heart, for he knew that to be fearless is tobe in the class of masters, and to be fearful is to be in the class ofslaves; and the whole world is divided into these two classes, nor isthere other aristocracy, or dependency. 

"Sweet Wisdom, I will play the fool for your sake, " he answered. 

Then she smiled and blessed him and vanished into the shadows of theforest. The Wizard was not of those who say, "To-morrow I will do thusand thus"; but being truly wise he put all his power into the presentmoment. So he took his flask of water and his loaf of bread, for likeWisdom, he would travel light, and he set forth for The Kingdom of theDark Wood. 

There he rented a little cottage in the village near the wood, and set upa shoemaker's bench, for he knew how to make shoes--and good ones, too. Being a Wizard he knew that if he showed people he could do one thingwell, they would be the more ready to listen to his words. A fine, comfortable shoe is a wonderful argument, so the Wizard set to work. Thedewy dawns found him at his bench, and when the air at evening was fullof heliotrope mists and homeward flying birds his little candle burnedyellow to light his labors. 

Soon all the inhabitants had comfortable foot-wear, which put them all infine humor. Then the Wizard began to proclaim a great war and the comingof King Theophile. He stood on the green, near the town-pump, and atfirst only the geese listened to him, stretching out their long necks andopening their red bills. But this did not discourage the Wizard, for heknew that after geese come men. 

[Illustration: THE WIZARD'S FIRST AUDIENCE]

"What's this! What's this!" cried the tailor who was the first to get themessage, "A war? I must run right home and polish up my old gun. "

"Nay, " said the Wizard. "But go home and kiss your wife--for you haven'tkissed her in five years. "

"If she would comb her hair and look attractive I might kiss her, "growled the tailor. 

"If you'd buy her a ribbon occasionally, " advised the Wizard, "she mighthave the desire to make herself look pretty. "

"What has all this to do with war?" inquired the tailor. 

"Your kiss will make a stone in the invisible wall which is to keep outthe enemy, " the Wizard answered. "And if you stop your everlasting workand take your poor wife on an outing, that will be another stone. Everysacrifice you make, every good deed you do, will be a guarding stone inthe wall. "

The tailor rubbed his ear. "Am I crazy, or are you?"

"Am I asking you to do much for your country?" demanded the Wizard. "Think how mean you would feel if the invisible wall got built withoutone stone of your donating. "

"I'll go right home and kiss Matilda, " said the tailor with a skip; andoff he ran. In a few minutes he was back again. "She blushed so andlooked so pretty and pleased that I kissed her three times, and to-morrowwe are going to see her mother. Put me down for four stones. "

"Good!" said the Wizard. 

By this time quite a crowd had collected, all anxious to hear about thewar. A rich miller took the news very seriously, because his mills lay tothe eastward, from which horizon King Theophile would appear. He sent tothe bank for bags of gold and laid them at the feet of the Wizard. "Thesewill buy much gunpowder, " he said. 

"The wall will never be built of gold, " replied the Wizard. "There isno gold minted that will overcome an enemy, or keep him out if he wantsto get in, or put mercy into his heart when vengeance is flaming there. The real weapons are unseen. If you wish to help build the invisiblewall, stop grinding the faces of the poor and charging famine pricesfor your grain. "

Then the miller grew red in the face, and took up his bags of gold andwent away. But next day everyone bought wheat at a lower price than ithad been for many a long year, so that people knew the Wizard's words hadtaken effect. This made him very popular, and when he again proclaimedthe danger of war and the necessity of building an invisible wall nearlyall the village came forward to ask him what they could do to insure astone in that guarding structure. Some of them whispered in his ear, because they hated to have their secret faults proclaimed to theirneighbors. 

Old Peter was among those who made inquiry as to what sacrifice theyshould offer to avert the threatening danger. "I have, " said he, "a petbird that pines in his cage. If I give him his liberty will that helpbuild up the wall?"

"Yes, Peter, " said the Wizard. "For no good man keeps anything captivethat has the desire for freedom. "

Some people paid their debts to help build the wall. Others began to goto church after staying away for years and years. Others made uplong-standing quarrels with their relatives and old-time friends, andthese stones of reconciliation were, the Wizard proclaimed, the strongestof all, since unity and love are the only impregnable fortresses. 

Of course, there was some doubt about the wall, since nobody could provethat it really existed. But the Wizard declared he saw it to the eastwardgrowing ever stronger and wider; and he traveled up and down the landprophesying war and the necessity of making the invisible wall strong andhigh by good works. He met with greatest success in the villages andtowns, but when he entered the region of the high castles, where theknights and ladies dwelt, he was much laughed at and some would have hadhim locked up at once. 

Now, being a Wizard, he knew how powerful fashion is in this world, andhow a wandering breath may bring it into being, so he said to himself: "Iwill go direct to the court of the Princess Myrtle, who has married thePrince Merlin, and will gain her ear. When she knows the invisible wallis to protect her kingdom, she will be gracious and set the fashion ofproviding stones. "

So he journeyed all day and all night and came at last to the grim cityof green stones with towers like aged fingers of gnarled wood in themidst of which the Princess Myrtle held her court in an old red castleset about with small, stiff trees. Now the Princess had not long beenmarried to the Prince Merlin. So full of love were they for each otherthat for them many days had drifted away like the dreams of a night; andso sweet was their converse, and so softly the minstrels sang that allthe court lived in a kind of trance. 

The day the Wizard reached the castle it was drowsy noon; and thegolden-woven curtains were softly swaying in the breeze; while upon thedim walls the greenish tapestries looked like mysterious forests. ThePrince and Princess sat upon their thrones like painted figures, and allaround them sat their courtiers in their golden dreams while theminstrels sang:

"The waves are beating on the yellow sands, The moon in a black vault rides white and high. Let us go forth, from these most desolate lands, Led by the spirit's cry. "

"You are quite right, " said the Wizard. "Your lands will be desolateunless you help build the invisible wall. "

At that all the courtiers whose eyelids had been drooping with the summerheat and with dreams of romance, looked up, and the Princess Myrtlewithdrew her gaze from Prince Merlin, and fastened her sweet eyes uponthe Wizard. "You must not care what the minstrels sing, " she said. "Weare all so happy here, that we love songs of sorrow. "

"Sweet Princess, " said the Wizard, "King Theophile intends to make warupon you, and I have come to tell you that already your subjects havebuilt a fine invisible wall of good deeds and sacrifices; but they mustnot perform all the labor and have all the pain while the nobles jest andfeast. For the wall must have a stone in it from every kind of man, richor poor, high or low, else it will not endure. And you, the Princess, must put in the strongest stone of all, since the ruler of a country mustbe its protector. "

All the courtiers smiled at this, but the Princess did not smile, becauseshe was as wise as she was fair. She looked down at her peach-coloredrobe of satin and her little slippers embroidered with seed-pearls, andshe drew a long-stemmed rose from the jade bowl near her throne to passback and forth across her lips, as was her manner when thinking. 

"Prince Merlin, " she said at last, "if this strange tale be true, whatstone wilt thou place in the invisible wall?"

"I will go for a month to the Council Chamber instead of lingering nearthee while the minstrels sing, " replied her husband. 

"Spoken like a prince!" cried the Wizard. "And what wilt thou do, Princess?"

"I will go to the Council Chamber with milord, " she answered. "Andread most heavy papers of State; for if he shares my play I must sharehis work. "

"To attend to the duties of sovereignty instead of listening to minstrelsin a scented room is a fitting stone for the Princess to place in theinvisible wall, " commented the Wizard; then he looked around at thecourtiers. 

Now after the manner of courtiers they wanted to imitate their Prince andPrincess, but they thought this invisible wall a great joke not worthmaking sacrifices for. The Wizard read their thoughts and said to them:"If the ruler works alone, he is like a bird with a crippled wing. He canonly rule wisely and well if all the wisest and best help him. You areplaced high that you may serve. Give me each his vow of sacrifice thatthe wall may be strong!"

The knights and nobles looked at each other, then at the Princess Myrtle;and she bowed her head and thus addressed them:

"If our weapons against an enemy must be our unity, our mutual love andservice, instead of roaring guns and flaming cannon, surely it is easy toprovide them. Nevertheless, " she added, turning to the militarycommander, "see that the army is made ready. "

The Wizard smiled. "Well and good, if you remember, dear Princess, thatan army can never be greater or stronger than the nation back of it. Forevery gun manufactured there must be a noble desire forged, or a highideal realized; or else the weapons will be but a mask of courage on aweak face. "

The military commander shrugged his shoulders. "I'll go and see if thegunpowder is dry, " he commented, "as my contribution to yon stranger'sinvisible wall. "

Then one by one the nobles at the command of the Princess Myrtle cameforward to register each his vow of sacrifice. One said that he wouldwrite no more poetry for a year; another that he would eat no trufflesfor a fortnight; a third proclaimed that he would sell his jeweled swordto buy bread for the poor. 

The Wizard listened and shook his head. "This layer of stones is going tobe very weak, " he said. "Why don't you all stop and think, while theladies make their vows?"

The maids-of-honor crowded forward like a nose-gay of sweet-scentedflowers, eager to do better than the knights in the construction of thisinvisible wall; for being women they were quicker than their brothers andhusbands to understand what the Wizard meant. Yet they, too, were notquite clear in their minds, for one said she would wear linen instead ofsatin; another that she would give up perfumes for six months; anotherthat she would read no novels for that time. 

The Wizard began to look discouraged. At last a beautiful young girlcame forward to register her vow. "I don't care enough about jewels andscents and satins to give them up, Sir Stranger, " she said; "but Ishould like to win the love of the poor; so I will visit them, and be asone of them. "

At this the Wizard clapped his hands. "This stone is most strong, " hesaid. "Now, Sir Knights, return and make new vows. "

Then the knights came forward. "I will be reconciled with my brother, "said one. "I will build a new cottage for an aged tenant, " proclaimedanother; while a third, who was in love with the beautiful girl whowanted the love of the poor, said, "I will make a great supper for thehungry and will feast with them. "

"Ah, " cried the Wizard, "that will be, indeed, a great feast! The breadof charity chokes the receiver because the hand that gives it will notbreak it with him. We must have communion, not patronage; or theinvisible wall will never be built. "

The Princess Myrtle listened as one who hears a new gospel; and sheremembered that she had never broken bread with the poor, but onlybestowed benefits upon them, which is no way to become acquainted. Andshe sighed--a little sigh of love and regret and hope of doing better, which the Wizard said afterwards became one of the strongest stones inthe invisible wall. 

Such a change in the kingdom! People making up quarrels that had witheredhearts for generations. Court ladies running with warm loaves to thecottages and staying to eat some of the bread. Knights helping old menwith the harvest; minstrels sent to sing to the bedridden instead of toan assemblage of bored ladies and gentlemen in a tapestried gallery. Muchless talk of love and many more loving deeds. People wild to serve eachother instead of themselves. All the land silent and helpful, instead ofchattering and selfish! Such a change in the kingdom!

The Wizard was everywhere, for the wall was beginning to be a realdefense, and he spared no pains to see that every stone was strong. 

Now the fame of this wall reached King Theophile--for this was in thedays of his warring--and he laughed on his throne and said, "Oh, littleNation, I will make mincemeat of thee, for I have every kind of weaponthat is made, and many officials who do nothing all day but spy on otherpeople and brandish their swords. What have you to oppose to suchstrength? Little kingdom, you will be but a road to my glory. "

So he made great preparations for war, and gathered together all theweapons that shed blood. There were many of these and he prided himselfupon them, but in all his arsenal was not one instrument that could putshed blood back again into the veins of a man, which shows thatironworkers do not know everything. 

