The Devil with the Three Golden Hairs (6)

The Devil with the Three Golden Hairs (6)

Now when the boy arrived at the palace, the queen read the letter not once but twice.
It surprised her, for it was unlike her husband, who was not a nice man.

Then she did as the letter directed, preparing a splendid wedding feast.

The princess liked the looks of the young man and was delighted that her father arranged for him to be her husband.

So they immediately began their honeymoon in joy and happiness.

The king was some time returning home, and when he arrived and found that the boy was married to his only daughter, he was furious.
" How can this be ? " he roared.

When the queen showed him the letter he turned red in the face.

" Stupid woman ! " he called the queen.
" Faithless daughter ! " he called the princess.

Then he summoned the young man to him.

Now the boy knew better than to call the king " Father, " and he bowed very low as his wife had taught him.

" Now, my boy, " said the king in a false voice, " do you not know that he who would marry my daughter must go north and fetch me three golden hairs from the Devil's head ? "

" I had not heard that, Majesty, " said the boy.
" But I will go at once. "

" but my dear, " said his new young bride, " are you not afraid ? "
She herself was very much afraid.
She knew her father to be a villain.

" I am not afraid, " he told her, " for it is clear to me that I am a child of great fortune. Who but someone of great fortune could be married to such a wonderful wife ? "

He took a fond farewell of her, then off he went, though he did not know the way. 

(6/18)