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i f'" . - - 11 ,M 1 dPEMBB : ! llflliflllllllliillig1 By Marian Burton. :CH up. r f- ;l?.ir.ty little kingdom ail pa: its r.r.i! '..'vers and cottages and flowers, tliTi livtd a jolly, red-faced king named Rudolpho. Every one of his sub jects loved him, the surrounding kings were hla loyal friends, and the neighboring kingdoms were on the best of terms with him. Yet, strange as it may seem, with all these blessings a rich kingdom, faithful subjects, and a loving wife this good king was not happy. There was one cloud, a very pretty silver-edged cloud, but yet a cloud, which hung just in front of the sun of his happiness ard cast a great big shadow. The king had a daughter, the Princess Madge, his only child; and though she was obedient In every thing else, she just wouldn't, wouldn't, marry. Of course there were plenty of princes and dukes sitting-room. He held a tangle of golden l.air in one hand and a sheet of blue note-paper in liie other. "My dear, my dear, what do you think has hap pened? Here, written by her own hand, the hand of the Princess Madge, are the happy words which drive away all our fears. She will marry, my dear, she will marry; and listen: she cares not what may be his rank or age or condition he must be a contented man, that is all. Oh, what a child, what a child!" " Oh, Rudolpho, my love, is it true? Why, why, I am so happy! Is it really true? Do give me my fan. Yes, thank you. Fan me, dear; a little faster. It quite took my breath away. Just to think of that! Now go at once and issue a royal edict summoning every contented man in this kingdom and in all the surrounding kingdoms to a grand feast here in the palace. After the feast we will hold a trial, and the Princess Madge shall he the judge." The day dawned brilliant and glorious. How the contented men jostled each other, and frowned at each other, and scolded each other as they throngeu C & y a this court. You say you are contented happy, un selfish, and satisfied with what the gods have given you. Answer me this! Why. then, do you scowl and jostle one another? Why do you want to marry any one least of all, a princess with half the richer of a great kingdom as a dowry, to spoil your happiness? Greedy fortune-hunters! Do you call that content ment?" The contented men stood a moment in baffled si lence, then turned, one and all, and slowly marched out of the room. As the door closed upon the last one of the disappointed suitors, the princess picked up her pretty kitten and, turning to her father and mother said: "Would you have me marry one of those? Why, thy aren't half so contented as a common, every day pussy-cat. Good-by!" And she laughed a merry and barons and lords who would gladly have wedded the pretty princess for her own sweet sake alone, to Ray nothing of the prospect of being king some day, but she wouldn't have one of them. A princess i3 a lonely little body, you know, and custom was so rigid in the time of the Princess Madge that she had no one to talk to excepting Pussy Wlllow. the royal kitten. She had no brother, no sis ter, no cousin, and no dearest friend. She didn't even have a chance to speak freely to her own father and mother. It is true, she took breakfast with them every morning at eleven in the great breakfast-room, but the butlers and waiters and pages and flunkies were always standing about, with their ears pricked up and their eyes bulging out. so that no one dared whisper a secret or have even the Jolliest little family quarrel. It is true her royal mamma came at pre cisely ten o'clock to kiss her good night every even ing, but there were always a dozen maids and ladies-in-waiting, and It was impossible to have a real good talk. But Pussy Willow was her constant companion, and to Pussy she told everything. That friendly cat was the only living thing In the whole kingdom that ral!y knew that the princess intended to marry some time. 1 don't care whether he is prince or pauper, high low, handsome or plain; but he must in any case ' ntented. You know what contented menns. Pussy ?sned with what he has until he deserves and i get something better. If he is like that he will ..ways be unselfish and happy. Oh, yes. and I shall be happy, too. Now I am going to write a letter to papa and tell him that I will marry if he will find me a contented man." IL Half an hour later the king, with his crown com fortably pushed back on his head, and a smile very much all over big ruddy face, burst into tie queen's he motioned to the turnkey to throw back the bolts, and he entered the dungeon alone. "Why are you talking to yourself, man?" he acked. The man answered: "Because, soldier. I like to talk to a sensible man, ami I like to hear a sensible nvm talk." "Ha, ha!" laughed the king. "Pretty good, pret-ty good! They tell me that ail th:r,t pl.;ue you. Is it true?" "I think I can safely say yes. soldier." "And is there nothing that oi want?" As the king aakcd this question h' looked at the m.in in a peculiarly eager way, nor did the answer disappoiut him. "T have all of th necessities of life and many ot the luxuries. I am perfectly content. I know I have neither land nor money, but is not the whole world Young Masqueraders g through the palace gates! They all gathered in the banquet-hall, where a wonderful feast was spread Finally it vas over, and five hundred and fifty con tented men assembled in the royal