One fine day the King and all his armies came across the rocking wavesand drove their boats upon the shores of The Kingdom of the Dark Woodwhich lay fair before them like a green and purple map edged with whitewhere the breakers drove high. The land wind brought to their senses theodors of grapes, and the scent of apples and ripe grain. And the soldierssaid to each other, "We will kill, then we will feast. "

They were impatient to overrun the land. Now the air-spies reported thatbut a small army had massed to meet the intruders, and that back of theirranks the inhabitants were peacefully at work gathering in the harvest. This seemed incredible. Then King Theophile gave his command to the army, "March forward"; and to the air-spies, "Fly on and drop burning brands onthe fields. "

The army immediately set out. Far away the air-spies were seen beatingthe air like black rooks, but strangely enough they always remained insight and seemed to get no further. At last they went high up into theclouds and disappeared. 

But the soldiers pressed on joyfully, for the sweet odors of vineyard andgarden grew ever more ravishing; and now the land lay at their feet in ashimmering haze, through which the forests rose like deep cool islandswith here and there a red roof, or a white church spire to tell of humanhabitation. And up through the haze like released spirits in paradisecame with soft, steady motion, phalanxes of soldiers smiling. 

"By my sword that never sleeps, " cried King Theophile, "their faces shallbe gray ere nightfall, and they shall smile no more. "

Then all his soldiers made their swords sing and flash like waving grainof death; and they chanted together a song without joy. Suddenly theblack dam of their war fury broke and, with the wild roar of an untamedcataract, they swept forward towards these still and smiling knights, with King Theophile on a high dark horse at their head. 

In his rage of conquest he dug his golden spurs into his horse's side, and the beast with quivering nostrils, leaped through space, thensuddenly paused, quivering; nor could cry, or whip, or spur move him. Then King Theophile leaped down and rushed forward to see what wasfrightening the animal; and all at once he crashed against somethinghard, and his broken right arm fell to his side. He grew gray, not withpain but with sheer terror, for he could see nothing, yet his arm hadbeen broken upon a substance that felt like granite. 

As he gazed wildly about him, he saw the first phalanx of his army pitchback with bleeding foreheads; and their eyes rolled in amazement, forthey could see nothing, yet they had driven themselves against stones. 

"On! On!" cried King Theophile, for he trusted again to his senses whichrevealed only a peaceful landscape and in the distance, haloed with themists, a calm army waiting and smiling. That smile of the foe was likepoison in the King's veins, and again he rushed forward, this time tobruise and cut his head, so that the blood poured over his white mantle. 

Then he grew faint with fear as he beheld his soldiers clawing theempty airs and turning horror-stricken countenances to him. "Sire, "they whispered, "something is holding us back. Something is here thatwe do not see!"

At that moment the air-spies dropped to the ground like tired birds. "Thewind holds us back, " cried one. "No!" exclaimed another, "we broke ourmachines against a wall miles in the air! This is a bewitched country. "

"We will wait and try again, " said King Theophile. 

So they encamped on the spot, and far off in the haze they saw the otherarmy pitch its tents, and they heard the soldiers singing. All nighttheir banners waved in the wind and the faint music continued. 

At dawn King Theophile's army was astir, and those air-spies whosevehicles were still unbroken, began their flight violently--and were asviolently pitched back. The phalanxes were ordered to advance, but somefell dead with horror as they drove their limbs against an unseenbarrier. For the limpid air revealed only the placid fields; and in thedistance among the golden shadows, men smiling like the still saints inparadisal meadows. "These be happy warriors, " sighed the King, and foronce in his life he longed to call the foe "brother" and ask how theharvest went; and to pillow his head on the same knapsack with a soldier, and so sleep sweet and brotherly. 

But the wall which shut out his hate, now shut out also his love, so thathe could not walk across the fields and embrace those smiling warriorswaiting in the sunshine for a battle that was never to take place. 

So sadly one day he turned his army back to the sea-strand, and therocking boats, and away from the vision of calm eyes gazing at himthrough golden shadows, where the land lay fair and open. 

Now when the last of the fleet had disappeared below the horizon thepeople of the Dark Wood kingdom went mad with joy; and the Wizard wasescorted to the palace by all the army. The Princess Myrtle and PrinceMerlin met him at the entrance to the throne-room, and pages scatteredflowers beneath his feet. 

"O Wise Man, " cried the Princess, "how shall we reward thee forthy wisdom?"

"Only children crave rewards, " replied the Wizard. "It will be pleasureenough for me to return to my little hut and to hear the woodpeckers inthe eaves; and to see the white owls fly when the stars glow above thedark forest branches. "

Now the Military Commander was the only person in the kingdom who wasnot sharing the general joy. He was grumpy because he had lost all thehonor of winning a bloody battle. Even the sight of all his army aliveand well could not soothe the wound to his vanity; so when the Princessand the Wizard were exchanging the last courtesies, he strode forward, bowed, and said:

"Your Highness, this invisible wall is all very well, but how will ourpeople reach the seacoast through this perpetual barrier? Can this mightyWizard destroy what he has erected?"

Then all the court looked at the Wizard, who asked to be led at once tothe great concourse where the people were assembled. "This is a questionto be settled by the nation and not by the court, " he averred. 

So the knights and ladies moved like living flowers to the concoursewhere the people were assembled--the pure grain of the kingdom. And theWizard called in a loud voice to them, "Men and women, is it your willthat your good deeds be destroyed or remain in everlasting remembrance?For this wall will never keep any true soul from the sea, nor any honestman; but he that is a rogue will beat in vain against it!"

Then the people shouted, "We will keep this wall which we have built withour good deeds. "

So the wall stood forever, but the Wizard journeyed home, and knew thejoy of the tired traveler who sees his own little nook again. That nighthe ate his bread and drank his draught of water on his own doorstone; andwatched the white owls fly, hoping that Wisdom would let him be quietawhile in the arms of the forest before she sent him out again to teachthe restless hearts of men. 

THE TREE IN THE DARK WOOD

In the kingdom of the Princess Myrtle were many forests cut through withroaring streams which dashed and danced their way over immense shiningblack bowlders that looked like ebony bears lying in the current. So highwere the trees of these woods that they shut out the sun, and he whowalked through them felt himself among the columns of a gigantic temple. 

In the darkest wood of all people sometimes lost their way on bitternights when the white stars hung just above the tree-tops and thefrost-fairies filled the air with the little snaps and crackles of theirorchestra--the queer, marred music of winter. The reddening of dawn foundthese poor adventurers frozen unless they had the good fortune to findwhat all the countryside knew as "The Tree in the Dark Wood. "

The whispers of generations had established the fact of the existenceof this tree since the hour when the woodcutter, Peter Garland, hadwandered too far into the forest, and had been benighted on the feastof St. Stephen when the air sometimes sings with snow. He had becomehalf paralyzed with the cold, his poor lantern had gone out, and he wasabout to say his last prayers thinking he would never live untilmorning, when suddenly, in the midst of the whirling snow, he sawextended the limbs of a most beautiful tree. It was not so tall as theothers, and shining fruit of a delicious appearance hung upon itsbranches amidst its thick foliage. 

Best of all, poor, half-frozen Peter felt a wonderful warmth glowing fromits trunk, and with the warmth came a soft crimson light; so he stole upto it as if he were a little boy and this tree were his beautiful Mother;and he cuddled down in the arms of its great roots and went to sleep. 

When he woke up it was morning; and the sun was turning the surface ofthe snow into sheets of iridescent light. He yawned and stretched out hisarms, then remembering his wonderful rescue of the evening before, hegazed upward, but saw only a tall pine tree with shining brownish conespendant from its branches. Where was the beautiful green summer-tree hungwith crimson fruit? Where was the light like the sun's rays throughpainted glass?

"But here am I alive and warm, " thought Peter. "And the night was bitter. This tree must change its shape at the footfall of evening; and I willmark it, lest it should be lost to us. "

So taking out his knife he cut three crosses in the bark of the tree;then setting his face to the sun, for his cottage lay to the east of theDark Wood, he hacked the trees all along the way; and at last emerged inthe path which led to his dwelling. His wife and all the neighbors, whohad given him up for dead, came running to meet him with cries of joy;but when he told them what had happened they tapped their foreheads andglanced at each other. "Poor man, " they said, "the frost-king hath stolenhis wits. "

"But I marked the tree with three crosses, " he cried, "and I can lead youstraight to it. "

They laughed, but to humor him they said he might take them to hiswonderful tree after dinner, when hot soup had given them all courage; sothat afternoon there was a long procession of people trudging through theDark Wood with Peter at their head. By the time he arrived at the tree hewas trembling like a leaf with excitement. There, sure enough, stood atall pine-tree marked with the three crosses, but it was otherwise in noway different from its fellows. "Yes, but wait for evening; then you willsee it change, " said Peter. 

They laughed a little and grumbled a little; but most of them had filledtheir lanterns and brought bread and cheese against a hungry time, andafter all, it was not so cold in the forest, for the North Wind with hisblue ballooned cheeks could not blow hard down those long avenues. Peterwas full of excitement, for he was sure that the tree would becomemagical as soon as the sun set. 

When the last splashes of crimson had faded from the topmost boughs hebegan anxiously to watch the tree about which all the villagers hadseated themselves in a circle after first scraping the snow from the deadleaves. Darker and darker grew the air, and brighter the stars, while faroff in the forest the great cats began to talk to each other, and theowls hooted and flew. Suddenly Peter gave a cry of joy. "See! See! thewonderful fruit, the glowing leaves!"

"Nonsense!" said his wife. "O, poor loon, he will never be right again!"and she began to weep into her apron. 

"It is true! It is true!" cried another voice, that of hard-worked BennieBrown, who supported an old father and mother and a crippled sister byhis labors. 

"Yes, it is the most beautiful tree, " said a young girl, who had oncesold her golden hair to buy bread for a mother with a new-born child. "Othe wonderful fruit! the sweet warmth. "

The others stared and rubbed their eyes; and looked angry. "You lie, Bennie!" one cried; "You are a silly girl, Elsa, " shrieked another. 

"They speak truth. See you not the crimson light?" spoke grave HenryBaird, who had rescued many from drowning in the mountain streams. 

Those who did not see grew more and more furious. "Crazy people, " theycried. "Loons! silly babblers! will you teach us?" Then some began tobeat Peter; others to belabor young Elsa, at which Bennie ran to herrescue, and being as brave as he was good, laid about him with his fists, and cried "Shame on you, to hurt a woman, because your own eyes areblind. " Soon everyone was fighting, but those who saw the tree felt agreat strength in all their limbs, and warmth and joy; so that they soonescaped from the brawling disappointed ones and ran lightly homeward withsinging hearts. 

But the dispute thus started went on through many months until half thevillage refused to speak to the other half. Finally a good old hermittraveled over the ridges of the mountains and forded many streams toreach a place which had become famous by its quarrel. He arrived inharvest time. Those who knew that the tree glowed with life were in thefields quietly at work, for what had they to trouble them who had foundthe truth? but the others who could not see were leaning over eachother's fences with their neglected gardens at their impatient heels; andarguing and arguing the matter. 

The hermit being a wise man asked no direct questions concerning thetree, but went himself that evening into the forest and there beheldthe miracle. 

