Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1892-07-15

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on THE FLY LEAF SHE WROTE WITH A
TINY GOLD PENCIL
| ing some more, but they walked nearly
a mile, and were becoming very hot and
tired before they met with another.
All of sudden, as they were passing
a cottage by the roadside, they were
startled by a deep, loud bark, and,
turning, they saw big Newfoundland
dog bound over the front fence and
come dashing directly toward them.
Now, while Arthur was very fond of
dogs that he was acquainted with, he
was also very much afraid of strange
| dogs, especially big ones, and his first
impulse upon this occasion was to run
away. Then he remembered that he
was prince and that princes were al
; ways brave. So he told Cynthia to run
as fast as she could and hide in the
bushes. AS she did this the brave little
fellow turned bold front, though he
was trembling in every limb, toward
the enemy. The next instant the big
dog sprang upon him, threw him down,
rolled him in the dust and then stood
over him, wagging a bushy tail and
barking with delight at what he had
done.
Arthur, who thought he was certainly
to be killed, shut his eyes and for near
ly minute lay perfectly still. He
opened them on hearing a tramp
ing of hoofs, a jingling of harness
and loud Whoa Then, no longer
seeing the dog, he quickly scrambled
to his feet. He was right under the
noses of a pair of splendid horses, and
behind them was fine carriage, from
which b"autiful lady was just step
ping.
''Why, little boy" she said, as she took
Arthur's hand, and led him away from
in front of the horses, ''don't you know
that you came very near being run over?
and that it is dangerous to be playing
out here in the middle of the road?
Now run into tho house, and ask your
mother to brush your clothes, and don't
ever do SO again"
"But | don't live here" said Arthur,
lifting his dust-covered little face to the
gracious one bent down to him. 81 live
long way off, and I'm Prince and
Cynthia is q Princess, and we were look
ing for adventures, when big dog
knocked me down; but he didn't hurt
Cynthia because l defended her, the
same as princes do in the stories my own
mamma used to read to me-"
$50 you are Prince are you2" laughed
the lady. "Then you must be Prince
Dusty Well, if you will get into the
carriage and show me the way I will
take you homo TO your castle. But
where is your Princess? What did you
say her name WASP"
at is Cynthia" replied Arthur, "and
there she comes now"
AS he spoke poor terrified little
Cynthia came timidly out from the
bushes where she had been hiding and
Crying with fright for the last three
minutes.
Then the beautiful lady took them
both into the carriage and ordered the
coachman to drive on, while she soothed
and comforted the children and wiped
Arthur's dusty little face with her own
embroidered handkerchief.
She looked anxiously at him when he
told her that his name was Arthur Dale
Dustin, that his dearest mamma and
papa were dead, and that he used TO live
IN New York, but that now he lived with
Cynthia's father and mother, who were
his Uncle John and Aunt Nancy. She
asked him several questions about him
self, but always seemed to forget lis
name, and only called him "Prince
Dusty"
When they reached the Dustin house
she kissed both the children goodbye
and gave Arthur beautiful copy of
Hans Christian Andersens Fairy Tales
that she had in the carriage with
her. On the fly leaf she wrote with
a tiny gold pencil that hung from
her watch-chain: ITO Prince Dusty from
his Fairy Godmother." Then she said she
must hurry on and drove away, leaving
the children standing by the roadside
and staring after the carriage as long as
the faintest cloud of dust from its wheels
was visible
AS they turned slowly into the front
| gate and walked toward the house
Arthur drew long breath and said:
Cynthia, that is the very most beauti-
| lu1 duNtnIuIb CNtE HtdIu Ol IL , Dtdu-
| tifuller even than the stories my own
mamma used to tell, and I've got this
| lovely book to show that it is all true"
Poor Arthur was not allowed to enjoy
| the possession of his book very long, for
| his Aunt Nancy who had been alarmed
at the children's disappearance, and now
gave them only bread and water for
| their dinner, took 1t from him and laid
it on high shelf, saying that it was
altogether too handsome a book for a
little boy to have.
Arthur begged and pleaded with tears
in his eyes that he might be allowed to
keep his book, claiming, justly, that it
was his very own and had been
| given TO him to do as he
| pleased with; but all to no pur-
| pose. His Aunty Nancy only said
| that she would give it to him when the
| proper time came; and then, adding
| that rshe was too busy now to be
| bothered with him, she bade him get
! out of the house, and not let her see
| him again before sun-down.
| So the sensitive little chap walked
| slowly away, trying in vain to choke
back the indignant sobs that would per-
sist in making themselves heard, and
feeling very bitterly the injustice of his
Aunt Nancy's action. He longed for
sympathy in this time of trial, and for
some friendly ear into which he might
pour his griefs. Even Cynthia's COM
pany was denied him, for she was seated
| in the kitchen under her mothers
watchful eye, taking slow, awkward
stitches in the patchwork, square of
which was her allotted task for each
day.
I'm find uncle Phin," said Arthur to