THE STORY OF PRINCESS SUNSET
[Illustration: (unlabelled)]
When the story of the great desert or the lost ocean had been told, the
little company of Moon people thanked the guide for his tales, and again
started on their journey. Soon they approached the borders of a
beautiful wood. The guide told them that he would turn back when they
had travelled through the forest, for on the other side of the forest
the black dwarf awaited them.
Princess Ethelda shuddered as she heard, but being a brave little
Princess, she turned laughingly to the guide and said, “Well, Sir Guide,
cannot you tell us another pretty story before you go?”
“Willingly,” replied the guide, and he at once began the story of
Princess Sunset.
“Once upon a time there lived in the heart of a great forest, something
like this we are passing through, a young Prince with his two elder
brothers. They lived in a splendid palace, and were fond of hunting and
shooting; but they were also frequently at war with their neighbors, so
that fighting of some sort always seemed to be going on. This youngest
was named Oswald; though he always accompanied his brothers to war, and
was the very bravest of all the knights, he thought it was useless to
fight about everything. Life would be much happier if people were kind
and peace-loving; and unless there were a serious question to fight
about, he did not believe in fighting at all. He much preferred to roam
the forest, studying the sky and the trees, or the lovely waters of the
clear blue lakes. He would spend hours thus, musing on the wonderful
works of Nature, and wondering where she kept her marvellous paint-box.
“Now, Prince Oswald was very good-looking. He was tall and slender as
the young saplings about him, but he was powerful and strong of limb,
too; and when his brothers told him to choose a wife among the pretty
maidens of the land, almost any of the princesses would have been glad
to be chosen. But Prince Oswald was in no hurry to choose; he did not
fall in love very easily, and he thought he would just wait until the
right princess came along.
“One day, when lying on the shore of a beautiful body of water, he
noticed that the sky was suddenly tinged with red. He rubbed his eyes
with amazement, but the red hue tinged every object that he looked upon;
the treetops, the lake, and the deer that glided along the edge of the
forest had a delicate crimson splendor. In the midst of this fairy
spectacle he heard a musical voice sigh, and turning around saw a
radiantly beautiful woman standing near him. Her countenance was lovely,
and her glorious brown eyes were sparkling with light. She smiled as she
looked upon him, and for a minute her teeth gleamed white as little
pearls between her red lips. Her splendid golden hair hung in soft
masses below her waist, and the wind was blowing it softly about. Her
garments were loose and flowing, and variegated in color, shading from
the tenderest pink to the deepest crimson. The wonderful dyes of her
dress seemed to float away from her in rosy clouds, and blend in the air
until the rich rose-color around glowed and deepened to a magnificent
red.
[Illustration: “_Turning around he saw a radiantly beautiful woman near
him._”
(Page 130)]
“As Oswald stood gazing upon this gorgeous maiden, she addressed him in
a low and charming voice: ‘O, dreamer of the woods, am I not worth
seeking? Why do you waste your life in idleness here? Look for me in the
land that lies westward, beyond the setting of the sun. There may be
many obstacles in your path, but, overcoming them, you will find your
bride awaiting you. Am I not worth the winning?’
“For answer, Oswald sprang forward to clasp her in his arms, but at that
instant the red light glowed more brightly about her, flaring to a
brilliant flame; and thus standing in its midst, she disappeared in a
sea of fire, leaving the sky and water a dull, heavy gray.
“Prince Oswald returned to the palace deeply wrapped in thought, and
indeed he could think of nothing but the beautiful maiden he had seen.
The next morning he determined he would seek and find her, because until
he did he felt he could never be happy again. After making preparations
to go, and bidding his brothers good-bye, he started alone to seek the
Land of the Setting Sun. First he found the spot by the lake where, the
evening before, he had watched the glorious beauty of the strange
maiden, and he sat down in silence. Again the sky took on its delicate
rose, deepening until the ruby splendor of the clouds piled themselves
into gold and crimson palaces. From one of these palaces Oswald felt
confident his beautiful lady would emerge, and tremblingly he sat
expectant. Suddenly the same peculiar sigh met his ears, and turning to
greet the lovely stranger, he saw to his disappointment only a
glittering sword. The blade was, of course, of shining steel, but the
handle was formed of one magnificent ruby. The radiance from this superb
jewelled handle was magnificent. It gleamed and sparkled in flaming red,
until the whole western world glowed with the bright reflection.
