214 7777

I'he King's joy was beyond words ot this new stroke ot tortune, and he could har dly realise that his bride was really the beauti- ful girl who stood before him, and not the uol\ black crcature who had cd him s wickedly. After he had dressed her in the most costly garments, and kissed her tenderly, he took his fany bride by the hand, and led her mto the thronc-room, where all the Court were assembled, lhu] the King addressed his courticrs, an! said “Tell me, all of you, what punishment docs the person de- serve who has all- treated this beautiful ladyv 2" Whercupon one replied, They deserve a breakfast of stones ' ; another, “ A draught ot poi- son': and a third said, “ They should be rolled down a hill in a barrel with %harp spikes inside 1t

At last the King called the blaclx Queen to him, and - asked her what pun-" ishment she would proposc.

“The wicked crea- ture,” she answered, ‘iwho could harm so

)

for 1t was

STRAND M AGAZINT.

fair 2 vision should be burnt to death, and

her ashes scattered to the four winds.” \When the King heard her words, he said : “You have pronounced your own doom, you, and no other, you vile wretch, who did my beautiful bride o much wrong. Know now that this 1s the lovely nu dd whose head you pierced with your hairpin, and she, too, was the beau- tiful dove you had so uudly caught and roasted. But as you have done unto others, so 1t shall Dbe done

unto vou, and as you

) showed no mercy, neither shall 1t be Cra shown you.”

) With these words

he had the black slave scized and thrown alive mto a huge bonfire, and when she was burnt to ashes Lhc were scattered 'to the four winds from the top of a high watch-tower. But the Kingand his fair wifce lived happily ever afterwards ; and it only you and [ knew where to ind the kingdom of Terra [Longa, I belicve we should find thum living theie stll