Next day he made friends with the villagers; and because warm words openthe heart, soon the good hermit had the life histories of all theinhabitants, as well as the names of those who had seen the tree andthose whose sight was blinded. 

After which he retired into the wood to think upon what he had learned;and to sort out his people like little colored beads. What he discoveredwas this: that all those who had made sacrifices for their fellows, likeBennie Brown and young Elsa, were able to see the tree, but the selfishand the hard-hearted and the indifferent could not behold it. 

When he was quite sure of this he went calmly back to the village andcalling together all the inhabitants he told them exactly why some sawthe tree and why it was hidden from the sight of others. These latteronly laughed at his words, though some of them were cut to the heart, butthey were too proud to reveal the wound. 

The hermit's explanation, however, was accepted by many; and rumorcarried it far beyond the borders of the village, so that after a whilethe nobility heard of it, and the burghers in the walled towns wherebeautiful tapestries were always drowsing into wonderful life on loomsthat could weave dreams. The result was that it grew quite fashionable tojourney to the tree to make a test of one's character, as people go tophysicians to have their blood examined. In the bright summer eveningslong processions could be seen winding like a varicolored serpent amongthe gray trees. Swords flashed, banners flew, troubadours sang snatchesof little lilting airs like the rise and dip of birds' wings, andbeautiful ladies jingled the golden bridles of their steeds. 

Few of these ladies brought their betrothed with them, lest they shouldbe made ashamed by not being able to see the tree; and should thereby bediscovered as possessing hard hearts beneath their sweet manners. It wasrumored, indeed, that people known to be selfish and cruel hadproclaimed, nevertheless, that they beheld a glorious tree, so that liarswere made, and hypocrites. Others said this was but the jealousy ofdisappointed ones whose own lives had blurred their eyesight. 

Now in the realm dwelt a splendid young knight whose name was SirGodfrey, and who took pleasure in all manner of chivalrous deeds towardsthe ladies of his own rank. He was tall and strong-limbed, with clearblue eyes, and a fresh skin, and when he wore his golden armor he lookedlike the pictures of St. George. His home was a low-set castle of agedstones held together by a vast ivy vine, and around the castle was a moatso deep that it gave back a midnight darkness to the noon sky. 

Now Sir Godfrey was in love with the Lady Beatrice whose lands adjoinedhis. She was pale and slender as any lily, with black heavy hair that hadno light in it, but in her heart was much light; and because her soulmirrored more than her eyes, she did not love easily, which reluctance ofhers was a grief to Sir Godfrey, who pressed his suit in vain. 

One day when the roses were full-blown and all the little lambs wereskipping in the broad green fields, Sir Godfrey rode on his great whitehorse towards the castle of the Lady Beatrice which was high up on ahill, and faced the dawn. And he proudly rode because he saw that she waswatching him from the rose-terraces. But after a while he beheld her nomore, and he thought, "She knows I know she was watching. " Pride put asmile on his lips, because she had never watched for him before. 

He spurred his horse to reach her the quicker while she was in this mood. Now just before he gained the gate of the castle a goose-girl with hergeese blocked the road, and he cried impatiently, "Out of the way! out ofthe way!" and scarcely reined in his horse, so that there was danger ofthe girl's being hurt. She was quick on her feet, however, and sprangaside, but one poor bird was trampled under the steed's hoofs, at whichthe girl gave a sob and called out, "You are wicked, wicked!" Then he puthis hand in his purse and drew out some gold pieces and flung themtowards her; but she did not see them, for her face was buried in thedown of the bird, which was a pet. 

When he reached the gate, there in the shadow of the arch stood the LadyBeatrice. Her face was as white as a gardenia flower, and she did notsmile when she greeted him. He wondered what he had done to offend her, and after a page had led away his horse he employed all his graceful artsto win the smile he craved as a thirsty man longs for water. Sometimesshe glanced at him from beneath her lashes as if seeking to read hissoul; and once he saw her lips tremble, but the smile did not come. 

They were pacing up and down between the nodding roses that seemed to besaying to Sir Godfrey, "Kiss her! kiss her!" until no longer could hebear it, and he sank on one knee before her and poured out his heart. 

She listened like a maiden turned to snow. Then when he was silent shespoke thus to him: "Will you go with me and my ladies to the Tree in theDark Wood this very night? If you can behold the Tree filled with fruitand rosy flame I will marry you, if not I cannot be your bride. But youmust promise me upon the cross-hilt of your sword that you will speaktruthfully. You must not deceive me to gain my hand. "

Then Sir Godfrey gave his word joyfully, for he was sure that he wouldbehold the magical Tree. He thought of all his noble deeds and thebeautiful ladies for whose sake he had tilted in tourney; and of all hisprowess as a knight in king's courts. 

So when the sun was low, he with Lady Beatrice and her train of ladiesrode forth from the gates towards the Dark Wood which lay like a cloudin the distance; and Sir Godfrey was full of song and jest, for henever doubted that soon he would be the betrothed of his beautifullady; but she was silent and looked often towards the west where therosy clouds slept. 

When the procession entered the wood it was as if the gray spaces hadturned all at once into a garden. Flashes of jewels and silks threw magiccolors on the twilight, and the troubadours in the train sang so sweetlythat all the birds were mute. As night came on the, pretty littlelanterns were lit and swung at the horses' bridles. 

The Tree was nearly reached when Lady Beatrice halted her procession andbade it await her and Sir Godfrey, for she loved him too well to have himmortified before other people; and she feared that he would not beholdthe glowing fruit-bearing Tree. But never a doubt crossed his mind, forhe remembered all his noble deeds that he had performed beneath the eyesof gallant knights and fair ladies. 

So they rode on to the Tree, and he unhooked the lantern from his saddleand held it high. 

"Why do you do that?" asked the Lady Beatrice. 

"To find the three crosses, " he said. 

"But the Tree is glowing like a jewel, " she cried. 

Then he grew gray as the ashes of a long-spent fire, for he knew that hehad failed; and his pride suffered a mortal wound, since it was greaterthan his love. "You are deceived, Lady Beatrice, like all the rest, " hesaid. "There is no magic Tree. "

For answer she turned her horse and rode sadly away. Her heart was tooheavy for speech. As he saw her going the sense of loss cut like aknife into his spirit, and his pain was keen, for he still loved forhis sake and not for hers. She, seeing that he suffered, longed tocomfort him, but she was not one of those who live for the moment, andshe held her peace. 

When they reached the waiting procession everyone looked at Sir Godfrey, and his pride was, by the challenge of their eyes, again aroused, for hecould do nothing, nor feel nothing unless he was before a mirror. So hebegan to be very gay; and though he would have scorned to speak a lie, heacted one that everyone might believe he had seen the magic Tree. But theLady Beatrice remained silent and sad. When they reached her gates heasked her permission to enter; then she said: "Some day, not now. "

He rode away without a jest, for she had never before refused him anycourtesy, and his heart was heavy within him. That night he could notsleep, but tossed upon his bed, sometimes grieving because he had notseen the magic Tree and so had been made of no worth in the LadyBeatrice's eyes; sometimes in anguish because she had not allowed him toenter her gates. 

But in all this he loved himself, so the pain was but transitory, andnext day he put on his finest doublet of leaf-green satin lined withprimrose silk and edged with pale corals, and rode to her gates. Therethe porter brought back word that the Lady Beatrice could not see him. 

Sir Godfrey was angry then, and he sought to make her jealous. Next daywhen at the jousts, he sat at the feet of her cousin, Lady Alladine, nordid he look towards the Lady Beatrice. 

But all that only heaped fire on his own heart, and he rode home to hiscastle with his brow dark. The singing birds seemed to mock him, and hethought he heard the shrill laughter of the goblin-men, who live in thedeep dells. That night he could not sleep; but murmured again and againthat she was his own love, and not the Lady Alladine. 

So full of meekness he rode next day to the castle of his heart's life, but the porter brought back to him the same message, and Sir Godfreydeparted full of anguish. His pain, like a scourge, drove him on and onuntil he was far off in the desert amid the tangled and tripping briersand the keen-edged stones. The rain beat upon his head and upon hissilken clothes, but he was unmindful of it, because he had begun togrieve not for himself, but for his sweet lost love. 

The days went by and he grew thin and worn with his grieving; and becausehe learned how salt is the taste of tears he began to pity everythingthat suffered. He was well-nigh worn out with his memories, for now henever thought of his noble deeds, but of the times when he had given painto others. Often he remembered the poor goose-girl and her birds. Atfirst he would say, "I gave her gold"; then a voice in his heartanswered, "Gold cannot pay for life. "

So one day he went to the market-place and bought a fine gray goose witha bill as red as a cardinal's robe; and he tucked the bird under his arm, though the people jeered to see a noble knight carrying a goose. But SirGodfrey cared not. He went straight to the village green where thegoose-girl was leading her birds around, and bowed low before her as ifshe were a great lady. 

"I am sorry that I killed one of your flock, " he said. "Will you takethis fellow for forgiveness's sake?"

Then the tears came into her eyes, and she took into her arms from histhe gray goose whose bill was red as a cardinal's robe; and strokedhis feathers. 

"Why do you cry?" asked Sir Godfrey. 

"I am glad you are a true knight, " she answered. 

Then Sir Godfrey wished with all his heart that he might bring tears tothe eyes of the Lady Beatrice, for he felt that never more would shebelieve him a true knight. 

The world was full of flying leaves, for it was autumn; then the windsdied and the snows came. Bitter winter chained the mountain streams andlaid the forests asleep. The stars shone blue, and on the windowpaneswere fairy pictures. 

Now the time drew near the birth of Christ, and one day Sir Godfreywas overjoyed to receive a message from the Lady Beatrice, bidding himto a feast on Christmas Eve. It seemed to him that he could not waitfor the hour to come, and all that day he thought upon the joy ofbeholding her again. 

Towards nightfall the wind rose and the snow began to fly, but to SirGodfrey it was as if the air were full of dainty flowers. Nor did heregard the cold nor the whistling tempest, but rode in deep joy andhumility to the castlegate of the Lady Beatrice. 

When he had nearly reached it he heard a feeble voice crying: "Stop, SirKnight; for the love of heaven, stop!" and looking down he saw a bent oldwoman holding her hands out to him in supplication. 

Every moment's delay was as the point of a sharp sword against his heart, but he had himself suffered too much to turn from the voice of pain; andleaning from his saddle he said, "What can I do for you, Mother?"

"Sir Knight, " she replied, "my home lies on the farther side of the DarkWood, and the neighbor who was to convey me thither has no doubtforgotten his promise. I have a sick son there for whose sake I made thisjourney. Wilt thou, for the love of heaven, take me up behind thee andconvey me through the Dark Wood to my dwelling? I cannot walk throughthis tempest, and my son may die. "

Then Sir Godfrey was as a man turned into marble by enchantment, and hisheart was sore with struggle. Before him were the lights of the castlewhich held his love. If he carried this woman to her home, he could notsee his Lady Beatrice, who, perhaps, would never forgive him for notappearing at her summons. 

The thought was as death to him, and he looked broodingly down at thepoor woman. "I am bidden to a feast, Mother, " he said, "the porter ofthis castle will give you shelter for the night, and in the morning Iwill convey you through the Dark Wood to your home. "

"The morning may be too late, Sir Knight, " she said sadly. 

