Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1885-03-04

sqm &c pFsncesa Il Spain. ahe ~
swered sedately.
Anazement stamped itself for an II
.kart IN Dr. Farrood's face; then
comprehensive smile swept i away.
ss.iust 50. = he said; ! see. Where -
I'm snain. Of course, answered the
nrinceee. sssomewhlre-l have never
been. Nv back is bad. When i IS bet
Ter shall 20. But know just how q
looks. II 4 very beautiful castle. :
ssTell me about il, said the doctor,
gently.
cts not much like : story book cas-
tie. y with queer little smile. 1t isn't
cold stone. It's painted red, and the
trees are SO big around itthey Just reacn
their long arms to each other and shake
hands across the roof. The birds sing
All dav long; and there are roses and
roses. and fields full of green. The
child had risen on one arm. Her eyes
were brilliant, and the thin little face
seemed transfiCured. sThc sea is there.
too. . she whispered. Little green waves
running to catch each other all down my
beach. Oh, bark" holding up one
transparent hand--''how the waves
singh The child sank back upon her
pillow, perfect silence filing the room.
Suddenly something splashed down upon
the little transparency the princess called
her hand. ssWhy, you're cryingm she
began, increduously, lifting astonished
eyes.
mot bit of it, /" shrilly maintained
the doctor. 81 was only thinking how
pleasant it is. Your estate must lie very
close to mine.
where did she ever hear of the dream
castles Of spain2" he asked, presently,
aside to Ruth.
II read her story once. out of a book, :
Ruth answered. ''It pleased her, and
she seemed so to delight in these fancies,
think they are sometimes real to her.
It is foolish; we are both foolish for--I
see them sometimes. too
81 am foolish, also, then, returned
the doctor.
He was looking down directly upon
the pretty face with its troubled color
coming and going. and so saw that swift
uprising of her eyes to his.
ssDo you think so2" she asked, too
eager for his answer to note the look he
bent upon her ere it came.
81 am sure of it, " he replied. Every
man, believe, has some castles in that
wonderful land, / myself am a large
property owner there"
II am SO glad - she said, simply, not
looking at him, and so seeing not the
swift gladness that shone an instant in
his eyes, as if something in her words, or
thoughts of his which her words had
created-had pleased him. 1T don't
seem so silly for u.s.
''Good- by, my little princess, he said,
presently, turning to the bed. II shall
drop in and see your ladyship, to-mor-
row."
And by the time he had descended the
four fiights--in reckless preoccupation--
grave, handsome DR.. Fargood had in
creased his possessions and constructed
one more castle in Spain.
After he had gone, the child lay quite
still upon her little bed, her eyes closed,
and both hands clasped across her breast.
Ruth sewing swiftly by the departing
daylight.
q Ruth, " said the princess, at length,
after that long, long silence. opening her
eyes and looking at the pretty profile by
the window, " the prince has come
a-visiting
Nonsense, dear, said Ruth. but q
little frightened color crept up into the
pale face bent low over the work, and
the busy fingers flew on faster.
. He has come" repeated the child,
dreamily. 81 He is very handsome, but
it is not just that. He is noble and good.
He does not even laugh like other story
book princes. There is trust in his
laugh. What fine, good, beautiful
prince he is
Ruth stole one startled glance toward
the princess dreaming, and answered
never word.
Young DR.. Fargood came not only the
next dav, true to his promise, but the
next, and the next, and every succeed.
ing day thereafter through that hot
sitting August weather. Was il the
princess alone whose eyes frightened.
hearing daily that familiar step2 Was it
the princess only who dreamed her
dreams after the echoes Of that step had
died away for another day. Ruth was
very quiet, wistful, anxious. All the
skill which DR.. Fargood, the young
physician who bid fair to stand at the
head Of his profession ere many years
went by, could claim and exercise was
bestowed upon the wee little mortal who
lay 90 patiently, day after lay and night
after night, upon her little cot. But
that skill, alas awaited but little. Ruth's
eyes were too dim. often, to see the pos
sible brightness Of horizon Just be-
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