The Minneapolis journal., 1901-08-31
RH 1Hs1x.rsAHh 1,s'a'.:.1.
Copyright, 1901, by A. c. Rowsey.

Copyright 1901, by A. c. Rowsey.
When the door closed behind ''Him" she
went over to the library table, pulled out
drawer, took from it small calendar, sighed
softly, then marked the last day of the
month. She stared thoughtfully at the mark
as she made it, and turned back the months
that had gone since the first of the year
1t made her think of the year they were mar
rled-it was not many years ago. She laid
the calendar aside and fished out another ant
another-until that first years lay in hel
hand. That made her sigh again, for on the
dates in that first years calendar there were
no pencil marks to indicate the evening she
had spent alone. That was before baby came
before he had become little lion in the lit
erafy world. Society had not then taken hin
under culture, but now 1t had. He was going
to be big lion some day, he said. She won
dered If he would regret marrying such
spiritless little lioness. She wept dismally
He used to ask her-it seemed years ago.
| now-to so out with him. to be lionized. But
there was the baby, so she had refused. But
| babies do not always need close attention
nurse could well take care Of her, but now
he never asked
She laid the little calendars face downward
With them out of sight she could pity him
1t did seem hard to write all day with q
thousand things to annoy him. He was enti-
tied to his recreation-the recreation Of listen.
ing to those who could appreciate his work
She felt her own inability to saw bright
| things, and she hated the heroine and the
hero. She wanted to choke them both at the
end OF the first chapter-and reclaim Him
from the tangle Of their 200-odd pages of ex-
| istence.
| And tonight she was to be alone again
She went into the kitchen Of the little fla
| and dismissed the girl. Then she brought hel
3-year-old into the library, and sat before the
fireplace with the child on her knee.
Now we will finish the story of the fairy
princess and the wicked giant she said
turning over the leaves of the story book
The child nodded vigorously
But the princess did not get hurt, wher
she fell from the castle wall Edith you re-
| member that?' the mother inquired.
mo, mama, taus if she is hurt, you'd ky
| said the youngster.
81 cry? Why, Edith?"
"Taus you is the princess
Me? Indeed, I am no princess Edith. u
She sighed to think Of other days when she
was queen, tinseled one, true in the first
row. Five? Six? 1t did not seem so many
| years ago.
Mama, you is the princess, isn't you?'
The little girl was on the verge of tears.
The new people in the fiat across the hal
were beginning to move about. The mother
| listened. The child sat with suspended fore.
| finger. Presently they both heard some one
playing. The fingers rippled up and down tn,
keys, then struck up a march from a comi,
opera. The execution was not perfect, but the
| time was excellent. The mothers feet itchet
for movement. Then the music changed to {
gavotte, then to a skirt dance. Suddenly /
stopped.
| The mother sighed. For moment she hat
been back in the old days. The swish o
gauzy skirts was in her ears, the smear,
makeup box stood before her eyes, and tn,
old life and fun she had known from girlhoot
came back
II you amt princess, you's fairy" ar.
gued the child tenaciously
| fairy? Some people used to think so.
yes, l am fairy: Do you want to see
| fairymama, Edith?''
| The child shouted with delight.
| All right, sit here. Don't look around
and I'll go back to fairyland, and see.''
She flew into her dressing-room, openet
old trunks. pulled out old slippers and bale
| hnery.