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the key of the closet, which she had drawn from the lock, fell from her hand.

Coming to herself, she picked up the key, locked the door, and went to her room, filled with terror. She saw that the key was stained with blood and tried to wipe it off, but the stain remained. It was in vain that she scrubbed it with sand and brick dust, the blood still remained and would do so, for it was an enchanted key and could not be made clean; when the stains were washed from one side they would appear on the other.

Bluebeard came back that very evening, saying he had received letters on the road which put an end to his business. His wife was greatly frightened, but tried to make him believe that she was delighted with his return.

The next day he asked for the keys, and she gave them to him with such a trembling hand that he guessed at once what had happened. "Why is the key of the closet not with the rest?" said he. "I must have left it on my table up stairs," she replied. "Be sure that you bring it to me by and by," said Bluebeard.

After many delays the key was brought. Bluebeard having turned it over, said to his wife, "How came this blood upon the key?" "Indeed I do not know," said she, her face white with fear.

"You do not know!" answered Bluebeard; "I do right well. You have been into my closet. Very well, Madam, you shall go in again, and take your place with the ladies you saw there."

She threw herself at her husband's feet, weeping, and begged his pardon for her fault, and showed her sorrow for her action. It seemed as though her appearance would soften a stone, but Bluebeard's heart was harder than that, and he was not moved at all. "You must die, Madam, at once," said he. "If I must die," said she, looking up at him with streaming eyes, "give me a little time to say my prayers. Said Bluebeard, "I will give you ten minutes, and not one moment more."

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Bluebeard left the room, and when she found herself alone, she called to her sister and said, "Sister Anne, go up to the top of the tower, I pray you, and see if my brothers are coming; they promised to come and see me to-day; and if they are in sight, beckon them to come quickly." Her sister went up the tower, and from time to time came the call from below, "Sister Anne, do you see any one coming?" Her sister answered, "I see nothing but the green grass and the sunshine."

In the meantime Bluebeard was calling out, "Come down, or I shall go up for you." His wife replied, "Yet one little moment, I pray you!" Then she

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called out softly, "Sister Anne, do you see any one coming," and the answer was the same as before.

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"Alas, no, "Come down!

Bluebeard, holding a great scimiter in his hand, had grown very impatient, and called out, "Come down quickly, or I shall have to bring you!" “I am coming," replied his wife. Then she cried again, "Sister Anne, do you see any one coming?" see," said Anne, "a great cloud of this way." "Is it my brothers?" sister, it is only a flock of sheep." come down!" shouted Bluebeard. "Yet one little moment!" answered his wife. And then she called, "Anne, Sister Anne, do you see any one coming?" "I see two horsemen riding toward me, but they are still a great way off." "Heaven be praised," cried she a moment after, "they are my brothers, and I am beckoning with might and main for them to hasten."

Bluebeard now began to shout so loud that the house shook. The poor lady went down and fell on her knees before him, her face soiled with tears, and her hair flying loose. Bluebeard roared, "No use, Madam; you shall die." Then taking hold of her hair with one hand, he raised his scimiter to

cut off her head. The poor lady turned towards him and looking up with eyes of terror, begged for one moment more to prepare herself. no," said he, "this is your last moment."

"No,

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raising his arm for the stroke, suddenly there was heard such a loud knocking at the gates that Bluebeard stopped. The door opened, and in came two knights, who, sword in hand, rushed toward him. He saw at once that they were his wife's brothers, and turned to flee, but he was soon overtaken and killed. His poor wife was nearly dead, not having strength enough left to rise.

However, she was soon well again, and as Bluebeard had no heirs, she had all his property. She gave part of her wealth to her sister Anne and part to her two brothers. Some time afterward she married a man whose kind treatment made her forget her narrow escape from a horrible death.

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

HERE was once a very rich merchant, who had

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six children, three boys and three girls. He was very kind to them, and did all that he could to train them to be good, and do what was right. His daughters were very pretty, but the youngest was prettiest of all. When she was very little she was called Beauty, and she was still called the same when she grew up. This made her sisters jealous. But Beauty was not only prettier than her sisters, but she was more kind and thoughtful for others.

Every one knew

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They were proud of their riches and haughty, and not willing to be with any other than people of better positions than themselves. They went to balls and theaters, and laughed at Beauty, who spent much of her time in study. that the sisters were rich, and wished to marry them, but the two older ones said they would not marry any one but a duke, or at least an earl. Beauty thanked those who wished to marry her, and said that she was too young to leave her father, and that she hoped to be with him for some years longer.

Suddenly the merchant lost his whole fortune. Nothing was left to him but a little house in the country, a long distance from town. He felt very bad, and told his children that they must go there and live, and that they would all have to work for their living. The two oldest daughters said they would not leave town, and that they had lovers who would be glad to marry them, though they had no fortune; but they were mistaken, for their lovers left them as soon as they knew they had no money. They were so proud and haughty, that people did not love them. Every one said, "They we are glad to see their

do not deserve to be pitied; pride humbled. But," they added, "we are very sorry for Beauty, for she was such a good girl, she

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