Then without a word Sir Godfrey turned his horse, and though his heartwas like lead, he bent a cheerful countenance to the stranger, andassisted her to the place behind the saddle, and off they rode togetherthrough the night and storm. 

Sir Godfrey spoke but little, since his thoughts were with the LadyBeatrice and the empty chair at the feast which should have been his. Hesaw her face imprinted on the night's dark veil and heard her voicecalling him on the whistling wind. The old woman behind him muttered ofthe storm while on and on they rode. 

At last they entered the Dark Wood, and here they made slower progress, for the light of Sir Godfrey's little lantern was feeble and the treescast confusing shadows. By and by the old woman began to moan that shewas cold, that she felt herself dying of the cold. "O would that we couldreach the Tree which sheds warmth and bears fruit even in this bitterweather, " she cried. "O Knight, hasten forward to the Tree. "

But Sir Godfrey made no answer, for he was now sure that he should neverbe holy enough to behold the Tree; and he, too, felt the sorrow and coldof death creep upon him, and a dreadful fear that never again should heleave the Dark Wood alive, but would perish there miserably. He could nolonger see the path, and the arms of the old woman clinging to him werelike the touch of ice. "O Mother!" he cried, "Pray for our deliverance, for I have lost the road. "

At that moment his lantern went out, and he gave a cry of despair, for hehad nothing wherewith to relight it. 

"Fear not, " cried the old woman, "but press on. "

So through the dark he urged his horse, seeing nothing and feeling moredead than alive; for he now knew that both he and his passenger mustperish of the cold. 

But even as he was resigning his heart to the will of heaven, he saw afaroff a beautiful, clear, rosy light shedding long rays over the snow, andwhere the light lay the snowflakes fell no more, but a delicate breeze, soft and caressing, issued like a breath of spring from that circle. Theold woman cried, "The Tree! the Tree!"

Sir Godfrey's heart leaped with joy. He could not believe that he wasat last worthy to behold the Tree, yet there it rose, oh, so glorious!its trunk glowing with a sweet, warm fire, its branches covered withlights and heavy with delicious fruit. He laughed with joy, while theold woman softly wept. Even the horse saw the fine sight, for hewhinnied his pleasure. 

Then the knight dismounted and turned to lift the old woman down, whensuddenly she threw back her hood, and straightened herself; and there, smiling into his eyes, was his own love, the Lady Beatrice. "O my trueKnight, " she cried. "For the sake of a stranger thou didst brave death. Now with thy love shalt thou live. "

Then Sir Godfrey cried out with joy and took her in his arms and kissedher many times, while from behind the Tree came running all thetrue-hearted nobles and peasants who had been able to see its wonders, and they all circled Sir Godfrey and the Lady Beatrice while theyplighted their troth. Then all ate the fruit, and made merry in the rosywarmth until the Christmas morning dawned, when they went back in thesunshine to celebrate the marriage of Sir Godfrey and the Lady Beatrice, who lived happily ever afterwards; for how otherwise could it be withlovers that had together beheld the Tree in the Dark Wood?

THE CAT THAT WINKED

Once there was an old woman who lived on the edge of the Dark Wood in asmall cottage all covered with thick thatch and over the thatch grew ahoneysuckle vine; but at the gable where the chimneys clustered, thewisteria flung purple flowers in May. 

On the topmost chimney was a stork's nest, and there dear grandfatherstork stood on one leg, unless he was wanted to carry a little baby tosome house in the village; when he flapped his wings and flew away overthe tree-tops to the Land of Little Souls. 

Now the old woman loved her home, because she had lived there many yearswith her husband. She loved the two worn chairs on each side of the greathearth, and her pewter dishes, and her big china water-pitcher withflowers shining on it--not for themselves, but for the reason that oncesomeone had used them and admired them with her. 

Into the little latticed windows the roses peeped, and these MotherHuldah loved too, and tended carefully all through the sweet-smellingsummer-time. But perhaps she liked best the long winter evenings when shespun by the fire and sang little songs like these:

"My heart as a bird has flown away, (Princess, where? Princess, where?)Into the land that is always gay, Out of the land of care. 

"But no bird flies alone to bliss, (Princess, why? Princess, why?)I have no answer but a kiss, And then the open sky. "

Nobody listened but Tommie, who was an immense black cat, held in greatreverence by the villagers, for he had the greenest eyes and the longestwhiskers and the heaviest fur of any cat in the kingdom. Moreover, he hadhundreds of mice to his credit and no birds, for he was a good and wisegrimalkin. Sometimes he talked with his tail and sometimes he opened hispink mouth and said just as plain as words that he had been stalkingthrough the moonlight and had seen old Egbert go limping home as if hehad the rheumatism. 

So next day Mother Huldah with her little bag of medicines and ointmentswould go to old Egbert's hut, and sure enough, find him bedridden; orTommie would tell her that Charlemagne the stork had carried a baby to apoor mother who had no clothes for it. Then Mother Huldah would go to hergreat cedar chest and take out linen that smelled all sweetly oflavender, and carry it with some good food to the poor woman. 

Mother Huldah was so kind and generous that everybody got in the habit oftaking things from her without sometimes so much as a "thank you, " or aninquiry as to her own health. But the little children loved her becauseshe made them pretty cakes; and told them the stories she used to tellher own children, her two fine sons who were soldiers. These sons senther the money upon which she lived and out of which she made her littlecharities, and they wrote her fine brave letters, and every year theycame home to see her, bearing beautiful presents from foreign lands, ivory toys and shining silks (which she always gave to some bride) andworkboxes of sweet-scented wood richly carved--to show how much theyloved her. 

One dreadful year a great war broke out, and not long after Mother Huldahheard that her two sons had been killed, and she herself thought shewould follow them through grief. But she lived on and as she grew moresorrowful she went less and less to the village, and people began toforget her. Even the little children stayed away since she had no longerthe heart to tell them the tales she had once told her sons; and she mustno longer bake the little cakes since every day saw her small hoard ofmoney diminishing. 

At last, when the winter tempests were raging, and the sleet was beatingupon the thatch, there came a day when no food remained in the cottage;and Mother Huldah felt too weak and sick to go out in quest of it. Nordid she wish to tell her neighbors that no food remained in the cottage. 

So full of weary dreams and old sad thoughts she sat down in one of thearmchairs before the fire, and whether she nodded from drowsiness, orwhether Tommie nodded at her she never knew, but he moved his black headand opened his pink mouth, and said he, "Suppose I fetch you a bird justthis once. "

She was much surprised, for Tommie had never talked to her before, butshe did not show how astonished she was because she was always verypolite to him. So she replied, "Bless your whiskers! Tommie! but we won'tbreak through our rule. Maybe some neighbor will fetch me a loaf!"

"Maybe they will and perhaps they won't, " said Tommie, "they're anungrateful lot. "

"They think I am still rich, my dear, " she answered. 

"So you are, but not in the way they mean, " Tommie said. "And, Mother Huldah, if they neglect you a day longer it won't be yourTommie's fault. "

Then Mother Huldah shook her finger at him. "You switch your tail just asif you were going to steal something. Tommie, I brought you up betterthan that. "

"Steal! nonsense!" cried Tommie. "Most of 'em have more than theyneed, anyway. "

"Tommie, I believe you're hungry, or your morals wouldn't be so queer!"Mother Huldah said reprovingly. 

"Hungry!" exclaimed Tommie. "I dream of lobster claws and chicken wingsand blue saucers full of yellow wrinkled cream, twelve in a row. Nowonder my morals are queer!"

Then what happened was that poor Mother Huldah dozed off to sleep andwhen she awoke there was Tommie staring into the fire, his green eyeslike two lanterns and his whiskers standing out very stiff and knowing, and at Mother Huldah's' feet was a wicker basket from which issued a mostappetizing odor. "Why, Thomas" (she always called him Thomas in solemnmoments), "what's this?"

"Your dinner, " said Tommie, and yawned like a gentleman who lights acigarette and says, "O hang it all! what a beastly bore life is. "

"Thomas, " questioned Mother Huldah solemnly, "where did you get thisdinner?" for she had taken the cover off the basket and found a smallroast chicken with vegetables and a bread pudding. 

"Why, I was strolling down the gray lane when I met a woman carrying thatbasket and I smelled chicken; so up I stood on my hind legs, and winkedat her and I said, 'Thank you, I know you are taking that to MotherHuldah; let me carry it the rest of the way. '"

But Mother Huldah cried, "Maybe the dinner wasn't for me, and youfrightened her so she had to give it to you. "

Tommie yawned again. "Don't you think that the best thing you can do witha good dinner is to eat it?"

So Mother Huldah ate her dinner, hoping all the while that she was makingan honest meal; then, when she had fed Thomas, she asked him ifCharlemagne was on the roof. "Indeed, no!" cried he. "Charlemagne hasflown to the war country to fetch you a baby!"

"Alas!" cried Mother Huldah. "I pity the poor babes, but how can I bringup a baby?"

"It is your granddaughter, " said Tommie. "Charlemagne told me that a yearago your son Rupert married, but he meant to bring his bride home as asurprise to you. Then the war broke out and--"

"O poor little daughter-in-law!" cried Mother Huldah. "Did she breakher heart?"

"Yes, and so she followed Rupert to the Country of the Brave Souls; butCharlemagne is fetching the baby in a warm woolen napkin tied up at thefour corners; and when his wings get tired from flying he puts a bit ofsugar and a drop of water in the baby's mouth and leans his featherybreast against its little feet to keep them warm!"

"Yes! yes!" said Mother Huldah, "a baby's feet should be always keptwarm--but, dear me, dear me, the Sweet One will need milk before long, and the grain of the whole wheat to help her grow! I have no money to buyher food. "

Tommie looked very wise. "Mother Huldah, " he said as he drew a black pawknowingly over one ear, "don't you know that wherever a baby comes, helpcomes? Open the linen chest and get your shining shears and begin to makelittle shirts and dresses. I think I'll take a look at the weather. "

He made the last remark carelessly like a young gentleman who will strollout and leave the women-folk to their devices. 

"O Tommie!" said Mother Huldah, "you are not going to do anythingimpulsive?"

"Mother Huldah, " replied Tommie, "did you ever know a cat to do anythingimpulsive unless he saw a bird, or a mouse?"

With that he left her, and she watched him walk away down the forest pathwith the sunlight glistening on his coat and his tail held high andstraight. Sometimes he would pause and lift one foot daintily, the toescurling in. Mother Huldah always said that Tommie heard not with his earsbut with his whiskers, and perhaps it was true. 

Tommie himself was making his own plans as he went along. "If I tellthese villagers outright that Mother Huldah is in need, each person willthink, 'O well, Neighbor Jude, or Gossip Dorcas has more to spare than I. Someone else will take care of the poor old lady, I am sure. ' And it willend in her getting nothing at all. I will not talk about her, but to eachperson I will talk about himself, for that is the way to get peopleinterested. "

At which Tommie smiled, and because his great-grandfather was a CheshireCat, his smile gave him a wise and jovial look, as if the Sphinx of Egyptshould suddenly see a joke. With a good heart he went daintily on hisway, shaking the snow from his paws at times, until he reached thevillage green. Now in the middle of the green stood the pump, made ofwood with a flat top. On this Tommie seated himself, put his paws neatlytogether, folded his tail about them, made his green eyes perfectlyround, and stared straight ahead of him. 

Now even a cat when he looks as if he could think for himself will drawpeople's attention; especially if he seems to enjoy his thoughts. AndTommie, seated on the pump in the bright winter sunshine, looked as if hehad something in his mind that pleased him. 

