The Witch’s Citadel

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 198, 24 August 1935, Page 12

The Witch’s Citadel

A seria. •. to. ; o\ • • Grandaddy.” A- so.hi a,s tin. way grew less perilous •he piiu.-e gave rein to iiis horse, and they g.illn; e I along beneath shady trees an I across flowery n padows for many Albi s roamed with delight, clapped her hands and cried out. * ‘ Fa d er. si ill last yr. please-! '' Going at this he-idlong ;.p •< <| soon brought them to the vicinity of (he city, which had tu be traversed before, reaching the royal palace, and which i was siutated at the other ext remit v on • he summit of a hill. On seeing these streets and houses Alba became unasy and asked: “Are those men which 1 see there? ■ Does not the wind blow down those small houses?” “No. dear.” ropHeu prince Po:fia. ' “The wind with us blows not with such violence as it does on thy mountain home.” Then he called out: * “S.’e, my people, I bring you \ our future queen, a marvellous flower which I have plucked from the side of a rock.’’ “But 1 am not a queen,” cried out 1 Alba, alarmed ' “As I am the king’s son. and as thou irt my promised bride, thou will be my I queen.” answered the prince. i “What sayst thou? Thy bride! But < my mother has always said that I i should never be permitted to marrv.” “»She said that knowing that none j other than I was destined to possess “But art thou not a wicked man, ;h('n?” ) “No. <lear, I am not so very < wicked.” • “Rj.it my mother told me that all i men vvere dreadfully wicked, and that I must on no account have any intercourse with them.”

“Who, then, i> thy mother?” “I know not. who .she is. I ontf know that she spins golden thread ran “She spins thread of gold! For what purpose, then?” “For brides to wear ’on their wedding day, but 1 will have no gold threjid at my marriage,” added Alba nnd quickly raised her hand to her head is if to ward off the pernicious con tad. “Thou must wear the beteela when *e arc married,” replied the prince; “otherwise the whole country would be f.' nndalised. Gome, dear, this 13 my 1 ume, so let us enter, and I will present thee Io the queen, my mother, to vv horn 1 beg of thee to comport thyself gently.” “Is she old ami ugly, then?” “No, she is beautiful, and as proud as she is beautiful.’ ' “Proud! What is 4he meaning of that?’’ asked Albti. Porfia looked with astonishment into her innocent eyes. They were as clear and pure as lhe 'tinlighi. He clasped the maiden to his breast, and throwing the bridle to a lackey alighted from his steed and lifted down her slender form with gnat tenderness and gave her his hand to lead her up the steps to the palace. Soon they entered a spacious hall, where was seated a tall, majestic lady, surrounded by a bevy of fresh young girls, ,who were all of them occupied in spinning yellow silk. At the sight of the handsome pair upon whom the glorious rays of the sei ting sun fell in deepest splendour as they crossed the portal the work suspended, and the young girls drew near and gaped in delighted wonder. Permit me to salute thee, thou mar vellously beautiful queen,” exclaimed Alba, falling at the queen’s feet, who immediately raised her up and tenderly embraced her. “I see that thou spinnest also, but thy work is infinitely finer than that of my mother’s. Thine is fine and deli cate as snowflakes or the petals of mountain flowers.” “Tell me, fair ehifil, what does thv mother spin?” ' “Alas! nothing but gold, and it is so hard and so ugly.” “Gold,” they repeated, with incredulous smiles. “Canst thous also spin gold?” ‘ ‘ Oh, yes, I can spin gold, but I dare not.” “And why not? Pray tell us/’ (To bo Continued).