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

by the time the prince had attacked
and slain these ugly monsters and was
prepared to lay their severed heads be-
meath the princess feet, 10. she her.
self had utterly disappeared.
"Then the prince realized. as never
before. that neither work nor play nor
anything else in life had interest or
meaning for him II the princess were
not near, and he started out to find her,
travelling many day and many a
night over rough roads and through
gloomy forests until at last he came
in sight of her dear face. But though
ne could see her. she was still great
distance from him, and distractions OF
every kind sprang mp and barred his
path. No sooner did he overcome one
barrier than another faced him. and
tanrles grew faster than he could cut
them down. He tried to call to her,
but the word-sprites laughed his mes
sages away and the echo-elves made
mocking answers. Still he struggled
to get nearer but all his efforts were
in vain, and the more desperately he
fought the further away the princess
seemed to be. So at last. in sheer de-
spair, he threw himself down on the
ground and called upon the fairies to
help him. But the fairies, when they
came. merely answered by forming
ring about him and singing as they
danced
You must believe in us first,
Believe in us first,
'lieve in us.
'lieve in us first!'
"At which the prince leaped to his
feet, and cried out. ever so earnestly
that he did believe, and begged them
to carry his message 10 the princess,
or show the way to her.
But the fairies asked who he was,
and when he replied, "a prince they
burst into fits of merriment, shouting
ga prince, indeed! A pretty prince'
You're the fellow that didn't believe
in us. Bah, pish, tush, gammon!' and
they joined hands again and danced
around him, laughing madly and mock
ingly. So the prince turned sadly
away"
The fire was mere bed of ashes, as
Kennard paused, but his listener still
sat staring into the ruddy glow, her
chin resting on her hands. A tiny
fame flickered up for an instant, set
ting big shadows dancing on the walls,
and then died down again, leaving the
library darker than before. The faint
sound of voices, comfortably inaudible
and distant, foated in through the half
closed portieres. The pulsations Of the
wood ashes on the hearth became more
and more rapid, as though responding
to the noisy heart-beats in the silent
room.
"Ge on, please"
He heard the words, but could not
see her face as she spoke, and for a
moment he hesitated.
Go on, please"
She had turned to him inquiringly,
almost pleadingly.
That's all know. I'm afraid
there's nothing more to tell"
She rose slowly from the hearth rug
and slipped back into the great arm
chair behind her, seeming to nestle
there in the warm glow of the freight.
my fairy stories always have-al-
ways end happily"
The words were softly spoken, but
before they we're completely uttered,
Kennard had moved to the arm Of the
chair and was gazing down into her
eyes.
1T is your story. Leslie" he whis-
pered earnestly. You know 1t is your
story if-if you like it."
81"
She paused and looked at him as he
leaned toward her, one hand resting
on the further arm of the chair and
touching hers. her eyes meeting his
confidently, jubilantly, unafraid.
II said it was your story, Leslie, II
you liked It. and you said Say II
again, please!"
"Why?" NJ l"~'~ ''''
Because 1t will ring out so joyously
that my heart will echo with happi.
ness forever after!-Do you like youl
fairy story, Leslie?"
T-I love it,"
The words burst forth again with
the same spontaneous, uncomfortable
gladness; but this time the laughter
which followed them was smothered.
THE END.l