BLUE BEARD

A Long time ago, there lived a man who was very rich. He owned a vast tracts of land, and lived in a splendid castle. But this man had the misfortune to be very ill-looking, and had a beard which from its colour, caused him to be called Blue Beard.

Not far from this castle lived a lady who who had two pretty daughters. Blue Beard wanted to marry one of them. But, both of girls refused him, because there were stories afloat that although he had already been married more than once, no body could tell what had become of his wives.

Blue Beard thinking, to overcome the objection of the sisters. Blue Beard managed so well. Before the end of the week, Fatima the youngest sisters, outgrew her dislike for him and became his wife.

A month later, Blue Beard left Fatima for a few weeks. He told Fatima many rules in this castle. Blue Beard allowed Fatima to do anything that she wanted. But, Blue Beard didn’t allow Fatima to open a Blue Closet.

Fatima promised not to forget. As soon as Blue Beard was gone. Fatima invited her brothers and sister to come to this castle. During the day, Fatima was so busy that she never once thought of the Blue Closet. But when all the guest were gone, she felt a great desire to know what is contained.

She took out the key, and opened the door. She walked into the closet a few steps, and there saw a horrible sight. She was in the midst of blood and hanging around the walls were the bodies of the former wives of Blue Beard whom he had slain.

Fatima trembled and the key fell on the floor. The key stained with the blood. She tried to wipe it offbut the blood wouldn’t come out.

The next day, Blue Beard suddenly came home. He asked Fatima for his keys, and she gave them to him all except the one to the Blue Closet. He looked them over and then asked Fatima where the key of Blue Closet.

Poor Fatima went to get the key. Before going back with it she tried once more to wash of the blood-stains. But Blue Beard same to her room because he tired of waitig for her. “How came this blood to be here?” asked Blue Beard in a voice like thunder. Then Fatima turning very pale. “I know full well. You’ve been in the Blue Closet. And since you’re so fond of prying into secret, you shall take up your abode with the ladies you saw there!”

Almost dead with terror, Fatima begged that he would at least allow her a short time to pray. Blue Beard gave her half an hour and then he left the room.

As soon as he left her, Fatima ran to her sister and asked for help. Her sister would help Fatima if their brother help them too. They waited ad waited for their brothers. But their brothers haven’t come yet.

Blue Beard now cried out so loudly that his voice shock the whole house. His poor wife came down and knelt at his feet, Blue Beard seized by the hair and was just about to cut off her head. Foot-steps were heard coming, and in a few moments Fatima’s two brothers rushed in with drawn, sword, and when they saw what Blue Beard was about, put and end to him.

Fatima thought that she was dead too. But she soon recovered her senses, and then she could scarcely believe that she was save.

As Blue Beard had no relations, all of his riches went to Fatima. She gave each of her brothers money enough to enable him to live in comfort, and to her sister, who was marry shortly afterward, she gave a large dowry. She herself became in due time, the wife of a young nobleman whose kind treatment soon made her forget Blue Beard’s cruelty.