THE ORANGE TREE

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 138, 14 June 1930, Page 18

THE ORANGE TREE

Part 11.

THE king was grief-stricken and would neither cat nor drink. He would not go near the wonderful palace, and locked the other golden balls out of sight. His courtiers became frantic, and did not know what to do. A tremendous reward was offered to anyono who could bring the queen back,"but no trace of her could be found.

One day as the sorrowful king, robed entirely in black, paced slowly, to and fro in the garden, there appeared before him a wonderful maiden. A glorious light streamed out from her, and falling to his knees the king covered his eyes from the brilliant light. Stooping, the goddess, for such sho was, laid her hand upon the king's broad shoulder. "As you know," she said, and her voice rang clear as silver bells, "I am Venus, the queen of love, and it pains me that you and your dear queen should suffer so. Go back to your palace, and place tho magician's magic balls in a ring." With this she vanished, and, greatly wondering, the king arose and hastened with'all speed back to his room. Hastily he gathered the balls together, and going outside, placed them as the goddess had bidden. As he did so, a beatr tiful white horse with huge wings growing from his shoulders and a brilliant golden harness appeared. The king attempted to secure the horse, and found to his delight that it made not the slightest attempt to escape. Having donned his: armour, the king mounted, and.no sooner was he settled than the horse spread its wings and rapidly mounted above tho palace into the clouds. With the speed of the wind it flew, and soon drew near a black marble palace. It halted outside, the gates, and the king dismounted and walked towards the entrance. . 'As.he entered the hall he saw his queen, her golden

hair unbound, lying as though dead upon a black velvet couch. With a cry, the king hurried towards her, arid kissing her upon the lips, he gathered her up into his arms and hastened towards tho door, He quickly mounted the> horse, and rapidly approached His own palace again. Oranglie opened, her eyes, and seeing in whose arms she Jay, she gave a happy little sigh. She told, the king the magician had held heL" prisoner in the : , black* marble palace, and then ' she suddenly remembered something, for-she clung to the king ia. terror. On being questioned by the king she declared that the magician had left that morning with the intention of calling on the king. The king attempted *s soothe her, but soon they reached tha palace, and there awaiting them wa» the magician. Quickly dismounting^ the king placed Oranglie behind him and advanced upon the magician with drawn sword. Before he could reach him, however the horse had uttered,a cry, and with a single bound had pushed the magician on to the spot whore the golden, balls lay. There was a scream from the magician, a sheet of flame, and then both he and the balls ileapipeared. In their place there sprang up. a beautiful ' evergreen tree. It bore golden bails upon its boughs, and fragrant white' blossoms, so alike to the queen that the tree has ever sinca been known as the "Orange-Tree."-Only the- king and queen ever knew the true meaning of it, but here-it is after many, many years. The king never boasted'to strangers again, and he and his beautiful queen lived happy evei; after, • . ' ' • '■ ' (The End.). HEE-HAW, Newtown.