Middletown transcript., 1903-08-01


the distant ocean, she fell fas
asleep.
| But even in her dreams til,
beautiful old story haunted her
She, too, was princess-not th,
gentle ideal of the poets fancy
but a proud and naughty maiden
who had herself created around
her home a barrier which none
might pass. Suitors came to woo
her, and she laughed at them al
from her safe retreat behind the
thorny hedge, and sent them
away torn and bleeding, and
laughedandmocked as they went.
In her pride she told herself that
there was no one strong enough
to break through the barrier and
win the prize it guarded.
But one day there came up to
the hedge a tall young knight
with Paul's faceand voice, and he
smiled at her across the barrier,
and all at once the bare prickly
thorns grew green and full of sap
and life, and roses bloomed on
the branches. There was sound
in the air as if a thousand larks
We're singing, and then the hedge
divided and
Hilda sighed, ,yawned, and open
ing her eyes, met the amused eyes
OF a tall young man in a gray
suit and straw hat, who was
standing over her, with a beauti-
full collie by his side. Hilda was
not easily disconnected, and, al
,hough she blushed and laughed,
she held out her hand with per-
feet self-possession to the new
conner.
was dreaming about you,
cousin Paul, she said in her sweet
lazy voice. How long have you
been standing there? Why did
you not wake me?
The young man raised his hat
with one hand, while with the
other he took Hilda's slim fingers
and held them in a tight clasp.
Wake you. The picture was
much too beautiful. 1t is long
since my eyes rested on one SO
fair, he replied gallantly.
And SO you have not forgotten
me? You knew me again?
Of course I knew you.
Hilda looked up at him with
critical eyes.
You are taller, and you look
much older, and this-and she
touched her lips with her fingers
and looked at his moustache-is
new. But you have not altered
SO very much-not nearly SO
much, 7 dare say, as I have.
Paul regarded her gravely.
Yes,you are altered, lie a. reed
You were pretty child in those
days-you are beautiful woman
now. Oh, it is no compliment
as Hilda blushed, half pleased,
half annoyed at the words and the
glance that accompanied them.
You know it. Your glass tells
you the same tale every time you
look into it, and more plainly
than my laundering words. Let
me see, how old are you, .Hilda-
/ am nineteen, sir. You are
six and twenty. My memory is |
better than yours, Hilda declared |
with a charming pout. But you
might be forty-six, you look so
grave and old. Why, do believe
I can see gray hair or two.
Paul ran his fingers through
his thick dark curls where, as
the girl said, few gray hairs
we're already visible.
I dare say, he admitted. ]
nave had an anxious time during
jhe last few years. Times have
oeen bad, and we have had sick
ness and other troubles. But let
is talk of pleasanter topics, he
added lightly. I have heard of
your London triumphs. We live
very quiet life here, but still a
,ew faint echoes from the outer
world penetrate even our seclu-
'ion, and the fame of your con-
quests reaches US now and again.
they say, and he gave her a swift
penetrating look, that you are to
marry Sir Humphrey Frazer.
Do they? Hilda shrugged her
graceful shoulders. It is not
rue. I would not be content
With a mushroom Baronet like
Sir Humphrey. Oh, I am quite
as you we're kind
'nough to remark just now-of
ny natural advantages. l have
birth and beauty, and | intend to
make the most of them. Yes, l
IN ambitious. | own it? Why I
lot? You used TO he ambitions