“Just when a king thought he had conquered everybody some other king would come and conquer him; and so it went on until it did not seem likely the proud princess would ever get a husband at all.  But still her pride was so great that she would not yield, even though everybody except the kings who wanted to marry her, hated her for the suffering she had caused.  One day a horn was blown at the palace gate; and there was one tall man in complete armor with his visor down, riding on a white horse.  When he said he had come to marry the princess every one laughed, for he had no retinue and no beautiful apparel, and no golden crown.

“‘But I am the king who conquers all kings,’ he said.

“‘You must prove it before I shall marry you,’ said the proud princess.  But she trembled and turned pale, for there was something in his voice that frightened her.  And when he laughed, his laughter was still more dreadful.

“‘I can easily prove it, beautiful princess,’ he said, ’but you must go with me to my kingdom for the proof.  Marry me now, and you and I and your father and all your court will ride straightway to my kingdom; and if you are not satisfied then that I am the king who conquers all kings you may give me back my ring and return home free of me forever more.’

“It was a strange wooing and the friends of the princess begged her to refuse.  But her pride whispered that it would be such a wonderful thing to be the queen of the king of the world; so she consented; and her maidens dressed her, and put on the long lace veil that had been so many years a-making.  Then they were married at once, but the bridegroom never lifted his visor and no one saw his face.  The proud princess held herself more proudly than ever, but she was as white as her veil.  And there was no laughter or merry-making, such as should be at a wedding, and every one looked at every one else with fear in his eyes.

“After the wedding the bridegroom lifted his bride before him on his white horse, and her father and all the members of his court mounted, too, and rode after them.  On and on they rode, and the skies grew darker and the wind blew and wailed, and the shades of evening came down.  And just in the twilight they rode into a dark valley, filled with tombs and graves.

“‘Why have you brought me here?’ cried the proud princess angrily.

“‘This is my kingdom,’ he answered.  ’These are the tombs of the kings I have conquered.  Behold me, beautiful princess.  I am Death!’

“He lifted his visor.  All saw his awful face.  The proud princess shrieked.

“‘Come to my arms, my bride,’ he cried.  ’I have won you fairly.  I am the king who conquers all kings!’

“He clasped her fainting form to his breast and spurred his white horse to the tombs.  A tempest of rain broke over the valley and blotted them from sight.  Very sadly the old king and courtiers rode home, and never, never again did human eye behold the proud princess.  But when those long, white clouds sweep across the sky, the country people in the land where she lived say, ’Look you, there is the Wedding Veil of the Proud Princess.’”