Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1902-10-24

with the frankest interest from a pair
of most attractive brown eyes. He flushed
with surprise, and his remarks to Mrs.
Foster died on his lips. She was not a
dream, then, his princess! A sudden
recollection of the check from the Hun
dred Years" made him warm, and as a
corollary came the realization of his mar
row escape from the Society of Psychic
Research-good heavens!
Meanwhile Mrs. Foster was saying gra-
ciously. $50 good of you to come Mr..
Ashe. and not to forget your old friends,
now you are such a celebrity. And to
reward you. I am going to introduce you
to a very dear young friend of mine.
Miss Gregory, who admires your poems
so much" And Ashe found himself be-
fore his princess, while Mrs Foster went
on fluently, Constance. my dear, this
is Mr.. Ashe." and turned to greet another
guest. All remnants of his self-posses-
sion vanished at the sound of the names,
and interrupting Miss Gregory's polite ex-
pressions of delight at making his ac-
quaintance. Ashe asked abruptly:
Are you a princess?" She opened her
brown eyes wider and looked at him in
surprise. "Do-do you believe in tele-
pathy and astral bodies?" he went on
after moments pause. "Or are you
only a dream?'
Dear mel" said the girl Mrs. Foster
said you were so NICE and not startling
that no one would know that you were a
poet or anything else at all awe-inspiring.
and here you have called me three alarm
ing names in as many minutes. Is this
poetic license, Mr.. Asher
did you really mind Cissie Loftus?"
he asked anxiously. You see, she's my
favorite pipe, but she's rather old, and
I'm afraid she's a little too strong to be
pleasant to strangers. But I didn't ex
pect you. you know, when you came in
so suddenly
The girls face was gravely puzzled,
but her eyes looked amused. II am
afraid Mrs. Foster has a mistaken idea
of you," she said, with shake of her
head.
Where do you live?' inquired Ashe.
when you're not in a dream. you know
when you're not in the Thurstons
library?
''well," said Miss Gregory. 1T am re-
lieved. I am so glad to find that I can
at last take an intelligent interest in the
conversation. The Thurstons' library
isn't it fascinating placer 3.
You weren't in 1t long enough to md
out" objected Ashe. "And do you think
it was quite kind of you to make me
bump my head?'
Long enough! I've spent hours in the
Thurstons' library" said the girl in mock
Indignation. And I never made you
bump your head"
ted Ashe. but 1t was under your spell"
Miss Gregory looked at him with a smile
beginning to show at the corners of her
mouth.
"You are certainly casting a spell over
me-" she said. Really. Mr.. Ashe don't
know what you mean-Tm sure I never
had anything to do with your humping
your head-but I'm not sure that 1t
wouldn't do It goodr'
"Cruel!' said Ashe ''well, since you
won't admit it, let's begin again am
very glad to meet you, Miss Gregory.
Mrs. Foster is too good to me. Do you
know, your face is very familiar-havent
1 met you before?
MRS. Foster has been kind to me, too"
| returned Miss Gregory prettily mo,
| Mr.. Ashe, I'm sure that I should not
have forgotten 1t IL we had met before
My home is not in New York, and I am
not here very much. But have heard
of you often. from Mrs. Foster, and the
| Thurstons in Morristown and of course
I have read your verses"
How time must clamor at your doors
| to be killed." said Ashe.
".h now you are unkind to your little
rah..children!" reproached the girl.
"You have been sufficiently overland t.
even up accounts, in mentioning them a.
ALL" returned Ashe. There. you see
can do the proper; now. for heavens sake
you, or saw you. that day at Dick Thurs
ton's7" The girl drew back.
"I don't understand you," she SAID
little haughtily, and then she smiled a
his crestfallen face.
"It can't be possible!" insisted Ashe
1.-THE Princess Constantia Gregorius-an,
was ass enough to ask of what! DON
you know, Miss Gregory-didn't yol
realize that you are my Lady o
Dreams'7'
''I?" said Miss Gregory-'I your Lady o
oh. Mr. Ashe!' Remember that I'm no
resident-not to the manor born as
were. I'm just a country cousin from
Binghamton. Do you think it's nice L
make fun of me? Constantia Gregorius
indeed!" She laughed out. a merry littl
laugh.
" She comes from land nor near no
far " said Ashe. guilty of the banalit
of quoting his own verses, Miss Greg
DRY surveyed him with amusement.
This is too fine frenzy for me-" -
announced "Aren't you hungry. Nj
Ashe? shan't we go and have somethin