The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1905-04-18
mamma. Possibly shall be at the

mamma. Possibly I shall be at the
summer house soon."
l. was clearly a dare, and l took 1t.
/ went TO the summer house. Around
the summer house are trees and flow
ers; In front is a miniature lake-a
beautiful place, but a dangerous one
when a man has no right to tell what
sometimes dims his eyes and lmpedes
bis speech.
AS sat down something at my feet
caught my eye. picked it up. 1t was
a heart shaped locket set with rubies.
1t few open in my hand, disclosing
two scraps of white cloth. l exam
lned the pieces with some interest, es-
pecially as | noticed that my mono
gram graced the upper one. They were
two corners from one Of my handker-
chiefs evidently. Anyway 1t was my
monogram. When my eyes fell on the
other piece a bewildering lot Of
thoughts chased through my brain, for
that piece bore my profile, traced clev-
ei.ly in purple ink, Florines amulet
picture of a man she likedr' No
more letting a paltry fortune stand be-
tween us, If she really cares, and it
must be she cares, Or
When 1 got so far 1 jumped up and
started joyfully for Florine's presence.
Then another idea assailed me. Sup
pose Florine should think that my find
ing the amulet Influenced my declara-
ton; that 1t was an affair of honor, SO
to speak. / laid the locket carefully
under small fir and went back to the
summer house l was scarcely seated
when Florine came flying down the
path, her fimsy gown floating like a
| lovely white cloud around her.
you can laugh or you can scold. 1
don't carer she asserted tearfully. II
did wear an amulet, but now it's
goneP'
She sat down by me and dabbed at
her pretty eyes with a square inch Of
lace edged linen.
1 neither laughed nor scolded. 1 be-
gan telling her a story:
"Once upon time there lived beau
tiful princess adored by every one In
her court was a man, neither rich nor
overwise, but loving her, he thought,
best of all. She accused him of having
no imagination, and maybe he had
none, but he saw in the sunset gold of
the princess hair, ia every blue flower
hue Of her eyes, In every purling
streamlet the music Of her laughter
Often he criticised the princess, al
though to him she was perfect
what did he do 1t for, thenY' cried
| Florine.
HE had mighty purpose"
Florine giggled. looked at her sus-
piciously, but she made another dab at
her eyes, SO went on:
For all his harsh words he repented
In sackcloth and ashes, and when the
day of his repentance was over he
knelt on the ground at her feet
"Oh, nor corrected Florine. HE
might have taken rheumatism or some
thing"
Were ever eyes so blue or lips SO
sweet7 1 plunged ahead recklessly:
'He took her little hand In his
suiting action to the woodland put
his arm around her so and kissed her
like this''-
'How dare your said Florine very
softly.
81 don't dare" answered meekly.
II was only showing you what the man
did who belonged In the court of the
princess"
'well, go on" she commanded.
II can't"
'sWhyf"
II don't know what the princess did
after heater that" l sighed, al
though looking at Florine hopefully.
She smiled
"Oh, the princess said, I have lost
my amulet, and l can never see hap
piness without it; so methinks l will
publish a decree that to him who find
eth it will give his hearts DESIRE"
Describe the amulet, o princessT
The decree should state that the
amulet is inclosed within a case Of
gold, shaped like my loving heart and
set around with rubies like drops Of
my own hearts blood; that the anu
let Is Of fine linen, marked with purple;
that each separate line stands for love,
trust happiness; that all the lines to-
gether form the nneaments of-of''-
F1orine's dark lashes rested upon
very pink cheeks. She hesitated.
81 go to search for the amulet" an
nounced, rising.
She looked at me approvingly. I
peered under the step, made two short
detours in the direction Of the lake,
then discovered it under a small fir
tree.
Florine clapped her little hands.
'sHow beautifully the story proceedsr'
she cried as I sat down again to tell
her my hearts desire.
IT am wondering, though" she unused
a very long time afterward, ''how the
man came to find the amulet under
fir tree when the princess lost it in the
summer house."