Part 4 (1/2)

Immediately did the grateful fly rest upon the curtain where lay the finger of the young wife, and unhesitatingly Chow Soo Tome walked up to the curtain and clasped the right finger.

”It is enough. She is thy wife,” declared the king, and so pleased was he that he made Chow Soo Tome second in power in the kingdom of Chom Kow Kilat.

9: This represents a very well-known marrchen.

10: Chow--a prince or high official.

11: A fabulous city.

12: A rest-house for guests.

[Ill.u.s.tration: The Laos Governor's Wife at her Embroidery Frame.]

The Faithful Wife

The young and beautiful son of a head chow sought of a wise man what manner of wife should be his.

”As you walked by the way, whom did you meet?” asked the wizard.

”No one,” replied the young man.

”Nay, my son, you saw a slave of your father's, cutting gra.s.s in a garden. She is to be your wife.”

Distressed that such a woman should be his wife, the young man fled from his own country.

And it came to pa.s.s, that the chow saw the slave girl that she was kind, n.o.ble, and beautiful, and he took her to his house as a daughter, and she became more kind, more n.o.ble, and more beautiful.

Years had gone by, and, upon a day the son returned, and, seeing in the one-time slave a most lovable and lovely woman, sought and gained her as his wife. Word reached the young man then that this was but a slave, and, on learning the truth, he begged that he might be released to go on a long journey. The young wife consented.

A boat was made ready, and the chow's son had it in his heart never to return. So, secretly, the chow had a gold image hidden in the bottom of the boat. When the day of departure had come, the chow in haste sent his servants to inquire of his son what he had in the boat.

”I have but my possessions,” replied the son.

”Nay, you have the image of gold, which is the possession of my master, the chow,” insisted the servants. ”If we find it in the boat, what will you do?” they asked.

”Return with you as a slave to my father!” exclaimed the son.

All the goods were removed from the boat and the image was found. Then the son returned as a slave to his father and was made keeper of the elephants.

Upon a day, the young wife of the son came to the chow and sought permission to go to the forest to find her husband.

Willingly did the chow say, ”Go, my child,” and forthwith he had a boat put in readiness for her and sent with her many of his servants. One servant was called, ”Eye That Sees Well,” another, ”Ear That Hears Well.”

Sailing down the river, they reached the province where the young man was searching for elephants, and there they remained.

The chow of the province sent a servant secretly to hide a golden image in the boat. But the ”Ear That Hears Well” heard and the ”Eye That Sees Well” saw, and together they took the image from the boat and hid it in the sand.

The following day, the chow sent a messenger asking why the princess had taken the image.