THE WHITE CAT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2258, 10 June 1897, Page 51

THE WHITE CAT.

By "Hope," in the Otago Girls' High School Magazine. Long ago there lived a mighty King who had an only son. When his son had grown up, the King said to him one day, " I wiah you now to set out on a journey to my friend, the King of Woodland. Here are letters of introduction to him. But before going I should like you to know the reason for my sending you. My friend has a daughter, the most beautiful maiden ever seen, I believe, and when you have seen her and formed your opinion about her, I should like you to take her for your wife. O£ course, if she does not please you, I shall use no compulsion." With these words the King dismissed his son. [ A little while afterwards the Prince set out on his road, attended by only a few horsemen. Leaving their, own land behind them, they at last entered the Land of Woods. Everywherejaroundjthem lay immense forests, which shaded the roads, while from above their heads came Nature's sweetest songs. On every fide bounded deer in the daytime, but in the night not only deer and animals of a quiet nature came around them, but also bears and tigers and lions. However, the Prince was well guarded, and no harm befell him. I One day, when they had gone off the road to hunt, the Prince, while following a beautiful Btag, became separated from his attendants. Carried away by his eagerness he did not notice this, but when he had killed the stag and called on an attendant to take it away, no one replied, so he looked around, and found himself alone in this vast forest. Howsrer, he did not give up all hope of finding his companion?, but plunged on in the direction in which he thought the road would be found. Suddenly he came to a high stone wall. This pleased him very much, " for," he said, " where there is a wall there surely is a gate." So ho went on, and at last reached a gate, which, to his great joy, was open. After debating as to whethr he would enter or not, he decided to go in, and on going up to the palace in the middle of the grounds, he raDg the bell. Tinkle, tinkle, sounded through the house, but no one appeared. He rang a second and yet a third time. Still no answer. Tnereupon, pushing open the door, he entered, and found hirneelf in a large, spacious hall, and running down the centre was a table spread with all manner of good things. Being naturally very hungry, he at once sat down to feasfc himself. No sooner had he done so, however, than the noise of steps coming towards the hall made him rise up in curiosity, not unmixed with ahama. Soon there entered the room— nothing vsry awful, truth to say — a white cat. . Coming up to him, she bowed low, saying, " You are welcome to my palace, O Prince 1 " Although astonished at this strange sight, j the Prince did not lose bis aslf -possession, but, bowing courteously, replied, "Thank ] you, madam, for your hospitality. I hope I do not intrude." " Oh, no ! not at all. But will you not join , me at my dinner 1 " she aiked, sitting down at the top of the table and signing to him a -place near her. As they talked, the Prince thought, " What a pity that she is a cat, for really I have never had such a delightful companion before." And when he told hsr how he had been separated from his companion*! he was still more charmed, for, refusing to take a denial, sh« invited him to spend a few days with Thus happily passed by a whole week, and at the end the Prince said that he must be going to the King of Woodland, to whom he bad letters of introduction; and after promising to vißit her on his road home, he set off with a few retainers kindly lent him. In the meanwhile the followers of the Prince, after losing their master, had pressed on to the Court of the King. When their story had boen told the Klug condoled with them, saying that he would send oat search parties to look for their master. Bat we knew that the Prince was safe in hia woodland retreat. Another surprise, however, awaited the followers of the Prince. About a year before the daughter of the King, while taking a walk in the woods, had disappeared, and had never been beard of since, so that on the Prince's arrival th«re vtas no princess to welcome him. Still, a very pleasant time was spent at the Court, and the Priuce was loth to leave. Yet, as his father had sent letters sayiDg that ha should not stay any longer, and as he had promised to visit the white cat, he set out on his journey, and leaohed the palace without mishap. The white cat was very glad to sea him, and entertained him royally for about a week. When, however, he told her of his disappointment at not seeing the Princess she ran to him, and, placing her little paw upon his arm, said suddenly, " Prince, chop off my head 1 " •• Ob, no 1 I could not do such a thing ! " he protested. Bat after sha had entreated and entreated him to do it he at last consented, ■ and, with tears in his eyee, performed the execution. Imagine his amazement whet), instead of a poor mangled pussy, there stood np before him a beautiful princess. Seeicg his embarrassment she said : "I am the Princess whom you have been seeking. Shall I tell you my story ? You have probably been told how I disappeared in the woods. Well, I was stooping down to pluck a strange flower, for I was an ardent botanist, when I heard a shrill voice behind me saying, • How do you do, Princess ? I have bean wanting to see you for a long time.' Turning round, I saw a wrinkled old fairy with such a cross face. Laughing and chuckling, she continued : • Now I have got you, and you will not escape me if I can help it. At your birth every fairy but me was invited ; therefore lam going to hays my revenge. From this minute you shall be a white cat, and until a prince will come who is kind enough to oat off your head you shall remain so..

Then she carried me to this palace and left ma. But now, through your great goodness, I have been released, and I thank you for it with all my heart." The Prince replied t " Do not thank me, Princess, for I did not know what the result of my deed would be. But Ist us hasten to your father and tell him your 9tory, and perhaps," he added, "he may comply with a requenfc I wish to make." You may imagine how overjoyed the King was to see his daughter, and how gladly he gave her to the Prince for his wife. Aftßr a few weeks the newly-married pair journeyed back to the Prince's home, and there lived, loved, and honoured by all their subjects.