hath found a
soul and drifted earthward to blossom here.' And all that night he had
eyes for none but her.

"The next night Olga started again to the castle in her dress of tow,
and at the gate she grasped the second bead in her fingers, repeating
the charm. This time the pale yellow of the daffodils seemed to have
woven itself into a cloth of gold for her adorning. It was like a
shimmer of moonbeams, and her hair held the diamond flashings of a
hundred tiny stars.

"That night the prince paid her so many compliments and singled her out
so often to bestow his favours, that Olga's head was turned. She tossed
it proudly, and quite scorned the thought of the humble cottage which
had given her shelter so long. The next day, when she had returned to
her gown of tow, and was no longer a haughty court lady, but only Olga,
the flax-spinner's maiden, she repined at her lot. Frowning she carried
the water from the spring. Frowning she gathered the cresses and plucked
the woodland fruit. And then she sat all day by the spring, refusing to
spread the linen on the grass to bleach.

"She was discontented with the old life of toil, and pouted crossly
because duties called her when she wanted to do nothing but sit idly
dreaming of the gay court scenes in which she had taken a bright, brief
part. The old flax-spinner's fingers trembled as she spun, when she saw
the frowns, for she had given of her heart's blood to buy happiness for
the maiden she loved, and well she knew there can be no happiness where
frowns abide. She felt that her years of sacrifice had been in vain.

"That night outside the castle gate Olga paused. She had forgotten the
charm. The day's discontent had darkened her memory as storm clouds
darken the sky. But she grasped her necklace imperiously.

"'Deck me at once!' she cried, in a haughty tone. 'Clothe me more
beautifully than mortal maid was ever clad before, so that I may find
favour in the prince's sight and become the bride of the castle. I would
that I were done for ever with the spindle and the distaff.'

"But the moon went under a cloud and the wind began to moan around the
turrets. The black night hawks in the forests flapped their wings
warningly, and the black bats flitted low around her head.

"'Obey me at once!' she cried, angrily, stamping her foot and jerking at
the necklace. But the string broke and the beads went rolling away in
the darkness in every direction, and were lost. All but one, which