"Heigh-O, " said one of the passers-by. "Here's a witch-cat!"

"You are mistaken, " replied Tommie with a wink. "I belong to MotherHuldah, and she is the best woman in the village. "

The man was so astonished that he dropped a parcel of eggs he wascarrying, and they were all broken. 

"That's what comes, " said Tommie, "of imagining evil where none exists. "

The man was so angry that he made some snowballs hastily and began topelt Tommie with them; but Tommie understood the beautiful art ofdodging--which some people never learn all their lives--so he didn't gethit. By this time a crowd had gathered about the angry man, and wereasking him what was the matter. 

"Matter!" he shrieked, "that black object on the pump gave me impudence!"

"Heigh-O!" cried little Elsa. "How could a cat give thee impudence!"

"Ask him then, " said the man. "He can talk like any Christian. "

At which the crowd all looked at Tommie, who winked at them and said, "Does anybody here want to ask me any questions? I'll tell him what hewants to know in perfect confidence between him and me and the pump. Ifmy answer pleases him, he can give me a silver piece. If my reply makehis heart go pit-a-pat with joy he can give me a gold piece. If hedoesn't like my answers, he needn't give me anything. Now that's fair, isn't it?"

Then everybody looked at everybody else, and dropped their jaws andrubbed their eyes. Nobody stirred for a minute, then a fine young fellowstepped forward, blushing. This was Carl, the miller's son, who wasstraight as a birch-tree, and had blue eyes like deep lakes, and hewalked right up to the pump, and bowed, then he whispered into Tommie'sear, "Does Lucia love me?"

Tommie winked his right eye and smiled. "Carl, " he replied, "get upyour courage and ask her to-day, for she loves you better than anyonein the world. "

Then Carl felt his heart go pit-a-pat, and all the snow wreaths on thetrees seemed to turn to bridal flowers. "Thanks, dear and wise Pussy, " hesaid, and took out his handkerchief and spread it at Tommie's feet and onit he placed not one, but three gold pieces. 

When the villagers saw the gold pieces glittering in the sun and beheldthe radiant face of Carl, they all began to wonder, and each personwanted to try his own luck. "After all, " said each one to himself, "if Idon't like what the cat says I needn't pay him anything. "

The next person to go up was the village tanner, whose skin was likeleather and whose eyes were little like a pig's. Tommie was alreadyacquainted with him, having been kicked out of his tannery once when onan innocent mousing expedition. 

"Say, " said the tanner, "will my Uncle Jean leave me his farm?"

"No, " answered Tommie, winking his left eye. "That he won't! He knows youare always wishing he would die!"

The tanner was so angry that he snarled: "Don't you ever let me catch youaround the tannery again, or I'll make you into a muff for my daughter. "

"Black furs are not fashionable this winter, " said Tommie. "Next?"

Everybody laughed when they saw that the tanner hadn't paid money forhis information, and so, presumably, didn't like it. But strangelyenough, instead of discouraging this led them on to try their luck; andthe next person who came to ask Tommie a question was poor, old, half-blind Henley the miser. He put his mouth close to the cat's ear, sothe people behind him wouldn't catch what he said, and in a hoarse voicehe asked, "Say, old whiskers, will my fine ship loaded with dates andspices reach Norway safely?"

"Yes, it will, " said Tommie, "long before your withered old soul willreach a haven of peace. "

Henley was so excited over the first words that he didn't even hear thelast ones. He hopped about on one leg, and was rushing off at last whenTommie cried, "Heigh-O, you haven't paid me!"

The miser felt in his pockets and drew out a silver coin and laid it onthe handkerchief. 

"Not at all, " said Tommie. "Remember the Worth of that cargo! Goldor nothing. "

Henley began to whine. "I'm a poor old man, Tommie. I'll leave the creamjug on the doorstep every day and no questions will be asked!"

"I'm not a thief, " answered Tommie. "Mother Huldah brought me up betterthan that. Come, you don't want to have any quarrel with a black cat. "

Whereupon Henley reluctantly drew from his pocket a gold piece, while allthe villagers opened their eyes very wide, and wondered what Tommie couldhave told the old gentleman to make him so liberal. 

The next person to come up was a little shy girl named Clara. She had bigbrown eyes and fair floating hair, and under her white chin and about herlittle white wrists were soft furs; for her father was a wealthymoneylender. She came close to Tommie and whispered, "Tell me, beautifulPussy, if I shall ever win the love of Joseph Grange. "

Tommie winked his right eye several times and replied, "My dear, I seeit coming!"

She flushed with joy. "And what shall I do to hasten it?"

Tommie reflected a moment. "Be pleasant, but not anxious. A lady withan anxious expression has little chance of winning a lover! Don'tinvite him too often; don't talk too much. Now I haven't hurt yourfeelings, have I?"

"No, indeed, " she said, for she was a young lady of good sense. "AndTommie, dear, will you take these gold pieces to Mother Huldah. She wasso good to me when I was a little girl, and because I have been soabsorbed in my own affairs I haven't been to see her lately. "

"That's the trouble with being in love, " said Tommie, "it's apt to makepeople selfish, and it should make them love and remember everybody. Itdoes when it's the real thing. "

Little Clara clasped her hands earnestly. "I will come to see MotherHuldah this afternoon, " she said, "and bring her some cakes of myown baking. "

After Clara one person and another came up. Some asked foolish questions, some wise. Some paid down money, others didn't, but the pile of gold andsilver at Tommie's feet grew steadily. 

Now all novelties, even talking cats, soon cease to be novelties, andtowards afternoon when the villagers saw how much of their money lay atTommie's feet, some of them began to be discontented. Of these the tannerwas the ringleader, and he said to the other grumblers, "If we can getthat lying cat off the pump, we can then take his money. I have three bigrats in the trap at the tannery, and I know Tommie is starving hungry bythis time. We'll let 'em loose on the ground in front of the pump. Whenhe makes a spring one of you grab the money and run. "

Now the tanner had guessed right. Tommie was hungry, but he wasdetermined to keep his post until sundown. After a while no more peoplecame, and he was just thinking he would take up the handkerchief by thefour corners and go home, when he espied a group of people approaching. Suddenly, oh, me, oh, my! three dinners were scampering towards him, suchrats, such big, splendid rats in fine condition. Tommie had never usedsuch self-control in all his nine lives, but he sat tight and though hiswhiskers showed his agitation he never budged. 

The tanner was mad clear through, and he cried out, "He's a wizard; heought to be killed" because some people can't see others controllingthemselves without thinking there's something wrong with them. Then hebegan to make snowballs and to pelt poor Tommie. Now Tommie, as has beensaid, was a good dodger, but nevertheless when it rains snowballs it'shard not to get hit. It might have fared badly with him had not someknights and ladies at that moment appeared on the scene in the train ofthe beautiful Princess Yolande, one of the fairest princesses in all therealm. She rode a great white horse, and she was robed in cream velvetand white furs, while about her slender waist was a girdle of gold setwith sapphires which were as blue as her eyes. By her side rode LordMountfalcon. He was all in black armor, for he was mourning a brother whohad died in the distant war. 

Love as well as grief filled his heart, for his dark eyes werecontinually upon the beautiful Princess, who now reined in her horse andcried out in a sweet voice, "Shame upon you men to hurt a poor cat. "

"He is a wizard and he belongs to a witch, " called out the tanner. 

"O what a wicked lie, " said Tommie. "I don't care what names you call me, but my mistress is one of the best women in the land. She has come topoverty in her old age. For her sake and to get her a little money, I'vesat here all day answering truthfully all questions. Now, dear PrincessYolande, believe me, for I am a true cat. "

The Princess was so astonished that she couldn't speak for a moment. Atlast she turned to Lord Mountfalcon and said: "Truly, we have come towonderland. I'd rather believe the cat than the people who were peltinghim, and I have a mind to test his powers. Let us alight and ask himquestions. "

Then they all dismounted and with the pages and the ladies and thegentlemen in armor the scene was as gay as the stage of an opera. Everybody chatted and laughed, and some of the court ladies strokedTommie's fur with their pretty white hands; and one took off her braceletand hung it about his neck. 

But when the Princess Yolande went forward to ask her question, everyonefell back. Then with sweet dignity, as became a princess, she stoodbefore Tommie and said, "Tell me if Lord Mountfalcon love me truly. "

Tommie didn't wink, for he knew the ways of court, his grandfather havingbeen chief mouser to old King Adelbert; but he purred a warm good purr, like a mill grinding out pure white grain. 

"If the sky in heaven be blue, Then Mountfalcon loves you true;If the sun set in the West, Lord Mountfalcon loves you best. "

"You see, " he added, "I'm not much of a poet, but those are the facts. "

"Never was bad verse so sweet to me, " cried the Princess and she put downa whole bag of gold at Tommie's feet. 

After her came Lord Mountfalcon himself with that sad grace of his, andall his spirit shadowed with love and grief. "Sir Puss, " he said, "shallI wed ever the Princess Yolande?"

"Before there are violets in the vales of the kingdom, " replied Tommie. 

"Two saddlebags will not hold the gold I shall give thee, " exclaimedthe nobleman. 

"Bring them to the cottage where Mother Huldah lives, " said Tommie. "AndI ask this further favor: When you leave this spot will you take me upbehind you and give this money to a page to convey; and so bring mesafely home with the wealth, for I fear mischief from the tanner. "

"Most willingly, " said Mountfalcon. "I will present your request to thePrincess. "

After him all the court came with questions; so when the page advancedto gather up the money the load was almost more than he could carry. Then Tommie jumped down from his perch, and another page lifted himsafely on to the big warm back of Lord Mountfalcon's horse, which feltfine and comforting to poor Tommie's feet. He was so tired that he tookforty winks after he had told the Princess how to reach the cottage ofMother Huldah. 

When he woke they were all in the dim forest and the Princess Yolande andLord Mountfalcon were talking in low tones like the whisper of the windthrough flowers; and it seemed as if their talk were all of love anddreams and far-away griefs and tears that must fall. 

At last they reined in their horses where Mother Huldah stood at her gatepeering into the forest. When she saw the beautiful lady and the nobleknight and Tommie on the horse's back, she cried out, "O bless you, SirKnight, for bringing him home. "

"And I've brought a fortune with me, Mother Huldah, " cried Tommie. 

At this Mother Huldah looked troubled. "Gracious Lady, " she addressed thePrincess, "I hope my cat has not been up to mischief. "

"No, bless him, " replied the Princess; then she told all that Tommie haddone. "And fear not to take the money, Mother, " she added, "for those whogave it did so of their free-will. "

"Alas! I would not take it, " sighed Mother Huldah, "had not my Rupert andmy Hugh died in the great war; and Rupert's wife went with him to theKingdom of the Brave Souls; and I expect Charlemagne to-night with theirlittle baby. "

"Rupert? what Rupert?" asked Lord Mountfalcon, leaning down fromhis horse. 

"Rupert Gordon; I am Huldah Gordon, his bereaved mother!"

Then Mountfalcon removed his cap, alighted from his horse and bowed lowbefore Mother Huldah. "He died gloriously. He died trying to remove mypoor brother from danger, " he said. "Now let me be as a son to you, forsweet memory's sake. "

[Illustration: CHARLEMAGNE BRINGS THE BABY TO MOTHER HULDAH]

Then they all wept softly, for even to hear of those battles and thoseSilent Ones in the Kingdom of the Brave Souls was to behold the worldthrough tears. And the Princess Yolande alighted and kissed MotherHuldah's hands and promised to visit her often. 

