Part 13 (1/2)

(While she had been a wretched little Crossing Sweeper, she had not learned much in books, you know. So it was that she did not know that ”Princess Cendre” meant naught but ”Princess Sweep” in a foreign language.)

II

Now we must leave this selfish Princess Cendre sweetly sleeping in her castle by the sea and make our way back to Sweep's snug little garret once again. On the night of this eventful day Sweep returned home from his labors very late. There was no light in the attic just across the way, but he was quite content. He thought, of course, his Little Sweep was safely tucked up there. Before he ate his bread and cheese, he tossed three sugar cookies in at her window, and then set about polis.h.i.+ng his shoes and making himself extra smart for the morrow.

Sweep's candle burned very late; but even so, when he lay down to sleep at last, he dreamed such dreadful dreams that he was glad when morning came. He dreamed that he had lost his Little Sweep, and that he married in her stead her broomstick dressed up in the little gray wedding frock.

The clock with the loud ringing bell wakened him at last, and Sweep dressed himself in all his holiday attire. Then he called softly to the attic just across the way.

”Wake up, my Little Sweep,” said he; ”this is your wedding day.” He tossed in a bright red apple, and presently a head was thrust forth from the attic window opposite. Not Little Sweep's, as of course he had expected, but the shocking, tousled head of the old master.

”Ah, kind Sweep!” exclaimed the old master, ”I do most greatly thank thee for the sugar cookies and the red apple.”

”But those sugar cookies and red apple were not for you, old villain!”

cried Sweep. ”They were for my darling Little Sweep. Give them to her at once, I say.”

”Oh, pray, good Sweep! I cannot give the sugar cookies or the red apple to Little Sweep, because I have already eaten them myself; besides, she is no longer here, you know,” replied the old master, and then began to tell the tale of wonders he had seen the day before.

Sweep listened in amazement. ”Now if I find you have not told me true,”

cried he, ”I will surely do you a mischief!” Then down the stairs he sped, and over across the way. There, as the old master had declared, Sweep found the new master in the kitchen. The new master was a pleasant youth, and of amiable manners. He invited Sweep to stay and eat breakfast with him, but Sweep, as you may suppose, was of no mind to eat. Instead, he begged for news of Little Sweep.

”Indeed, I have seen no such person here,” replied Master Jasper, ”but this I did see, which did most greatly astonish me. Yesterday, as I came into this kitchen, a beautiful princess robed in s.h.i.+ning satin swept past me, and stepping into a coach of pearl was whirled from sight. That old villain yonder began to mumble that this lovely princess had once been his slave. Of course, I heeded him not, but fetched him a sharp cuff on the ear and bade him go about his work.”

Sweep now begged leave to look up in the attic, if the new master would permit. Master Jasper gave him leave and led the way himself. Sweep followed him with lagging tread. He now began to fear that this strange tale might be true after all. Sadly he gazed about the cold, bare little room. There in one corner he saw the bright-colored pasteboard box that he had made for Little Sweep's poor treasures, and close by, on a peg, hung the little gray wedding frock and the red ribbon he had bought her.

”Alas!” mourned Sweep, ”it is all my fault! If my heart had not been thus so stubbornly set upon a cottage with many chimneys, Little Sweep and I would have been married long since, and then, of course, all this magic would never have happened.” The honest fellow wept bitter tears that left great tracks all down his sooty face and made him look the very picture of woe. Young Master Jasper felt sorry for him. He too had lost his love, it seemed, and so he sought to comfort Sweep as best he could.

”Come, Sweep!” cried Master Jasper when he had heard. ”All is not yet lost. If Little Sweep loved you as dearly as you say, then she will only love you ten times more, now that she is a princess! The thing for you to do is this. Go seek until you find the castle or the palace wherein she dwells. Who knows--why, even at this very moment she may be crying her eyes out, because it is her wedding day, and yet Sweep has not come!”

These words cheered Sweep. His spirits rose, and so he dried his tears at once and then set out to seek the castle where his Little Sweep in the guise of some fair princess might be dwelling. But though he sought the whole day through, he sought in vain. When it was growing late, he left the crowded city streets and ways and found himself among the open fields and lanes. Then by and by, at twilight time, Sweep walked beside the borders of the sea. There he sat down to rest, for he was very weary. He tossed aside his cap and sighed to think how happy he had been but last night, when he thrust the gay green feather in it. Then he became aware of a voice speaking to him.

”I know where Little Sweep is dwelling,” said the voice, and peering down, Sweep saw a tiny Red Cap perched upon his knee. (It was the very Red Cap that had hidden in Little Sweep's pocket the day before.) ”If you wish, I can take you there,” continued Red Cap in a friendly fas.h.i.+on.

”Ah, Red Cap, if you only would!” cried Sweep. ”My heart is broken because I cannot find my darling.”

”Then close your eyes and do not open them until I say,” commanded Red Cap.

Sweep closed his eyes and felt himself a-sailing through the air. He sailed so fast that he had scarcely time to draw a breath before he felt himself set down upon the earth once more.

”Now look about you,” commanded Red Cap.

Sweep obeyed. He found himself within a stately hall of marble; the walls were carved with gold and coral, all in intricate designs, and there, upon a throne of ivory set with gleaming sapphires, was seated Princess Cendre. Her flowing robes of s.h.i.+mmering white seemed made of moonbeams sewn together, so soft and luminous were they. Her hair, black as a raven's wing, was bound with ropes of pearls and diamonds. The Princess Cendre sat so still that Sweep at first believed she was some lovely carven image he beheld. There was little to make one think of Little Sweep, save that when the Princess Cendre spoke, her voice was Little Sweep's.

”What brings you hither, Sweep?” cried Princess Cendre angrily, when she became aware of him.

Sweep was astonished, but answered mildly, even so.

”Ah, Little Sweep,” said he, ”now who would think that fine new raiment and a face all clean and s.h.i.+ning would make this wondrous change in you?

But perchance, if you had ever worn the new gray frock I bought you for our wedding, I would have known about your beauty.”