“Oh, how charming the Rainbow Sisters must be!” said Ethelda, “and how I love to hear you tell these wonderful stories of the Earth! Do you know any more?”
“Yes,” replied the guide, smiling, “a good many more, but what would you like to hear about?”
“Won’t you tell us of how the Sun Princess happened to come to this world?” interrupted a dainty little Moon maiden; “I really have never heard it exactly, and as we are going to visit her, perhaps Princess Ethelda will let us all hear about it?”
“Most willingly,” replied Ethelda; “I know the wonderful story almost by heart, of course, but I never tire of it,” she added, looking tenderly at Prince Dorion the while.
So the guide, with this permission, began:—
“In the Land of the Sun there was once a Palace of Wisdom, where all the science in the universe could be studied. Of course this Palace of Wisdom became very famous. Far and wide it was heard of, so that from all parts came representative young men to study and become wise. Now, the ruler of the Sun lands was a powerful king, possessing many sons, but only one daughter, the Princess Kuldah. She was a maiden of wonderful beauty. Her countenance was so exquisitely lovely, that all who looked upon her immediately fell in love with her. This caused the young Princess, as well as her father, great annoyance, because her suitors became legion. One day, however, with the help of her maidens she wove a veil of delicate texture, which completely concealed her features. In this way, she was enabled to go and come throughout her father’s vast possessions in comparative ease.
“Notwithstanding her great indifference toward her lovers, kings and princes sought her hand in marriage, but her father (who adored her and could deny her nothing) was secretly well content that she chose none of them, but remained always in his dominions with him.
“Tall and of majestic appearance, the Princess Kuldah looked the daughter of the Sun King. Her eyes were brown and large, with brilliant lights within, and her curling brown hair, falling below her waist, had caught a little of the golden fire of the Sun. Her gleaming white teeth looked like pretty little pearls when she smiled. Indeed, she was a queenly sight as she drove in her handsome chariot toward the Fire Mountains.
“These mountains were a great range of gorgeous-hued stones, piled very high. Rising in blazing splendor, they perpetually sent forth their red beams in dazzling streams of light across the Sun country. But the heat and glare of her home—which would have burned and killed an earth maiden—were but life-giving elements to the Sun Princess. She loved the glitter of her country, and no glare seemed too great for her. The palace where she dwelt was built of the brightest, yellowest gold to be found, and she moved through it a splendid vision of beauty.