The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1905-12-13

! ala not heed Il, but went ON eagerly
! clamoring for more and more to be
given, until, really exhausted for want
Of breath. she paused to look around.
Yes, there was everything she had
asked for A huge white palace stood
| glistening i'm the sunshine, and its
handsome white door was thrown open
| as though waiting for her to enter
! For one moment Lula hesitated, but
when she glanced down and noted her
new apparel she quickly made up her
mind Slowly she mounted the white
steps, and entered the capaclous hall,
but it was many minutes before her
courage returned sufficiently for her
| to look about her with interest. Swift.
white clad, pale faced servants hurried
to wait upon her: but not one spoke
or showed any signs of life. nor did
their pallid lips make any response
when they were addressed. And for
many days Lula lived happily among
her frost possessions; but as time went
on she felt the terrible silence was
even more than she could bear. At
last. one day. as she sat feeling that
in spite Of her wonderful power, She
would have been happier had she re-
mained a simple country maid. the
tootling of a huntSman's horn startled
her considerably. She ran to the win
dow and looked out. but she quickly
drew back, for there, just outside.
stood a stranger clad in green. Il
entreat you TO have no fear" he said.
Il am only a huntsman who was lost
this way, but few gracious words
from your lips will soon set my feet
upon the right path. l seek the
palace
This is the palace" she reioned.
''the White Palace. l am the White
Princess"
Really" he replied politely. "But |
seek palace very dierent from yours
In my palace dwells a king, my
father"
Are you the Prince Roland, of
whom one has heard so much?" Lula
asked curiously; but before he had
time to nod his head she appeared to
have lost all interest in the matter.
Il cannot help you." she said coldly.
Il am not acquainted with these
parts
But surely there is someone at
tached to your service who would aid
me-" he pleaded. Il am lost without
your assistance"
MY servants are dumb Lula said.
But, though | cannot direct your path,
l can show you some little hospitality.
| pray you come in, and we will par
take of some food together"
The Prince gratefully accepted the
invitation; but, oddly enough, each
time he attempted to enter the palace
door some invisible bond seemed to
hold him back, and, though he strove
! and strove, it soon became obvious to
both Of them that he must remain out
side.
Lula watched his efforts in scornful
silence but when he appealed to her
to stretch out a hand to help him she
shook her head. ~ cannot" she said:
you must come to me unaSsisted;" :"
and the Prince, seeing how Indifferent
! she was, decided to give her up.
Dear lady he cried, farewell.
Perhaps in our next meeting l shall be
more fortunate. May seek you
again? Are you always TO be found
hereT'
Il and my palace are one" she told
him. Come If you like"
NAY, he responded. that Is no in
yitation. Won't you bid me welcomeT'
But she carelessly shrugged her
shoulders, and moved away without
making any sort of a reply.
When the Prince Roland reached his
own home in safety. he instantly made
inquiries about the mysterious White
Princess he had accidentally dis
covered. But though a few people
/ had seen and spoken to her. he was
able to learn nothing Occasionally
I she passed through the city in a car
rlage drawn by four white horses; but
as she never showed the slightest in
terest in her surroundings. her appear
ance in the streets was hardly OBJ
! served, except by chill feeling in the
air that heralded her approach. Once
only did she meet her new acquaint-
ance as she drove along, and then she
| gave him such q cold look that the
Prince felt most upset, until he deter.
mined TO journey again to the White
| Palace TO see If they could not become
| better friends.
This time he found the Princess
seated in the garden-a strange white
garden, full of colorless flowers and
trees; and though it was the height
Of summer the Prince began to tremble
with cold and drew his cloak more
closely about him.
Lula inclined her head when she
saw HIM approach, but after Offering
him a chair she utterly ignored him
In vain he strove to amuse her Will
his conversation, for though he talked
brightly upon a variety Of subjects
nothing seemed TO interest her until
he produced great cluster Of crimson
roses ht had brought with him. She
extended white hand for them, but
the Prince only gave her one small
blossom at first, and as her fingers
touched him again he shuddered. She
raised the flower languidly to her nose
and smelled its perfume, but ere sh,
had finished the rich red color faded
from the petals, and the flower became
dead and shrivelled.
"Lookw cried the Prince IN astonlsh
mcnt "What mystery surrounds you
when not even a rose can live In vo,t,