The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-03-14

lived happily forever after
A girl of probably 20, in a big chair,
by the light of a bright hearth IRE, was
reading to a younger grim fact, a |
little girl. The story is concluded and
the book closed.
There, dear. how does that story
please you? Don't you wish you knew
such an interesting. handsome, noble
prince as the one of whom have just
read?"
This Interrogation from the older
girl the younger one unconsciously ig-
nores for time. She is dreaming.
Her big. blue eyes are staring vacantly
into the red embers which have fallen
from the logs on the hearth. Then she
signs deeply
Waking from her reverie she turns
those wide. wondering eyes Of hers
Into the face above her. for she is seat
ed at the older girls knee, and asks:
do you know, JULIA, that Prince re-
minds me of Mr.. Mercer? Mr.. Mercer
is handsome. And he's brave, too,
cause he saved my dollie when it fell
into the lake last summer. Only'-in
regretful tone-"he hasn't any prin-
cess for his bride yet. But he will haves
cause he said he would
''Oh, he did!'' from the older girl.
eyes, he did. Least, he's going to
marry a queen. And isn't it strange,
Julia, her name is just the same as
yours?'
''why, child. what are you saying?
How do you know all this?''
! WELL" answered the little one, puck
ering her mouth in a childish, Qu1zzl-
cal way, while Mr.. Mercer was wait
ing for you to finish dressing for the
theater the other evening he took me on
his knee and we sat here by the fire.
1 told him I was awful tired reading
| fairy stories, and asked him If he
couldn't tell me one. He said he
| thought he didn't know any 'cept
| what's in the books, but course. If 1
wanted him to he'd try"
Yes, and what did he tell your
| 'He said: Once there was man
who liked a girl awful much, but he
was afraid to tell her so. cause he
didn't know how she'd take it,. And
he said: BY Jove wish she wasn't so
distant to me-. And I said, Is she so
far away? He said, No, not that kind
of distant She's not kind to you,
then? said I. Well, not kind enough"
said he. Then I told him she wasn't
nice if she wasn't kind, and he said.
right quick, oh, yes, she is nice; she's
adorable-she's a queen Why, what's
her name? said I. Well. he was star
ing into the fire, and he took big, long
breath and said, Julia"
Why, that's my sisters NAME" 1
said. Does she know her?"
And he jumped up so quick he really
frightened me, but then he kissed me
and sat me on the edge of the table
and said: Now, Joyce. I started in to
tell you a fairy story. didn't II"
Yes" said I; "but it wasn't much &C
count" st know that said he. awful
quick. "and I want you to forget all
about it and I'll come around some
other time and tell you another one"
We'll, if it isn't any better than the
one you started you needn't come"
said I. And he-why, he laughed and
said he'd try and make the next more
interesting. Then you came down
stairs, and when you were going out
with him he turned around. put his
finger on his lips and he looked real
serious. / think
why. Joyce. he meant you should
not say anything about it,
about what?'
why. about what he told you. 1t
was naughty of you. Joyce: it was
wrong"
well. that's the second time I didn't
know what keep quiet meant. You
know what you said about him last
week. Well. after I told him about
What. did you tell him all about
Miss Julia sits back in her chair
aghast.
Yes; I told him. and he said: My,
my. Joyce. you mustn't tell things like
that But he didn't tell me that till
was all done talking
'Oh, you horrid child! How dared you
to do such a thing? How''-oVercome
by her feelings. Miss Julia sat in ST.
lence, but she did good deal of think
ing.
The two girls sat in quiet for a time
without speaking, and it was becoming
embarrassing to both when the en-
trance of a maid with a card caused
both to rise. The older girl reads the
card, Mr.. Mercer"
Tell Mr.. Mercer to come up here.
It's much warmer"-in an Apologize
way-"and. Joyce, it's far past your
bed time. Say good night and run
away"
Obeying her sister, Joyce just reaches
the doorway, when her path is blocked
by the form of a tall, good-Iooking
young fellow, who stands, slightly sur
prised. with a bulky package in his
arms.
Good evening, Miss Julia. How are
you, Joyce! You are not going as soon
as come. are you? Why. I have
brought you your Christmas present.
But'-carelessly-"yo won't want to
see it until Tomorrow
'Oh, yes; show me now. please -
pleaded the little one. why, I'd
most forgotten to hang up my stock
ing"
And while the young man kneels to
unite the. package he has brought,
Joyce's diminutive figure squats on a
rug by the fire, and before any warning
words can come from his sister. the
little one has unbuttoned a tiny boot
and taken off one little black stocking
Quite unabashed by the frown from
her sister she hops over to Mercer, and
with her bare foot hidden in her skirts
asks:
Won't you hang this on the mantel
for please? Now don't put it too
near the middle for last Christmas the
heat made the candy all too soft and I
couldn't eat it,"
Both Mercer and Joyce's sisters
laugh at this remark, and with the aid