The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-03-06

would fly after them on his Arabian
charger.
But when August came painting
down II was not matter Of fairy
prlncesses. bat just one princess who
rode lion every afternoon, with a
watchful maid seated I'm the chariot
behind her. Jim felt that their posi-
tons should be reversed. The colored
maid with gay turban and carrying
n spear should mount the lion, while
the princess. all In spanglcd white with
clltterlng wings should sit enthroned
IN the golden chariot Jim told the
Arabian charger all about II, too. and
warned that astute animal TO be ready
for the call to arms at any moment.
One day while hurrying back TO the
carrousel from dinner he had worked
himself up TO a fine pitch OF enthu-
slasm over the thrilling situation when
he was reused from his reverles by
frightened screams and the hoof beats
of a gallOping horse. He ran into the
dusty street TO face a plunglng horse.
Hanging on to the reins in the phaeton
was the cO!0red mad The princess
was not 10 be seen. Probably she was
crouching In terror at the feet of her
servant. Could he do ii without the
Arabian charger? All this passed
through his mind In a flash. The next
instant he was clnging to the bride
OF the maddened horse-then darknessi
When he woke. he was lying in a
strange room with white capped
nurse bending over him. She felt his
forehead with her cool hand and gave
him something to drink, something cold
and delicious. Next came the doctor,
who asked him many tiresome ques-
tions, and his mother. who cried a
great deal and said very little, which
proceeding puzzled Jim greatly. After
they had gone he and the nurse bad
long talk, and then he recalled 1t all
the princess, the black servant and the
plunging horse And he understood
better why his back ached so.
Somehow the ache never stopped
night or day. and Jim was beginning
to weary of it. One day he astonished
his nurse by eXclaming:
Say I'm kind Of sorry made up
that play. thought it would be fun
to ride the Arabian charger and save
the princess, but it's lasting such a
long time"
At first the nurse thought he was
dellrlous again, but when she had ask
ed few questions she understood 1t
all. Later in the day she paid a visit
TO the superintendent of the hospital
and told him all about the princess,
the servant and the Arabian charger.
The very next day the princess with
her father came to the hospital. She
was serious young maiden, which
was well. because some day she would
have a large estate to manage. She
listened very quietly while the super
iutendent and the nurse talked. The
latter said. as they rose to leave the
room:
Now, remember, whatever else you
say be must not know that it was only
the colored girl he saved. ! think tit
would break his heart"
The princess nodded her head wisely
and forced back the tears. She did not
know why she felt like crying, except
that she had seen something like tears
in the nurses eyes, and even her father
bad turned away his head once or
twice during the conference.
Jim almost shouted with delight
when he saw her She wore the dress
he liked best Of all-white lawn with
lace that showed her pretty shoulders
and arms, blue ribbons ana rose
trimmed hat They talked 1t all over,
and when she rose to go he said cheeri-
ly:
'T'H be back to the carrousel very
soon. think the Arabian charger
must miss me-"
Then the princess looked at the
nurse and started in bravely:
"You aren't going back to the car
rousel--for awhile. My papa is going
to take you TO town with us-to anOth-
er-another hospital where they keep
boys with hurt backs. There's the
lovellest doctor there. | know him,
and he's going to put your back In
plaster paris case. and I'm coming to
see you every single day. It's right
close to our house"
Jim had grown strangely quiet, and
now he turned to her wistfully:
"Will have to stay this-this way
very much longer"
The princess took fresh grip on the
flowers she still held.
THE doctors hope not. but you won't
mind. will you, II come every single
day and bring you books and flowers
and thingsY
Jim looked yearnlngly toward the
window and the warm September sun
shine. He understood now why the
nurse had so skillfully parted ques-
tons on this subject. Then he turned
to the princess. There were tears In
her eyes. Could they be for him? He
pulled himself together like young
soldier, and CROPPED for her hand.
"No. shan't mind it-at all.
Then the princess forget how stately
a story book princess should be. She
forgot that her father was president Of
a bank and that Jim's father was only
a fireman In the Bergen mills. She
dropped her flowers and. bending over
the cot, kissed him proudly.
you're a regularly brave prince,
Jimmy, and I'm glad I'm your princess,
indeed ] am"