Atondido Stories
He folded the letter, made it secure, and sealed it with his
own signet.
Plavachek took the letter and started out with it at once. He
had to go through a deep forest where he missed the path and
lost his way. He struggled on through underbrush and thicket
until it began to grow dark. Then he met an old woman who
said to him:
“Where are you going, Plavachek?”
“I’m carrying this letter to the king’s palace and I’ve lost my
way. Can you put me on the right road, mother?”
“You can’t get there today,” the old woman said. “It’s dark
now. Spend the night with me. You won’t be with a stranger, for
I’m your old godmother.”
Plavachek allowed himself to be persuaded and presently he
saw before him a pretty little house that seemed at that moment
to have sprung out of the ground.
During the night while Plavachek was asleep, the old woman
took the letter out of his pocket and put in another that read as
follows:
“Have the young man who delivers this letter married to our
daughter at once. He is my destined son-in-law. Let the wedding
take place before I return. Such is my will.”
The next day Plavachek delivered the letter and as soon as
the queen read it, she gave orders at once for the wedding. Both
she and her daughter were much taken with the handsome
youth and gazed at him with tender eyes. As for Plavachek he
fell instantly in love with the princess and was delighted to mar-
ry her.
Some days after the wedding the king returned and when he
heard what had happened he flew into a violent rage at the
queen.
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