“One of my rules said instant death would be meted out to any who disobeyed them. This was prescribed that your utmost exertion might be put forth, and for that alone, for you observe that not one of you has met death. When one of you fell by the way, he was immediately taken in charge, and has fared as handsomely since as it has been in my power to permit him to do. “There is one among you who has not failed in a single instance, nor has he faltered on the way, as you all know, for since your own failed, each of you has witnessed the efforts of all later ones. “And it is this one who is now to be given the opportunity of accepting or rejecting my hand. I know I can not only trust myself but my kingdom in his hands, for no circumstance can be so difficult he will not understand and triumph over it. “I now have the pleasure of offering my hand, my throne, and my fortune to Monk Chawson, and I leave the matter with him.” Such a deafening applause as rent the air when she resumed her throne was there as to set my nerves vibrating uncomfortably. My words would not come to utterance. I therefore arose from my place at the farther end of the table and went to where she sat. There I knelt at her feet. Then, and only then, could I speak. I said something to this effect: “Dear Princess: Man may not know such honor but once. No man can hope to have beside him forever another being equal to thyself. It can be the joy of but one man to have such a companion; for there is but one. To such a woman a man may ever be a lover; for his life must be all sunshine and delight. “If then you will accept me as thy constant companion through this life, receive my promise to guard you and protect you in any and all emergencies.” She stepped down from her throne and knelt beside me. A holy monk came forward and performed the ceremony which made my life overflowing with happiness. Though years have passed since that eventful day, her beauty has not dimmed; the luster of her eyes is still powerful; the sweetness of her disposition has grown in grandeur. As we gaze on the children at play, we clasp each other’s hands in that sweet rapture only known to those who truly love and are as truly loved. May your lot be as pleasant as mine, dear reader! I must add that every one of the knights and gentlemen who made the attempt to find the secret chamber found within the household of my princess some beautiful woman who reciprocated his affections. So that our palace contains a retinue unequaled for valor and renown, and there is growing up around us an army of robust children whose merry laughter and pretty pranks fill us all with continual joy. Success nearly always crowns the efforts of the venturesome. The failure of an adventure is always chronicled with glaring head-lines, thus proving the above assertion. At all events, I was certainly for pushing into anything mysterious, with the result of final triumph.