“Oswald realized with a beating heart that it was a message from the
mysterious lady, and he lifted the sword to his side. Then feeling brave
enough to meet any dangers because she had sent him the sword, he
started on his travels to the Land of the Setting Sun. Over hills and
prairies, but always toward the west, Prince Oswald travelled. He rested
by night only, and at early dawn was off again. On the third night he
saw a bright light ahead, and on approaching it found it to be a
beautiful princess. She was dressed in a gown of spun silver, and on her
forehead there shone one magnificent star. She greeted him kindly, and
told him she was the Evening Star, and would light him through the dark
forest. He thanked her gratefully, and accompanied her in among the dark
and gloomy trees. She glided ahead, and the light from the beautiful
star crown showed him the way, even in the darkest places. Evening Star
told him she recognized him in the distance by the ruby-hilted sword he
wore. ‘You seek the Princess Sunset,’ she continued, ‘do you not?’
“‘Yes,’ replied Oswald, ‘and I shall never rest until I find her.’
“‘Alas!’ said Evening Star, ‘though I sincerely wish you success, I must
tell you that many difficulties will beset you, for of all the young men
who have passed this way in quest of the golden-haired Princess not one
has ever returned. The obstacles that have beset them have proven too
great, and they have never yet been able to rescue her.
“‘She is wonderfully beautiful, though, and I am not surprised that you
seek her. Once I met her face to face, and I could never forget what a
vision of beauty she was. It was a charming evening, and I had risen
over the purple hills a little earlier than usual. Tall and majestic the
Princess stood upon the hilltop, clothed in her marvellous dress of
crimson. Her great brown eyes looked questioningly into mine, and her
splendid hair floated back from her lovely face in a sort of golden
mist, while the breeze blew her long, trailing robes across the sky. Her
exquisite form stood plainly outlined thus for several minutes, and the
crimson colors from her garments tinged the heavens from a delicate pink
to a brilliant ruby-red. Then suddenly stretching forth her arms toward
me, she greeted me with a tender smile of welcome, and vanished. Never
shall I forget her charm. She was the daughter of a great king and lived
in a splendid palace, but she was as gentle and tender-hearted as a
child. Her great delight was to roam the woods, gathering flowers and
weaving them into a gorgeously colored robe. The brighter the flower the
better she loved it. Red, yellow, blue, all were gathered and woven
together, until the dress was a miracle of beauty and brightness. Her
gown was so brilliant, that when she wore it the very skies reflected
the colors, and she would stand upon the hilltop and let the flowing
skirts trail out in long, loose lines across the heavens. This was her
delight.
“‘People came from far and wide to see the Sunset Princess in her flower
dress, for when she wore it she was marvellously beautiful. Among them
once came a wicked magician, and the moment his eyes fell upon her he
determined to marry her. So, to gain his end, he killed her father and
her brothers, and destroyed all her people. Then he stole her, and hid
her in his western palace; and there he has kept her a prisoner ever
since. But she declares she will never, never marry such a cruel
monster, even if she should never escape, and he cannot marry her
without her consent.
“‘Now, the poor Princess has the power to appear in a dream to any one
she wishes to come and deliver her from the wicked old magician’s power.
But this is her only privilege. She can never stir from his palace
(except in dreams) unless by his especial invitation. Once every day he
invites her to come forth. At the sunset hour he calls her, and with her
maidens she walks out upon a spacious balcony. But she is a brave
princess, and she courageously wears her crimson flower dress, and gives
him only scornful looks.
“‘The magician occasionally invites her out on the balcony for a cruel
purpose—to show her the fate of each brave knight who tries to rescue
her. Sometimes the gallant youth is already dead. Sometimes the wicked
magician changes him into some four-footed creature before her eyes,
making him wander upon the earth afterward as an animal. Alas! dear
Prince,’ continued Evening Star, sadly, ‘I dread to see you go upon this
dangerous expedition.’
“‘Do not fear for me,’ answered Oswald, bravely. ‘At last, I have
learned where the beautiful Princess of my dreams is imprisoned. No
matter what the dangers are, I will find her and rescue her.’
“Indeed, he was so rejoiced at the news brought by Evening Star that he
slept with a light heart that night, and at early dawn started again
toward the Setting Sun. Every evening the sky was tinged with the lovely
red, but he had no other sign from the Princess.
“One night he stopped at a castle where he met the beautiful daughter of
a wealthy and powerful duke. After a handsome banquet and ball given in
his honor, where the young countess paid him the highest honors, the
duke approached him, and offered to give him her hand in marriage if he
would remain and help to govern the people.
