THE LADY OR THE TIGER - by Frank Stockton is avaliable to be read online. The following, is MY ending to the story.
Without
delay, the Princess raised her hand and indicated the door to the
right. Just as the knowledge of which door held the tiger and which
held the lady, had given the Princess the key to her future, further
thought and self-discussion had indicated to her what she needed to do.
Though the Princess’ father was semi-barbaric, her mother had been as
sweet as a flower, budding in warm sunshine. For the favor of her
Father, the Princess had often been told that in spirit as well as looks
she favored her father, but as she grew older the Princess knew deep
down that she favored her Mother in sweetness but also in cunning. For
what other kind of woman would be strongly matched to a Semi-barbaric
King, and able to win his heart? The Princess watched as her lover,
showing his full trust in her, that if she willed it, he would be torn
apart at the claws of a wild beast with forgiveness in his eyes, and
reached for the door on the right.
The
crowd gasped in one collective breath as the door slowly, steadily
opened. It was then that her lover laid eyes on his new bride. As the
crowd around her burst into cheering and celebratory applause, the
Princess shrank back, hiding the real tears in her eyes from the
satisfaction of her Father. She would be again, his sweet but
broken-hearted daughter, contrite to his every wish and command. Before
she could race away from the arena, from the image of her pleasantly
surprised lover, being wedded to his new bride, her father caught her
hand. With one look she understood his heart. It said, You are mine forever, I did this because I love you. It
occurred to the Princess that such love was not really love, but it was
the only way that the King understood love to be. The Princess squeezed
his hand, and raised her face to kiss his cheek. She knew that her
Father believed that true love was not true, for her own Mother had
vanished one day, leaving her small daughter all alone. That was
unfathomable, even for a man of his own semi-barbaric nature.
So,
it happened that time passed, and though the Princess thought often of
her lover, and wondered if he still loved her with the same fervency as
she loved him. Her broken heart began to mend, and heal, and her mind
and heart push the young lover aside. She did marry, and blessed the
kingdom with a fine son, to follow her in the paths of royalty.
By
and by, as it happens with all of us who draw mortal breath, her father
died and was laid to rest in the arms of his ancestors. Soon after,
the now dear King was followed by the Princess’ husband to the
underworld. Though the Princess missed him, her heart was awakened
again for her lover. Messages were sent throughout the kingdom, in
search of the man who’s life she had loved and saved. Eventually he was
found, not as far off as she would have thought, and brought before the
throne of the once Princess and now Queen.
He removed his hat as a sign of respect, and as he bowed his
head. She could see the lines of silver tracing up to his temples, as
he pressed his hat to his chest. Holding his hand, timidly and to one
side, a pretty little girl, the picture of her Father. He explained to
her that not long after his wedding, his wife had left this world to
bring him his daughter, and he had been living in view of the palace,
and the Princess ever since. The Princess welcomed him again into her
heart, and home and eventually they were married. It was said, by all
the people of the kingdom, that barbarism no longer resided in the heart
of the royalty. For, the Princess had learned that love, faced by the
greatest sacrifice, was always returned, and time made right. One day,
on a walk in the garden, he told her,
"Love kept me near to you, kept me living and breathing for you, sacrificing for you, waiting for you." And the Princess knew it was true.
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