The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1905-05-25

THE FAIRY TALE.
of summery sounds, like the forest
music of 'Siegfried,' and the prince felt
his heart bounding with sudden exulta-
tion, and he almost laughed aloud in
spite of himself.
what do ] want? repeated the
princess, merrily. What do you want"
she queried in turn.
Nothing growled the prince, in as
fierce tone as he could muster.
Everything promptly corrected
the princess.
Nothing asserted the prince.
Everything, persisted the prin-
cess, cheerily; and so they went on
contradicting one another for long
time, until the prince suddenly caught
himself repeating Nothing, everything
everything. nothing and discovered
that he had been doing the talking for
both sides, while the princess was
merely looking on with unmistakable
amusement. But as his brow began
to darken at this, she exclaimed en-
thusiastically-
"'What a lovely garden you have
here!'
"'Tisn't a garden snapped the
prince, it's a courtyard. and poor
one too. So that's all you know
"'There!' she exclaimed delighted
ly, clapping her hands. I knew you
lacked everything! Why, you haven't
even got any eyes! Look!'
THE prince raised his head as she
commanded, and, behold, the narrow
walls of the cramped and dark court
yard wherein he worked had disap-
peared, and he was sitting In an eX-
quisite garden, flooded with golden
sunlight and fragrant with world OF
wondrous flowers. AS he stared in
dumb fascination at the beauty about
him, the princess dropped down beside
him and pointed to the confused heap
of blocks and puzzles at his feet.
"'What are those? she asked.
Nothing but a lot of ugly, stupid
things he muttercd, absent-mindedly
and without taking his eyes off the
garden.
"'Why, think they're splendid!
she interrupted so enthusiastically that
the prince turned, and, 10, his clumsy
blocks had been transformed at her
words to things of dignity and beauty.
But when the amazed prince looked
up again, the garden had vanished, the
prison-like courtyard had returned,
and, worst of all, the princess had ut
terly disappeared"
Kennard paused for moment.
"Shall I go on?" he asked.
His audience merely nodded her an
swer, nesting closer to the fire with a
little shlver Of comfortable excitement.
For e while the prince sat rubbing
his eyes and wondering If 1t were all a
dream, and then suddenly his glance
fell upon his neglected blocks
"'They're splendid was what she
had said. As he repeated the words
all his old delight returned and he be-
gan to work again with new energy
and understanding. But by and b,
things commenced to go worse thar
rhey had ever done before. Everything
he touched seemed doomed to failure
His blocks slipped and cracked ant
split under his hands, no two would
,, fit together, and his most CAREFUL!
planned castles fell and hurt him sore
ly in falling. Then he swOre In hi
anger she had bewitched them AM
brought about all his troubles Fo
many hours he ragged, silently upbraid
ing and reviling her with much bitter
ness of spirit, cursing the day she ha
come into his life, and plotting for ade
ouate revenge. But even as he stormet
the sound of her voice sang In hi
ears, and he grew calmer. Then grad
ually the injustice and disloyalty {
his suspicious were revealed to him !
their ugliest light. and he hated him
self horribly for his folly and little
ness Of soul, and longed to make repa
ration. But though he often though
OF confessing and praying for pardon
he feared, II the princess knew what
pitiful fellow he was, she might with
draw forever from his sight. And tina
he dared not risk.
so time went on. and the prince say
much of the princess. who showed hir
many wonderful things and many mar
vellous realms undreamed of In hi
narrow little Kingdom Of Desires
broadening his view and giving nev
inspiration and meaning to his dali
tasks. But disappointment attende
his every effort, and bitter, disheart
. ching failure stared him in the face
1t was the princess who kept him fror
abandoning his work In despair, an
her splendid. unselhsh aid alone save
hip from utter disaster.
This the prince knew, and yet h
could speak no word of what was 4
his heart. for al his disloyal thought
! and unjust suspicious turned int