So with many true words they parted at last, and Mother Huldah was leftalone with Tommie and the bags of gold and silver, which she took indoorsand then returned to scan the sky where now the white stars hung and athin half-circle of a moon. Tommie romped in the snow for the joy ofstretching his legs. After a while he said, "Listen, don't you hearsomething, Mother Huldah?"

"I would I heard wings!" she cried. 

"But I hear wings, " said Tommie. "Watch! watch where the NorthStar burns!"

So Mother Huldah watched, and soon she saw the great outspread wingsof Charlemagne and saw his long bill with something hanging from theend of it. 

"My word, here's the baby, " called out Tommie. "Hello, Charlemagne, youold Grandpa! have you kept that precious infant warm?"

But Charlemagne alighted on his feet and walked solemnly to Mother Huldahand laid in her arms the softest, sweetest, pinkest little baby that shehad ever seen. There was golden down on its head, and its little handswere folded like rosebuds beneath its tiny chin. 

Mother Huldah felt its feet to know if they were warm; then she criedand sobbed and held the little thing to her breast; and trembled forlove of it. 

"Take it before the fire, " said Tommie. "We're all tired to-night andit will be good to drowse and dream. Good-night, Charlemagne. Thechimney's warm. "

So the stork flew up to the roof, and Mother Huldah took her treasure andheld it in her warm, ample lap before the fire; and Tommie winked anddozed and looked at the baby with his great green eyes, while MotherHuldah sang:

"The gold of the world will fade away, Baby sleep! Baby sleep!But thou wilt live in my heart alway, Sleep, my darling, sleep. 

"The gold of the world it comes and goes, Baby sleep! Baby sleep!But thou wilt bloom like a summer rose, Cease my soul to weep. "

THE MAGIC TEARS

There was once a king named Theophile who lived in a dim castle on theedge of the ocean, but so far above the water that the flying spray neverreached its lowest terrace; and only the strongest-winged seagulls couldcircle its towers and turrets. It was a strange, melancholy, beautifulplace, where the light shimmered on the walls like the ripple of water, and in the shadows of the massive walls the flowers waved all day in thesea-wind like little princesses who would dance before they died. 

King Theophile had led many armies to victory, driving his goldenwhite-sailed boats upon far-off coasts, but from each conquest hereturned the sadder because he had made many people hate him, and had wonno one's love. Nor could he find a woman who would wed him, because ofthe sorrows of his line, which were great. 

When he was not at war he would labor for his kingdom until sunset, andat that hour he would leave his Council Chamber to pace the terraces andgaze seaward over the rocking blue-green waves, while his minstrels sangto him. Only music could drive away his care, so always a page with agolden harp followed him. Sometimes he would bid everyone be gone butthis boy, and the two would glide like shadows through the long gallerieswhere the bluish tapestries hung; or brood together by the roaring firewhen the sleet rattled on the casements. 

One spring day when it seemed as if even the ocean air wafted thefragrance of little pale flowers and the sun shone warmly on the old graywalls of the castle, the King and the boy wandered into the garden of thewhite lilacs; where, on a marble bench, King Theophile seated himself, and listened while the boy sang:

"My love came out of an old dream, And took away my peace;And now I dare not sleep again, Until this heartache cease. "

"Did he ever know slumber again, I wonder, " said the King. "O boy, ofwhat use are your love-songs!"

"To arouse love in your heart, Sire!"

"What good is that when I have no maiden to love!"

"Listen, Sire, " said the boy. "You are going to war with King Mace whohas a most beautiful daughter, the Princess Elene. When you haveoverthrown him, bring her to your kingdom and wed her. "

"A strange way to win the love of a woman, " said the King, "by invadingher father's kingdom. Nevertheless, I will have regard to the maiden. "

"I have heard, " said the page, "that they who once behold her arerestless ever afterwards from the wound of her beauty. "

The King nodded wearily. "There are women like that--gleams from loststars; faces seen at sunset; or where the light is lifting after a storm. I have never cast eyes on such a maid. "

"When you see the Princess Elene you will behold her, " said the page. 

"I will set forth to war immediately, " announced the King. 

Soon thereafter he sailed away, and over the rocking billows went thegolden boats until they drove upon the coasts of King Mace's land, wherebitter battles were fought and many men laid asleep with the sword. Thencame a day when all was quiet, and even King Mace pillowed his royal headon his dead horse, and woke no more. 

Then King Theophile entered the little sunny palace where all was sosilent, and strode through the echoing corridors to the throne room. There alone, beneath a canopy of azure satin, on the great throne sat awoman whose face was like a gleam from a lost star. She had proud lips, and hair that was like cloth of gold about her, and eyes that were wellsof sorrow. When he beheld her, King Theophile's limbs became as weak as anew-born child's, and he heard the sound of a far-off wind that hadtraveled from the Kingdom of Lost Hope. He knew that henceforth for himthere must be either love or death. 

"O Princess, " he cried, "they are all asleep. But thou and I are awake. "

"Nay, " she replied, "they are awake. Their spirits crowd this hall towring my heart with pity; but thou art asleep. "

Her words were like a sword in his breast, and kneeling before her, hecried: "Come with me to my Kingdom. Thou art my only Love. "

"Thou mayst force me to wed thee, " she replied, "but the sword which canslay, can never wake love to life. Thou hast come to the end of thyconquests. "

Then King Theophile tasted the bitterness of death as the men who sleptfrom the stroke of his sword could never taste it. And because he was nota man to put his soul into the keeping of his tongue, he made no answer, but in his secret heart he resolved to win her love, though the adventurecost him years of pain. 

So while he lingered in her kingdom, building costly monuments to thedead, and showering gold on the wounded, and sending into fine houses thehomeless whose hearts ached for vanished humble hearths; while he workedto draw life out of death, he spared no effort to bring a smile to thelips of the Princess Elene. 

But she never smiled, and though her heart was breaking, she could notweep. Often she said to her women, "Pray that I may have the gift oftears, " but always her eyes remained dry, like the vision of those whohave gazed too long on fire. 

To King Theophile she seemed the very Beauty of the World, as in herblack robes she sat in her garden at her tapestry frame, or listened withveiled eyes to the singing of his minstrels. And in his heart was abattle greater than any he had ever waged in desolated lands, for hisnobler self told him he had no right to wed her. But his wild love drovelike a tempest across these whispers. 

[Illustration: KING THEOPHILE AND QUEEN ELENE]

So at last he married her in the dim cathedral church of her deadfather's kingdom, with pomp of flowers and lights and nuptial music, andshe was as pale as those who live long underground. 

Then the golden boats drove home across the rocking billows, and one daythe Queen Elene, as she was now titled, lifted her eyes and beheld thegaunt castle of King Theophile cutting the sky. A mist seemed to hang allits turrets with fog and vapor. Elene remembered the shining happy littlecastle of her vanished kingdom, and her heart was bitter with tears, butshe could not shed them. 

King Theophile, gazing upon her face, read her thoughts, for he had thesecond-sight of lovers; and his heart was as lead in his breast. He wasjealous of the very years when he had not known her. Her beauty troubledhim like a half remembered name, and when he was in her presence he hadthe trembling of illness upon him, and when away from her he was asrestless as a fallen leaf that the wind blows. 

Through many days and weeks he wooed her to bring the smile to her lips, but always she grew whiter and more desolate; so that when she walked theterraces above the boiling surf, she seemed like a white flower torn ofits petals and tossed up by the bitter waves. 

At the end of a year there came a daughter from the Kingdom of the LittleSouls, and lay like a white bud on the Queen's bosom. Then at last Elenesmiled and wept, but her strength was gone; and soon afterwards sheclosed her eyes and went to sleep. 

King Theophile's heart was broken, for the baby, and not he, himself, hadmade Elene smile and weep. When the days of the court mourning were overthe little daughter was christened, and to her christening came all thewise women of the kingdom. Each told what this child would be. One said, "She will have the beauty of shimmering rainbows"; another, "She will beas wise as she is good. " But the Wisest Woman of all said, "Every personwill read his future in her tears. "

Now this prophecy troubled King Theophile and awoke love in his heart forhis little daughter, who was already showing how beautiful she would besome day. So he watched over her, and made one of his echoing rooms intothe royal nursery. 

Now the nurses knew what the Wisest Woman had said--that the tears ofthis Princess would be a magic mirror of the future; and one day whenthe child was two years old, the head nurse, who had a sweetheart andwished to know whether she would marry him, resolved to make thelittle girl cry. 

Now she was puzzled how to do this, for the royal maid was sweet-temperedand obedient; but the nurse knew that Elene loved most dearly a beautifuldoll as big as herself, so one afternoon, when the Princess was claspingthis treasure to her little breast, the nurse making sure first that noone was looking, snatched it from her and threw it into the sea. 

[Illustration: THE NURSE SEES HER WEDDING IN THE PRINCESS'S TEARS]

The baby-princess when she saw her darling doll falling into the waterbegan to wail, and tears came into her eyes. Then her nurse knelt beforeher, and saw in those tears her own wedding. So happy was she over thissight that she jumped up and began to caper about, heeding not the sobsof the poor little Princess. 

But King Theophile heard them and came out with a face of thunder. "Woman, " he cried, "why do you dance when a princess weeps?"

Then the nurse came to her senses and grew gray with fear. She tried tomutter some excuse, but King Theophile dismissed her on the spot andgathering up his baby into his arms, took her into the nursery, and wipedaway her tears. Yet her sobs did not cease and she was too little to tellhim of her woe. 

The nurse, though she left the King's service, did marry immediately; andbegan to whisper how she had seen her wedding in the tears of thePrincess Elene, which word was to work out cruelly for the royal child. From that day on those about her, though they loved her dearly, could notrefrain from trying their fortune in her tears. As she grew older andmore understanding it was a difficult matter to know how to make her crywithout incurring suspicion. 

But even a wrong will finds its way, and little Elene grew up wonderingwhy people were so unkind to her; and why there was so much sadness inthe world, for when all else failed the minstrels could make her weep bysinging of "old, unhappy far-off things, and battles long-ago. "

King Theophile did not know of these troubles of his little daughter, forshe had learned early that her tears hurt him, so she concealed them fromhim. All his joy was now in her, for she was the very image of her deadmother, and beautiful as a dawn of May day. When she danced she was likethe light that ripples over the flowers; when she sang the souls of allyoung birds seemed to float on her voice. 

The fame of her beauty went through many kingdoms, and with the legend ofher loveliness was told the strange tale of her magic tears. 

Now three young princes from three great States, fell ardently in lovewith Elene from the mere breath of the rumor of her charms. The first wasPrince Tristan, the second Prince Martin, the third Prince Lorenzo; andboth Prince Tristan and Prince Martin were sure of winning. 

But Prince Lorenzo was not at all sure, because he had lost much in hisshort life, and knew that love is like the wind that comes and goes; likethe fire that leaps into the night and is seen no more; like the starthat flashes across the dark zenith and then vanishes. 

One May morning the three Princes arrived to try their fortunes and tosue for the hand of the Princess Elene. Prince Tristan, who was straightand handsome, put on his best white satin doublet and stuck a rose behindhis ear. Prince Martin put on glittering armor like a knight going tobattle; but Prince Lorenzo was so consumed with love that he thought notat all of what he wore. 

