PAGE “I will return soon, sweet mother” _Frontispiece_ The Ocean Queen came forth, with her younger children, to greet them 25 “They threw themselves at her feet, begging for pardon” 41 “They circled together, dressed in the vivid colors of the rainbow” 57 “A glimmering figure sitting on a high cliff” 106 “Turning around, he saw a radiantly beautiful woman near him” 130 _Also eleven drawings in black and white introducing the chapters._ THE MOON PRINCESS CHAPTER I HOW THE MOON PRINCESS CAME TO THE EARTH [Illustration: (unlabelled)] The heavens were a stainless blue, and the Moon shone out of them arrayed in silvery garments. One by one the sky’s matchless jewels, the stars, peeped out, studding that great ceiling with flashing diamond-points, until the whole dome was a glittering mass of blue and silver. The Ocean below seemed a big mirror, made to catch and reflect the bewildering beauty above, for, shimmering softly, he carried in his shining depths all those myriad lights. Calm and majestic the Moon glided over her star-studded pathway; but, in spite of her glorious beauty and brilliancy, she was really sad and sick at heart. Ethelda, her best beloved, the youngest and dearest of her children, had just made a request the granting of which caused her that night bitterest sorrow. There was an old custom among the Moon maidens that on her marriage each one of them might ask whatever she most desired, and the thing which she asked could not be denied her. Now, Ethelda of the starry eyes and the shining spun-gold hair had asked a fearful gift at her mother’s hands. She was betrothed to the Sun Prince Dorion, a handsome youth, strong of limb, and a goodly sight to look upon, and he had long loved her. He had seen this dainty maiden in all her varying moods, so he knew her well. Sometimes, with her Moon maidens merrily engaged at play, she romped happy as a child; or later, with the stately tread of a young princess, she came and went in her big white palace. She often wore a pale blue gown with silver trimmings, and a crown of flashing stars upon her head, and then it was the brilliantly beautiful girl looked the daughter of the skies. Prince Dorion had watched the slender maiden until every strand of her glittering hair was dear to his heart. Later his father’s golden chariot brought him daily to her palace.