“Now, Oswald was very grateful for all this kindness, but his heart was
too full of the Sunset Princess to think of any other maiden. So, after
thanking the duke courteously, he declined the honor. The young countess
tossed her pretty head in disdain when she heard he loved another, and
told him he was a fool for his pains, and that he would never rescue the
Sunset Princess.
“But Oswald was not discouraged by her words, and continued his journey.
“That night he approached another forest, so dark and gloomy that he
could not see his hand before him. But he remembered the red light that
shone from his ruby-handled sword, and when he held it up he saw the
path quite plainly before him. He heard dreadful squeaking noises all
about him; groans and sudden cries and many dangers beset him.
“Presently a hideous giant arose. He was tall, and had green eyes, which
he rolled awfully, and he gnashed his long white teeth as Oswald came
along.
“‘You cannot enter my country,’ he growled loudly, and for a moment
Oswald felt he didn’t want to enter it, because he saw (by the red light
of his sword) a man being bitten to death by two horrid snakes. One
snake was blue and one was white.
“But Prince Oswald was brave as could be, and he could not see the man
being killed, without helping him; so he dashed forward, and in one
instant had killed both snakes with his shining blade, and rescued the
man.
“But just as he thought he had won a victory, a great swirling current
of water appeared at his feet, and he leaped back only in time to escape
a blow from the tail of a great black dragon. Now he knew the forest was
bewitched; but he continued his journey, and all day long he fought for
his life. Sometimes it was with wild beasts, and sometimes with the
magician in person; but Oswald never let go his sword for one minute,
and the great magic of its blade protected him. At last the cool shadows
of evening began to fall, and the goblins became less and less
troublesome.
“Then suddenly he perceived in his path a beautiful maiden. She seemed
almost a phantom, for floating around and about her was a ghostly mist.
But for all that, she was wondrously fair, with an unearthly sort of
beauty. Her eyes shone like stars out of her snowy draperies, and her
voice had a far-away sound, like the tinkle of silver bells.
“‘O Prince of the Wonderful Sword,’ she said, ‘you have done me a great
favor. I am the White Lady of the Mist, and my golden shuttle was stolen
by the wicked old magician who stole the Sunset Princess. I could do
nothing without it, for all my power lies in its magic. In fighting and
overcoming the magician’s imps in the forest to-day you have restored it
to me; his snares can never more affect me. So, now, I will prove that
my power is restored, and that I am free again, by serving you. I will
blind these wicked enemies of yours, so that they will seek you in vain,
and I will conduct you safe this night through the Forest of Terrors.’
“So saying, she began weaving with the shuttle, and a wondrous weaving
it was, for long streamers of mist floated like a white veil over the
forest. Little by little the ghostly vapor covered everything. Faster
and faster she wove, singing softly as she did so a curious kind of
rhyme:—
“‘Wonderful Shuttle, weaving for me,
Cover each shrub and cover each tree;
Then, while my fairies dance and sing,
Straight through the forest this brave knight bring!’
“Gradually great clouds of white formed everywhere. Their gauzy vapor
thickened as they rolled away and enclosed the whole forest. Nothing
could be seen but the wonderful little Lady of the Mist, and she stood
shining and gleaming like silver in the centre of the ghostly shroud. At
last, when all was snowy white, she stopped singing, and bade the knight
follow her. Always through the thick veil he could see her shining
bright and clear, and thus she conducted him through the dark forest.
But the magician’s imps could not see a thing, and though Oswald heard
them fighting and snarling, they did not trouble him again.
“At break of day, on the edge of a beautiful lake, she left him; but he
was in full view of the magician’s elegant palace. The Lady of the Mist
bade him remain in hiding until the sunset hour, and when the Princess
came out to view his dead body (or the wicked magician’s skill in
changing him into some animal), he must hold his gleaming sword in front
of him, and boldly advance to her side. The White Lady of the Mist
promised to aid him at the critical moment, and she would give him a
sign to advance and rescue the Princess: it would be a veil of mist
descending the mountain. He must not rush forward until the mist
appeared, however, as she could not help him while the sun shone.
“The Prince promised faithfully to follow her instructions, though it
was hard to wait all day. He walked around the lake, keeping well in the
bushes, and finally hiding himself beneath the Princess’s balcony.