King Theophile himself led them into the presence of the Princess Elene, who was clad in a silk robe that shimmered like a rainbow, and who lookedso beautiful that for an instant Prince Lorenzo put his hand before hiseyes. The two other princes gazed straight at the lady; then made grandsweeping bows. 

"May I tell you, " said Prince Tristan, holding out his rose, "that youare the most beautiful princess I have ever seen?"

"May I tell you, " said Prince Martin, "that your eyes are like stars?"

Prince Lorenzo remained mute because his heart was too full for speech, and King Theophile looked coldly upon him; but the Princess Elene gazedat him until he blushed. Then she seated herself on her throne and badethe princes speak to her of what pleased them best. 

Prince Tristan began at once to tell her of his hunting exploits, andwhat joy he took in the chase. But the Princess's face grew colder andcolder as she listened, for she loved all living things, and could notbear to see any of them hurt. Tristan did not observe this, for like allvain people, he was thinking of his own charms, and so was unaware of theeffect he was producing. 

He finished with a flourish, and Prince Martin stumbled in on the lastwords, so eager was he to render in his turn a glowing account of all hisfine deeds. These were not few, for he was a brave lad, so for an hour hediscoursed upon tourneys and battles; nor did he observe that thePrincess Elene grew pale--and trembled, for her mother's sorrow over warlived again in her heart. 

To her relief he came at last to the end of his recital; then with a sighElene turned her beautiful eyes upon Prince Lorenzo. "And what have youto tell me, my Prince?"

For answer he said to a page, "Give me thy harp"; and when it wasdelivered to him he struck the strings and sang:

"In the hour of the white moths flying Beneath the great gray moon, My sad heart was a-sighing Lest love should come too soon. 

"In the hour of the dawn-birds flying Each to his feathery mate, My sad heart was a-sighing Lest love should come too late. 

"Thy spirit heard my voicing, And bade me cease from fears, And follow thee, rejoicing, Beyond all time and tears. "

"It is a beautiful song, " said the Princess. "And it would be sweet tofollow someone beyond time and tears. "

Then Prince Tristan and Prince Martin looked enviously at Prince Lorenzo;and Prince Martin said contemptuously, "I did not know that thou wert aminstrel. "

"Thou mayst yet discover that I am a shoemaker, " returned Lorenzo. "Also, if there were no carpenters in the world we should all be houseless. Acarpenter may, indeed, be of more use than a princeling. "

Tristan looked at Elene to see how she bore the shock of hearing suchpeople mentioned as carpenters and shoemakers; but she was smiling as ifLorenzo's words pleased her. 

The three princes stayed on at the Castle, and the court was very gay. Only King Theophile's heart was heavy, for he knew that he must lose hismost beautiful daughter. She was equally kind to all her suitors, and hecould not discover which prince she favored. So one evening he came toher in her octagon room, which was of white ivory and whose windows werehung with coral silk; and he found her spinning with her maidens. Herrobe of lace rippled about her little feet, and the band of sapphireswhich held back her yellow hair were not as blue as her eyes. 

King Theophile dismissed the maidens, and seating himself beside hisdaughter he took her hand and said:

"O ray of sunlight out of a great sorrow, tell me in the name of thy deadmother, to whom thou hast given thine heart?"

But the Princess veiled her eyes and drooped her head, for a burden wasupon her soul. "My father, " she said, "a prince can not easily be alover, for love has but one object, and in the life of a prince are manyobjects. I would be loved, but fine words are no proof of a heart. "

"Prince Tristan is a noble youth. "

"He is too fond of killing, " replied Elene. 

King Theophile's cheeks grew pale, for he thought of the long-ago warsand men asleep in crimson meadows that had once been green. 

"Prince Martin is a gallant lad. "

"He would rather contend with others than with himself, " said thePrincess. 

"As for Prince Lorenzo, he dreams too much. "

"Dreamers oft know more than those who are awake, " replied Elene. 

King Theophile sighed, for when his Princess spoke in this wise sheseemed to pass from his arms into the arms of her dead mother. Now whenElene heard him sigh her heart was touched, for she loved him dearly. 

"King-Father, do not sigh. I will make my choice, and this will be themanner of my choosing. Thou knowst my tears can show the future. "

Then the King grew pale, for he thought of the mother who could not weepuntil the little daughter was laid upon her breast. 

"My three suitors may try their fortunes through my tears one week from, this night; that is--" she added, "if they have power to make me weep. Hewho beholds me weep, him will I wed. "

The King was sad when he heard this, but he saw it was her will andrefrained from protest. Next day he announced to the court and tothe three suitors through what means the Princess Elene would makeher decision. 

From that day on Elene saw little of the three princes, for PrinceLorenzo was wandering off in the forests alone and Prince Martin andPrince Tristan were trying pathos on the maids of honor, each vying withthe other to tell the saddest tales. They succeeded so well that thenoble maidens nearly cried their eyes out. King Theophile was muchembarrassed to come, in his walks, upon a little maid of honor weepinginto her handkerchief, while a Prince discoursed at her feet. 

At last the week wore away, and the court assembled for what someonecalled the Trial of Tears. A thousand wax candles were lit in theglittering throne room. King Theophile sat upon his throne, and on hisright hand was the Princess Elene, crowned with white roses, and robed inwhite silk which had a shimmer of gold in its folds. At the foot of thethrone sat the three princes. 

When all were assembled the King arose and announced the intention ofthe Princess to give her hand to him who should behold in her tearsher wedding. 

Prince Tristan was the first to try his fortune. He had chosen the taleof a young girl cruelly turned adrift in a forest and left there to die, and he related it with every circumstance that could render it morepiteous. Soon every lady in the court was weeping, but to the eyes of thePrincess Elene came no tears, which made Prince Tristan angry, so that hefinished his tale in a sullen muttering voice. 

Then Prince Martin rose and told a story of little children who hadclimbed into a boat which the rising tide seized and carried out to sea. They were too little to be afraid, and only when starvation seized themdid they begin to wail for their mothers. 

This story, related in a soft, melancholy voice, touched all hearts, andthrough the court there was the sound of weeping, but the Princess gazedstraight before her, and her eyes were dry. 

Prince Martin ended his tale with real sadness, for he saw that thePrincess Elene was unmoved by his narrative, and with drooping head hereturned to his seat. 

Then rose Prince Lorenzo and bowed low before the Princess. "Even to winyou, " he said, "I would not have you shed tears, for you have been madeto shed too many in your short life. "

He had scarcely uttered these words when the Princess's lip quivered likethat of a little child and sudden tears welled up in her eyes. As theyfell Lorenzo went quickly to her, and gazing upon her face, gave a cry ofjoy. "O my Love!" he exclaimed. "I see thee all in a white veil and I amby thy side!"

Then smiling through her tears, she arose and held out her hand to him, and the court knew that he was the chosen one. He knelt before her andkissed her hand, while the heralds proclaimed him the victor. 

So they were married and lived happily ever afterwards, for she was atrue Princess and he was a true Prince. 

THE GOLDEN ARCHER

In the midst of a plain stood a great church built of white stones, witha massive tower. On this tower was a weather vane in the shape of agolden man who rode a golden horse, and made ready to shoot a goldenarrow. Only the arrow never left the bow, but pointed always to thedirection from which the wind blew--north from the mountains; east fromthe sea; west from the plain; south from the waving forests. 

Now the Archer looked very small from the court in front of the cathedralbecause he was up so high in the air; so high, indeed, that often thelightning passed through his body. In reality he was not small, butlife-size, and he had once been a man, but now he was a weather vanebecause he had made a vow to dwell forever on the tower and show thepeople from which direction came the life-bringing winds. 

For the reason that he had a man's heart in his golden body, life was notalways easy for him up there in the high place, and his eyes would sweepthe far horizons in search of someone to companion him, but no livingthing passed by him but the beautiful sea-birds who had learned that hisgolden arrow would never pierce their breasts--and so they loved him, andperched upon his arm that drew the bow. 

Even the winds were kind to him because he moved so easily at theirbehest, but all winds were not alike to him who had the heart of a man. When spring came and the breezes blew from the south, heavy with thescent of magnolia, of lilacs, and blue violets, the heart of the GoldenArcher ached with a strange hurt out of vanished years that he couldn'tquite remember. When summer brought to him the delicious odor of grapesand berries and strong bright flowers, he longed to go down from thetower and wander after the fireflies' lanterns among the loaded vines, orpillow his head on sweet hay and let the winds put him to sleep forever. 

When autumn came, and the flying leaves, as golden as his own steed, looked like yellow butterflies too tired to move their wings, the Archerwould think of fires on hearths only half remembered, and he wished hecould stable his golden horse while he joined some group about thedancing flames. 

Winter was hardest of all to him, for all the world went in-doors andleft him lonely. The frost-fairies, that glided down the blue rays of thewinter-moon with their little lanterns that gave much color but no heat, these little creatures could not comfort him, because though he rode sohigh and was so straight, still he had the heart of a man. Sometimes thewild snows came and blinded his steady, sorrowful eyes; and in blackestmidnight, when the sleet rattled against the golden sides of his horse, then, indeed, he felt alone and forgotten. 

For the people on the plain, though they looked to his guiding arrow didnot love him because they thought him only a weather vane. 

So the years drove on and the Golden Archer grew lonelier and lonelier. Came at last a spring when the scent of peach-blossom was like the hurtof too great joy, and far-away the peach-orchards splashed the land withpink. High up in the air the Archer looked wistfully southward andpointed his bow towards clouds of sweetness and rose-color. How he longedto leave the great white stones of the tower and go wandering throughthose creamy orchards and down the green aisles of the forests by brightrefreshing streams. 

As he was gazing one day over the fertile plain he saw moving upon itwhat looked to him from that height like a very little girl. But he knewthat she must be really a tall, slender maiden. That she had golden hairhe also knew because it gleamed in the sun. 

Then his lonely heart desired her company and he sent out thoughts toher, for being an Archer he could do this. Thoughts were his real arrows. 

So this thought he sent towards her: "I do not know who you are, but Iam a lonely Archer on the great cathedral where I have made a vow totell forever the wandering of the wind. I cannot come to thee, butclimb the winding stairs to this high place that I may gaze upon thee. I am lonely. "

Now the young girl was walking at sunset in the orchards with herbetrothed when through the air this message came to her, and, lifting upher eyes, she said: "See where the last light lies on the Golden Archer. How graceful he is, like a bit of flame above the old white church. "

"They say the view is fine from there, " answered her sweetheart. 

"Let us climb up to-morrow, " proposed the maid, whose name was Felice. 

So next day at sunset she and her betrothed climbed the winding stair ofthe cathedral, and emerged on the roof near the Golden Archer, who, whenhe saw the maiden, felt an old rapture sweep over him. For a moment he soforgot his vow that he stood quite still, though the wind was veering. How beautiful she was with all the beauty of the sweet earth from whichhe had been so long removed. Her hair was like harvest-corn, and her eyeswere like dim places where violets hide. The soft voice of her was asmusic in the Archer's ears, who had heard too long the jangling of ironbells in the towers beneath him. 

And now she was looking at him. Old memories stirred in him beneath thearmor that hid his manhood. He wanted to get down from his golden horseand lay aside his bow and arrow, and take her in his arms. 

