The Opelousas courier., 1889-07-13

1OIH Went III ana askSu tHe pFice,
and returned with the information thai
it was ten shillings.
"Oh, DEAR" said Rose, 'that's much
moro than we can afford. Come along,
Tom"
But though Rose said "Come along
she didn't move. She stood looking
lovingly at the little china fairy. All
at once she gave a start. 20, Tom,"
she exclaimed; ''look at that fairy's
lips, they're moving"
''What n~onsense!" said Tom, laugh
ing; you've been staring at it; 'it's
an optical illusion"
tom, would it be very wicked if we
bought it. I'd sav the money out OF
my housekeeping"
"Well, it's a lot of money, but 1dare
say it won't ruin us. I see you want it,
dear, and you shall have it."
And before Rose could stop him Tom
had stepped into the shop, and pres
emily he came out with the little china
fairy carefully wrapped up in paper.
Rose put it in her muff-it was quite a
little fairy-and they bore it off home
in triumph.
1t looked so lovely on the mantel-
shelf Rose couldn't take her eyes off it,
but kept going up to it all the evening
and saying: "Oh. you little dear!!" and
she would have it that the fairy's eyes
were looking at her.
omtsaughed, but he confessed that
it really vas a very life-like little fig
IRE The face was quite real, and the
wonderful thing about it was that the
expression seemed to change.
Being Saturday night, the young
couple sat up rather late. Tom smoked
his pipe while Rose read to him, and
they were SO comfortable and so hap
| Ply that they never noticed the time
till Tom happened to look at his watch,
and then he cried out: "Good gracious,
Rose, it's one minute to twelve!"
Rose closed her book-she had
reached the end of the chapter-lit the
bedroom candle, and then Tom turned
Lax SdS out. &A0 DC AL CO GuO D1S
clock down stairs struck twelve.
Just as the last stroke died away, a
sweet, soft, silvery voice exclaimed:
"Thank you so much for buying me.
RosesWas so startled that she dropped
the candle. which fell ON the floor and
went out. Tom turned round with an
exclamation, ard there, with a halo of
light round her head, stood the little
china fairy on the mantel-shelf. 1t
was the fairy who had spoken. Her
lips were parted, showing two rows of
pearly teeth; and the kindest, sweetest
smile was on her face.
Don't be frightened, " said the fairy,
as Rose clutched Tom, and wondered
ghether she ought to faint or not;
''don't be frightened, / am a good
fairy. / was turned to china by a
wicked enchantress, but every night at
twelve o'clock I recover the power of
speech. which lasts until dawn. I was
very unhappy in the old curiosity
shop. where was taken by the
person who found me in q forest
and thought I was an ornament.
There was no one there at midnight
for me to talk to excepta lot of Chinese
idols and brass figures and creatures of
that Sort, and they didn't understand
I vas very pleased when you
brought me to you. shice, happy home,
and you can't think how I've. been
longing for twelve o'clock, to be able
to thank YOU"
I'm SURE we're very pleased" STAN
mered Rose. ''but of course it's very
odd. / don't like to ask you, but-er
would you like any thing to eat?"
The fairy laughed a silvery laugh.
''Oh, no." she said, s'fairies are neve,
hungry. BesidesstI want you to be
kind enough to oten the window for
me and let me fly away. II l can get
back to fairyland before dawn, / may
find my protectre.s, who will take
away the spell that has been put upon
me.'
S "Oh, certainly" said Tom, with
pleasure" and he vas proceeding to
open the window when he recol1ected
the fairy had cost him ten skdilings,
and that the transaction would be a
dead loss to him.
The fairy evidently guessed what
was passing in Toms mind, for she
flew gracefully off the mantelshelf and
cafae and stood on the table beside
him.
81 yill not be .ungrateful," she said;
las aareward for your kindness, 1 can
grant you one wish, whatever it is.
80 Toni" exclaimed Rose, who had
gradually shaken off her nervousness.
stWish to be a dramatic author"
Toowas always an obedient husband
Chat was why he vas SO happy. and
he said at once: II wish TO be a dra-
matte author"
Certainly" said the fairy. go to
bed, and tomorrow when you wake up
you will be N Now, thank you very
much and goodnight The fairy
kissed her little hand to the young
couple, spread her wings and flew
away in the moonlight. Tom and Rose
watched her as far as they could see
her, then closed the window and re-
tired to rest.
The next morning, when Tom woke
up, he had a splitting headache, and
felt so awfully seedy he could hardly sit
,,n 40 TonZ 81 his vva4oh i
by Jove,n he exclaimed, '.its
o'clock.