Part 10 (2/2)

The three princes stayed on at the Castle, and the court was very gay.

Only King Theophile's heart was heavy, for he knew that he must lose his most beautiful daughter. She was equally kind to all her suitors, and he could not discover which prince she favored. So one evening he came to her in her octagon room, which was of white ivory and whose windows were hung with coral silk; and he found her spinning with her maidens. Her robe of lace rippled about her little feet, and the band of sapphires which held back her yellow hair were not as blue as her eyes.

King Theophile dismissed the maidens, and seating himself beside his daughter he took her hand and said:

”O ray of sunlight out of a great sorrow, tell me in the name of thy dead mother, to whom thou hast given thine heart?”

But the Princess veiled her eyes and drooped her head, for a burden was upon her soul. ”My father,” she said, ”a prince can not easily be a lover, for love has but one object, and in the life of a prince are many objects. I would be loved, but fine words are no proof of a heart.”

”Prince Tristan is a n.o.ble youth.”

”He is too fond of killing,” replied Elene.

King Theophile's cheeks grew pale, for he thought of the long-ago wars and men asleep in crimson meadows that had once been green.

”Prince Martin is a gallant lad.”

”He would rather contend with others than with himself,” said the Princess.

”As for Prince Lorenzo, he dreams too much.”

”Dreamers oft know more than those who are awake,” replied Elene.

King Theophile sighed, for when his Princess spoke in this wise she seemed to pa.s.s from his arms into the arms of her dead mother. Now when Elene heard him sigh her heart was touched, for she loved him dearly.

”King-Father, do not sigh. I will make my choice, and this will be the manner of my choosing. Thou knowst my tears can show the future.”

Then the King grew pale, for he thought of the mother who could not weep until the little daughter was laid upon her breast.

”My three suitors may try their fortunes through my tears one week from, this night; that is--” she added, ”if they have power to make me weep. He who beholds me weep, him will I wed.”

The King was sad when he heard this, but he saw it was her will and refrained from protest. Next day he announced to the court and to the three suitors through what means the Princess Elene would make her decision.

From that day on Elene saw little of the three princes, for Prince Lorenzo was wandering off in the forests alone and Prince Martin and Prince Tristan were trying pathos on the maids of honor, each vying with the other to tell the saddest tales. They succeeded so well that the n.o.ble maidens nearly cried their eyes out. King Theophile was much embarra.s.sed to come, in his walks, upon a little maid of honor weeping into her handkerchief, while a Prince discoursed at her feet.

At last the week wore away, and the court a.s.sembled for what someone called the Trial of Tears. A thousand wax candles were lit in the glittering throne room. King Theophile sat upon his throne, and on his right hand was the Princess Elene, crowned with white roses, and robed in white silk which had a s.h.i.+mmer of gold in its folds. At the foot of the throne sat the three princes.

When all were a.s.sembled the King arose and announced the intention of the Princess to give her hand to him who should behold in her tears her wedding.

Prince Tristan was the first to try his fortune. He had chosen the tale of a young girl cruelly turned adrift in a forest and left there to die, and he related it with every circ.u.mstance that could render it more piteous. Soon every lady in the court was weeping, but to the eyes of the Princess Elene came no tears, which made Prince Tristan angry, so that he finished his tale in a sullen muttering voice.

Then Prince Martin rose and told a story of little children who had climbed into a boat which the rising tide seized and carried out to sea.

They were too little to be afraid, and only when starvation seized them did they begin to wail for their mothers.

This story, related in a soft, melancholy voice, touched all hearts, and through the court there was the sound of weeping, but the Princess gazed straight before her, and her eyes were dry.

Prince Martin ended his tale with real sadness, for he saw that the Princess Elene was unmoved by his narrative, and with drooping head he returned to his seat.

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