"What a beautiful Archer, " she was saying, "how crisp his hair, how clearand firm his lips, how pure his profile. "

Now her betrothed could be jealous even of a weather vane, so he said:"Anyone can be beautiful who is made of metal. "

"It is an imperishable beauty, " she replied. "Flesh and blood decay. "

The Golden Archer was so agitated that he turned his eyes upon her, andall at once she knew that he was alive and her heart was aflame withlove for him. 

Next day she came alone to the tower. She found him pointing north andlooking away from her, for the vow had gripped him again like the frostsof winter. But she spoke softly and said, "Beloved, the spring is here. "

Then the south wind came, and against his will he veered and looked ather. She came close to his golden horse and touched the arm that held thebow. "You drew me to you, and now you do not look at me, " she said. 

"I am afraid to look at you, " he replied and dropped his golden eyelids. 

"Yet you are not afraid to gaze into the sky, " she ventured. 

"Out of the sky will come nothing to harm me, " he answered. 

"Could I harm you, soul of my soul?" she cried. 

"You could make me love you, " was his answer. 

So they were quiet for a while. She watched the sea-birds circle abouthis shining horse which seemed ever ready to plunge from the cathedraltower into the spaces of the air, yet remained always the toy of thewinds. She listened to the hoarse voices of the huge bells that swungbeneath her. 

At last she rose and unbound her hair so that it floated like a goldenbanner in the wind. "Come, " she whispered. 

Then the Golden Archer felt all the pain of those who must turn away fromthe voice of love. His eyes looked towards the sunset, but his heartseemed drowning in a strange, sweet, throbbing darkness. "Come nearer, "he whispered. 

So she went so near that her golden hair floated all about him and he sawthe landscape through a yellow cloud. "Kiss me, " she said. 

But he set his lips steadfastly, and tried to turn to the north, which hecould not do, for the wind was steadily from the south. 

"I am cold, " she whispered. "Let us go down to the warm orchards. "

"Go!" he answered, "for your words pierce my heart, and I have made a vowto tell the people about the coming and going of the great winds. "

"My love is a great wind, " she said. 

Then sadly she left him. He was alone on his tower and night was coming. 

He tried to think of his vow, but her eyes called him, her lips brushedhis like the light wing of a nesting bird. Hour after hour he endured thepain--and at last tears rolled from his eyes and melted his armor. TheGolden Archer felt his old humanity return like a flood and set him free;and in the silence that comes before the dawn, he got down from hishorse. The limbs of the golden animal were moving also; and stealthily, with the cramped action of those too long in one position, horse and manwent down the stairs of the church, through the stone vestibule and outinto the sweet, warm plain. 

The Golden Archer knelt beneath the stars and wept himself back to hisold beautiful manhood, then, mounting his horse, he galloped to the edgeof the forest where in a cottage smothered beneath roses and honeysuckleFelice lived; once at her window he whispered: "The Golden Archer hascome for thee, dearest. "

Then she came out trembling, and in the gray light he took her in hisarms and comforted her. "We will ride away and be married, " he said. Thenhe lifted her on his horse, and they rode away through the forest, shelying quite still against his heart, and gazing with wide-open eyes intothe green dimness. So they came to a church and were married. 

That night they went to an inn on the borders of the forest, an old housewith nine gables, deep moss on the roof, and a creaking signboard with acrowing bird painted on it; and the inn was called "The Crowing Cock. "

Now there were many countrymen seated in the inn-parlor, and as theGolden Archer entered the room everyone rose and bowed; and as theypassed through, Felice heard a peasant say, "How strange that a princeshould marry a farm-girl. "

Then the hot color came into her face, for Felice was very proud, and didnot like to be thought inferior to her husband. When they were alonetogether she related what she had heard. The Golden Archer lookedpuzzled, for he thought that she loved him too well to care for suchtrifles. "We are one because we are dear to each other, " he cried, andtook her in his arms and cherished her. 

Next day came the Mistress of the Inn to set the room in order, andas she bustled about she said, "From what kingdom comes your husband, the Prince?"

"My husband is not a prince, " said Felice. 

"He talks and acts like one, " remarked the Hostess. "What is he then?"

The little Felice felt her cheeks burn. She could not say that herhusband had been a weather vane, and was now a man, so she replied, "Heoccupied a very high position of trust. "

"Yet he seems to know as little of real life as a prince, " mused theHostess. "He has asked me strange questions about quite ordinary things. "

Felice grew pinker than ever; and when the Golden Archer came into theroom he found her in tears. 

"Heart's dearest, why do you weep?" he said. 

Then she told him her trouble. He must act like other people, she said, or tongues would begin to wag. He must forget that he had ever been aweather vane and must learn the ways of the world. The Golden Archer'sheart was wounded by her words. 

"Do you remember, " he said, "that you called your love for me agreat wind. "

"Yes, I remember. "

"A great wind blows everything before it, even the words of men. "

Now Felice was a woman who catches up phrases too easily and speaks themtoo trippingly. So she answered, "If you love me you will do anything forme, " for that was her test of love, that whoever cared for her shouldbend ever to her will. 

"We must serve each other, " said the Archer, to whom the winds in allthose years had whispered many secrets. "When equality in love orfriendship ceases the end of joy is near. But remove the cloud fromyour forehead, dear love, and let us hunt the blue gentians in theforest glades. "

"Oh, no! let us go to the village fair, " said Felice. 

"What! Exchange those cool, dim places, flower-scented, for the glare andnoise of a fair?"

"No one can see me in the forest, " remarked Felice, turning her head fromside to side and gazing in a mirror. 

"But I see you! Isn't that enough!"

Felice sighed, for she liked admiration, and the Golden Archer said nomore about gathering gentians, but went with her to the fair, which was asacrifice, for he loved fresh air and solitude; and the crowds, the heat, and the dust made his head ache. Then, too, he was not used to fairs, andmore than once made Felice uncomfortable by the questions he asked. Shewas always afraid that he would betray his origin when anyone spoke ofthe wind. Someone, indeed, said it was south, and the Golden Archer witha smile corrected him. "It is east, " he remarked. "Oh, what differencedoes it make!" Felice cried crossly. 

Her ill-temper increased because people looked more at her husband thanat her. The Golden Archer was, indeed, very handsome, and he had lived somuch in the skies that he had a fine, free air. People could take longbreaths in his presence, instead of feeling choked and cramped, so theywanted to talk with him. 

He would have been glad to gratify them, but his wife's drooping lipsclosed his own; and after a while both went sadly back to the inn, wondering why all the glory was gone from the day. 

But in their room he drew her into his arms, and loved her anew, andtalked to her of all the wonderful things that would come to them if theywere faithful. 

"Don't you know, sweet Felice, " he said, "that love is like the seed inthe ground, which comes up a little frail and tender plant; but throughstorm and sunshine grows into a great tree. We must be patient witheach other. "

Felice was of those who want their trees full-grown, and she began towonder why she had married the Golden Archer instead of her own man, whomshe could understand; and she wished that she had never climbed to thetop of the tower and lost her heart to the Archer. 

The days of their honeymoon dragged, for the Archer in addition to thehurt of his love had now to suffer the pain of estrangement. The more hecared for Felice the harder it was to see her restless and unhappy. "Itwill be different when we are in our own home, " he would say to himself. 

So one day they left the inn and went to their own cottage which stood ona little hill, and from the window could be seen the tower of the greatwhite church. Now the Golden Archer used often to gaze at this tower, which made Felice ask him if he were homesick. 

"No; but I miss the great winds, " he replied. 

"Do you know what people say?" she asked him. 

"What do they say?"

"That you were struck by lightning--and all melted away. "

"I was struck by lightning, " he answered. "Love slew me. "

This pleased her. For awhile she showed herself loving and tender, butbecause she obeyed moods and not a strong, steadfast will, the oldunhappiness came back. The Golden Archer felt more lonely than ever hehad done on the high white tower, and loneliest of all when he held herin his arms. 

One day he found her crying. "Why do you cry, Beloved?" he asked her. 

"I am lonely, " she said. 

"With me?"

"Yes, " she sobbed, "with you. What have you to tell me but your tales ofthe great winds? Other men have had their friends, their adventures. Theycan relate stories of their boyhood, of their early life, but you camefrom a far-off tower and know nothing of the world. "

"It is true, " he murmured. "I can only tell you of the skies; for all thetime of my former days on earth is dim to me. "

That night they sat before the fire, for it was now autumn, and theleaping flames showed her gold hair and her eyes like dark pools. Uponthe Golden Archer they shone, too, where he sat still and hurt, butunable to tell his pain, because he had lived too high above the world. The low, hoarse winds drove the flying leaves against the window glassand whistled in the keyhole; at which Felice would shiver and castsidelong glances at her strange husband. 

All at once on the wind came a caroling voice. Felice rushed to thewindow and peered out. The voice sang:

"All that I knew of thee, my Love, The great winds bore away. When they are hushed wilt thou return To bless the close of day?

"In that still hour come back to me, And find thy longed-for rest. Poor petal blown too near the sun, Float downward to my breast. "

"Ah, " cried Felice, "it is my old Love. "

"My love for thee is older than the moon, " said the Golden Archer. "Canyou not rest by our hearth?"

Then she knelt by him and pressed her face against his knees. And hisheart grew as heavy as a weary dream before a sultry dawn when thethunder hangs in the hills. Her grief weighed all the more upon himbecause he knew she was trying to love him; and when that hour of effortcomes death is under its cloak. 

But the next day she was cheerful and sang about her tasks. The GoldenArcher saddled his horse and rode miles through the forest upon the crispred leaves; and he knew that goodness would not hold her, nor kindness, nor fidelity, nor service, for love like hers is held prisoner to nothingonce its wings are outstretched, nor does it know good from evil. 

[Illustration: THE GOLDEN ARCHER AND FELICE]

When he rode home the stars were peeping through the forest branches, andthe white owls were flying. But the frost that silvered the red leaveswas not so sharp and glistening as the memory of her tears. 

As he reached his door he saw that it was open and the light from thefire shone out upon the dark paths of the forest. But the room was emptyof her presence. 

He called her name, but no answer was returned; then on a tablet upon thetable he saw words written and brought them to the fire and read them. 

"O Golden Archer, go back to thy tower, for the great winds have taken meon a long journey, and I shall never see thee again. "

Then he knew that not his faithful winds, but the voice of old memorieshad called her, and he bowed his head in an imperishable sorrow. 

Because his heart was broken he desired to cease from his humanity andreturn to the old white tower. As once his warm tears had thawed hisshining armor and made him an inhabitant of the world, so now his coldand bitter tears encased him again in hard metal. 

Walking wearily and with stiff footsteps he went to the stable, broughtout his horse and rode across the plain to the great white church uponwhich the midnight moon was shining. He knocked on its west door, andfrom the vaults came the echoes. 

"You cannot return, Golden Archer, for you have broken your vow!"

"But I have broken my heart also, " he answered; "therefore, let me in. "

"But you will come down again from the tower, " cried the echoes. 

"Nay, for only the broken-hearted know how to keep their vows, " heanswered. 

So the doors swung open, and up the dim spiral stairs rode the GoldenArcher, through bars of moonlight to the region of the great winds whereagain he mounted the tower. But always there is one dream left to thesorrowful, and his was, that some night the great winds would drive hersoul against his breast. 

Then he became very still and turned his arrow northward, for the windwas coming from the far circles of the Arctic ice. 

Next day the sun rose red and glorious and made fires on the armor of theGolden Archer, and all the people upon the plain rubbed their eyes andcried out:

"There's a new Archer on the Cathedral. Now we shall know from whichhorizon comes the wind!"