“The magician’s palace was truly magnificent, for it was built all of
solid black ebony. It was very gloomy and terrible to look upon, but
also very costly, Oswald could see. The great arches of ebony that
upheld the balcony were inlaid with glittering gold and diamonds, so
that the palace sparkled brilliantly in the sunlight. But a black palace
was an unusual sight, and one felt at a glance that it was the abode of
a magician. The floor of the balcony was inlaid with a border of
splendid white pearls, and precious rugs lay on the floor. Costly jewels
were scattered carelessly about in quantities, for the magician felt if
he lost anything his magic could easily restore it. Enticing fruit
gardens grew down to the borders of the lake, and handsome trees spread
out their cool green branches. The place was so lovely it seemed a shame
that such a wicked old magician should own it.
“Toward evening, when the sun was low, the magician came out and angrily
called for the Princess. It was plain to see he was in a very bad humor.
He had heard of the golden shuttle being restored to the White Lady of
the Mist, and he was fearful of her power against him. He did not know,
however, that Oswald was the knight who had been successful in restoring
it, for he had given such strict instructions to his imps of the forest,
that he felt sure Oswald had not escaped death.
“Prince Oswald’s heart beat very fast as he saw the palace door open.
When the lovely Princess, pale but proud and noble in her bearing,
stepped forth, he could hardly restrain himself from falling at her
feet. He was bewitched by her beauty, for she was far lovelier than he
had supposed. But he dared not venture forth without the signal from the
White Lady of the Mist. Presently, as he waited impatiently, he saw
creeping down the mountain-side the thin white veil. It rolled out in
clouds, for the White Lady realized she had a great work to do. The old
magician, however, did not see the mist, because his face was turned the
other way. He could not understand why his imps did not hurry across the
lake with Prince Oswald, as they had done with the other knights. They
should suffer for this delay on the morrow, he growled.
“But Prince Oswald understood the delay. The little imps had not caught
him; and he also knew by the thickly forming mist it was time to act.
Grasping his shining sword firmly in his right hand, in one swift bound
he reached the Princess’s side. He caught her hand in his, and she clung
to him in pure joy and delight. At that moment the magician turned and
saw them standing together. With a loud cry of rage he sprang toward
them, but it was too late.
“At this minute great clouds of mist rolled over them and completely
covered their forms. Everything was shrouded in ghostly white, and
volumes of vapor continued to roll down the mountain-sides. Faster and
faster came the heavy veil, completely blinding the magician. But Oswald
picked the Princess lightly up in his arms, and holding his gleaming
ruby sword before him as a lantern, ran easily through the fog. He
reached the lake and found it as clear as crystal, and saw no sign of
the mist except behind them. Evening Star shone brightly in the heavens
to light them across the dimpling waters, and she had placed a lovely
canoe in the green bushes for them. All this time the White Lady of the
Mist was hanging her curtains behind the lovers, while her golden
shuttle was weaving them so thick, that even the magician’s sharp eyes
could not penetrate their folds.
“Prince Oswald and his Princess now saw clearly, and Evening Star
directed their footsteps. When far from the wicked magician, and safe,
they sat down to rest. Oswald told the Princess how much he loved her,
and begged her to marry him; she in gentle tones thanked him for what he
had done, and gladly consented.
“Just then Evening Star approached, and begged them to rest in her
beautiful country. Gorgeous palaces awaited them, and a splendid people
wanted to be governed, she said. ‘And,’ she added, ‘if you consent, each
night I will come and visit you, for I love the Sunset Princess as a
sister, and my greatest happiness will be to watch yours.’
“Then the Sunset Princess, who also loved Evening Star, begged Oswald to
consent. They lived ever afterward in that charming country on the banks
of a great and lovely lake. The waters of the lake were so clear that
the pebbles many feet below glistened like fire-opals. There they lived
in great happiness; and as the years went by Oswald loved his beautiful
wife more, for she was charming to see.
“Each evening, as the sun went down, Oswald and his lovely family (for
there were many little children) met on the shores of the lake, and the
Princess always wore her bright flower dress. Even now, if you will but
watch for their coming, you will see them yourself. First comes the
Princess, proud and graceful as on that first evening when Oswald
discovered her. Prince Oswald is close beside, and the children troop
down in brilliant flower dresses like their mother’s. The red sandstone
cliffs on the high banks of the lake are the first to catch the glow of
the children’s garments. Suddenly the dull sandstone reflects a
brilliant light, gleaming out like burning fire. The glowing cliffs
tinge with magic colors the soft fleecy clouds above, and one by one
these colors deepen. Purple, gray, pink, gold, and crimson lights blend
together, in glorious confusion. The calm surface of the water reflects
the brightly colored heavens, and gradually the whole western world is
aflame.
“Thus each evening, in this glorious field of color, Oswald and his
family watch the sky, and await the nightly visit of the splendid
Evening Star.”