court-room. The king and queen were seated on their thrones, but the princess was nowhere to be seen. There was a mo ment of breathless waiting then suddenly a door at the side of the court-room opened and the Princess Madge, carrying Pussy Willow, entered and was fol lowed by her train-bearers and maids of honor. Sha wore a wonderful gown all white and gold down the front, with the foamiest of sea-foam green trains hang ing from her shoulders away out behind her. Slowly, majestically, she walked across the room, and stopped before a table on which lay a golden gavel. A quick tap of the gavel silenced the little murmur that had arisen at her entrance. The king glanced at the queen, and they both smiled with pride in their stately daughter. The princess tapped again and began: "Princes, baronets, honorables, commons of this kingdom and our neighboring kingdoms, I bid you wel come. You have come to sue for my hand and my fortune. I know full well, my noble men, that if I asked it you would gladly give me some great proof of your bravery and goodness but I ask you to take no risk and make no sacrifice. I merely wish to know whether I can find in any of you that secret of all true courage and happiness contentment. Now let every man of you who is contented, thoroughly contented, rise. Remember, there are no degrees in contentment; it is absolute." The black-robed throng arose some eagerly, some impatiently, some disdainfully, some few slowly and thoughtfully, but they all stood and waited in utter silence. "As I put the test question, if there Is any one who cannot answer it, let him go quietly out through yon der door and never again show his discontented face DANCING THE MINUET. A LEAU OF T11E OLD REGIME. laugh, threw a kiss at the astonished king and queen, and ran from the room. III. At luncheon one day many months after the dis missal of the discontented suitors, the prime minister entered the dining-room and announced to the king that a man had been found within the palace gates without a royal permit, and had been immediately put in the dungeon. He was a handsome fellow, the prime minister said, but very poorly clad. He made no resistance when he was taken prisoner, but earn estly requested that his trial might come off as soon as possible, as he rather wanted to make a sketch of the palace and gardens, and he couldn't see very well from the slit in the top of the dungeon; but he begged them not. to put themselves nor the king to any in convenience, as he could just as well remain where he was and write poems. "In sooth, your Majesty," said the prime minister, in conclusion, "from all we have heard and seen, it seemeth that at last we have found a contented man." As soon as the king finished his royal repast he dis guised himself in the long cloak and hat of a sol- mine? Can even the king himself take from me my delight in the green trees and the greener fields, in that dainty little cloud flecking heaven's blue up yon der like a bit of foam on a sunlit sea? Oh, no! I am rich enough, for all nature is mine " "And I am yours," said a sweet young voice. The man looked up in surprise, and there before him, holding out her pretty hands toward him, stood tha Princess Madge, who had slipped into the cell un noticed by either the prisoner or her father. The man sprang to his feet, clasped the little hands in his, and said: "I know not what you mean, sweet lady, when you say that you are mine; but oh. you are passing beau tiful!" "Papa." called the princess, "this Is quite dreadful. Quick, take off that ugly soldier's coat and tell him who we are and all about it!" The king, starting as if from a dream, threw off the rough coat and hat and stepped forth into the beam of sunlight, resplendent in gold and ermine. "Thou dost not know me, my man? I am the king. Hast thou not read our last proclamation?" ji j j -e.- p-i&-'i -) : 3 A COLONIAL DAME. dler and went with the prime minister and the turn key to catch a glimpse of the prisoner. As they ap proached the dungeon they heard a rich bass voice singing: "Let the world slide, let the world go! A fig for care, and a fig for woe. If I must stay, why. I can't go, And love makes equal the high and low." The king drew nearer, stooped, and peeped through, the keyhole. Just opposite the door, on a three-legged stool, sat the prisoner. His head was thrown back and he was looking at the sky through the bars in the top of his cell. The song had ceased and he was talking softly to himself. The king, in a whisper, told the prime minister to bring the princess and have her remain hidden Just outside the door. Then "No. Your MaiestT: I never do read proclamations "Then thou did3t not know that the hand of the princess is offered to the fir3t contented man who enters the palace?" "No. vour Majesty. I knew it not." "Then know it now. and know, too, that thou art the man. To thee, my son, I give my daughter marriage, together with one-hall my Kingdom, no not a word. She is thine. Thou deservest AT a v Trtii Ytk hannvt" The prisoner, almost dumb with astonishment, al most dazed with Joy. knelt and kissed the princess' white hands, then looked into her eyes and said: "Ah. well it is for me that I saw you not until now, for I should have been miserably discontented until you were ndae'," 3? Ji UNCLE 'RASTUS (FORGETTING HOW LONG HI9 COAT IS): "I DECLARE I'SE GITTIN SO STIFF WITH RHEUM ATI Z DAT I CA1NT STAN UP STRAIGHT'"