Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1899-02-17

= WV itiN, III lHtH iNC
trips over to Les Cheneaux islands and
st. lgnace were grand. On these &C.
casions | used to get terribly reckless,
spending my dimes with careless
abandon that was highly amusing to
the queen. One day bought an In
dian doll, which presented to the
princess with great gravity. This also
was very amusing to the queen, and
very pleasing, too, | guess, for she
kissed me very heartily and told me
that ! was little gem. She was
beautiful woman.
but at last the princess had TO go
back TO her home in Nashville. The
evening before her departure we two
were sitting upon the same bench on
the veranda. The moon was shining
brightly and it was awfully late-for
the princess-eight o'clock, believe.
| was feeling terribly cut up over her
coming departure, and confided as
much TO her. She was awfully sympa-
thetic, although decorously so, and,
really, | couldn't resist kissed the
princess royal lips. guess | was in
discreet, for she Immediately became
frightened and ran to her mamma, Sob
bling softly in spite Of my entreaties,
protestations and apologies. That was
an awful night for me.
"The next morning-sunshine raises
the deuce with sentimentality-I hard
~ dared to look at her as she waved
rather formal good-by to me from the
carriage window.
"Of course was gloomy for several
days, and really since then | have al
ways had a yearning for the golden
haired princess who had disappeared
entirely from my life"
"Well, go on" said Phil; surely, that
can't be all, and I'm devilishly interest
ed, too"
st isn't all, by any mears. Do you
know whom you danced the cotillon
with to-night?"
"Why, Alice Clark, of course"
"Alice Clark; yes. And she's tha
princess!"
THE deuce you say!"
"Yes, and you weren't the only on@
to dance with her, either, ! had eighs
dances with her myself"
81 thought as much"
"Well, met her at tea Saturday. and
have hardly let her get out of my sight
since. Isn't she perfect star? And
isn't her mother handsome?"
"But what the deuce did-she say ts
you-did you say TO her? And did she
remember you. too? And OF course you
both laughed over your infantile love-
making, with its embarrassing end
ing?'
"Yes, we did laugh over those old
times. She remembered me, 100, very
distinctly, I'm sure. But, say, Phil. how
in heavens name did you happen to
have Alice Clark on her junior week?
Gee! this is regular resurrection!
You of course noticed that have been
awfuily attentive to her for the last
four days? But that's of little conse-
1uence. Phil, will you swear yourself
10 the hottest secrecy? II you will you
may hear the sequel to this strange and
rambling story of mine"
II swear"
Tonight we sought ont quiet cor
ner at the Lyceum and talked over
Mackinac TO our hearts content in the
chummiest kind of manner. / told her
all about her being my princess, and
how sad was when she cried, and how
much sadder was when she went away
from Mackinac. Then / asked her if
she remembered that time when
kissed her. She never wavered, as she
answered very quietly and ministerial
ly, 4 do
"Of course / didn't stop here. Then
I asked her. and very softly, too, if she
did not think it foolish in her to have
sobbed and fed TO her mamma on that
suspicious occasion, and, do you believe
me, she answered softly, 4 do
"And | didn't stop there, either,
Alice / said, you used to be just n
princess; now you are perfect queen.'
This kind of fused me, and ! was afraid
she might think me chlnnp; so rat
tied away without giving her time to
| think Alice, ] have loved you for II
years; swear il; and don't care if you
| DC think that I'm brazen fool; you
were my princess once; won't you be
my princess now? This may all APP
| lear little sudden at first thought,
| but, my heavens! must fellow love a
girl more than II years before he can
ever propose to her? Tell me, Alice;
don't You think that I'd be a fit consort
| Tor royalty?' / exclaimed with plain
tive smile.
"For fully minute, and it seemed n
year, my heart stood still. AT last she
leaned toward me slightly, placed her
hand in mine, and looking me steadily
but gently in the eyes, said in low
whisper, 4 do. You have the royal
favor
"And she didn't sob and run to her
mamma this time, Phil, although that
excellent parsonage was not FAR from
that particular nook of ours. She GER
iainly is wonder! The way she lis
| tened to my proposal was something
beautiful--a regular marriage cere-
mony in itself. Oh, Phil, she is the
veritable incarnation of allthat is beau
tiful and lovable!"
But words were entirely inadequate
Phil sat buried in contemplation for
fully five minutes; then, rising slowly
from his chair, came over, put his hand
on my shoulder and looked me straight
in the eyes.
"Bill, you are either very clever fell
low or a great liar!"
"Phil, then I'm very clever fellow;
swear i'll"
"Let's have drink"
"Let's have a drink"
"To the princess?"
"To the princess"
And our glasses clinked - Troy