[Illustration]
BLUEBEARD
In the long ago times, in a splendid house, surrounded by fine
gardens and a park, there lived a man who had riches in abundance, and
everything to make him popular except one, and that was his beard, for
his beard was neither black as a raven's wing, golden as the sunlight,
nor just an ordinary every-day colour, but it was blue, bright blue.
Of course had blue beards come into fashion his would have been
considered beautiful beyond words, but, as far as we know, blue beards
have never as yet been fashionable, nor are they likely to be so.
However, in spite of his blue beard this man had married several
times, though what had become of his wives nobody could say.
Now, not far from Bluebeard's house there dwelt a widow with two very
lovely daughters, and one of these Bluebeard wished to marry, but
which he did not mind, they might settle that between themselves.
Neither of these girls had the least desire to have a husband with a
blue beard, and also, not knowing the fate of the other wives, they
did not like to risk disappearing from the world as those had done,
but being very polite young women they would not refuse Bluebeard's
proposals outright.
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