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

Of the hair-the big braids had been
cleverly transformed into quite the
young lady's coiffure-there was even
q hint of coquetry in the daffodils
wn1sh nestled between the wavy
sfsands-and q delicious assumption
of quiet dignity, in perfect keeping
WIN nasnral childish grace and inno-
csnee. But ehese only added to the
picture.
Ksnnard nodded back at this
charming little ompanion-smilingly
couBdingly.
when I was a small boy" he con-
tinued-"I mean very little chap,
you know--I used to squat on the nur-
sery floor before the fret was i'm
possible to sit in a chair and read fairy
tales, things seemed all wrong that
way-and, will you believe it? at the
hospital / felt an irresistible impulse
to drop down on the floor and sit cross
legged whenever touched that book"
"And did you? Oh, of course you
must have! They wouldn't have come
back otherwise"
The words were the statement of an
indisputable fact.
"Who wouldn't have come back?"
he asked.
"Why, the fairies. of course, and the
princes and the princesses, and, oh"
every body"
'Do they often come back to you?'
There was an earnest, almost anX-
ious note in Kennard's voice.
"N-no. At least they haven't for
long. long time"
Sometimes they wouldn't come TO
me- | never discovered the reason,
for when they did return was afraid
to question why, lest break the spell.
Yet | know this. Fairyland Is possi-
BILE only at joyous hours"
did you have many of those at the
hospital?"
"A few. People were very good TO
me, and when some of them called,
l."
"Of course you had visitors and"
81 didn't see everybody who came"
ne continued. "but I always knew
when-when certain people had been
there. even though their visits weren't
reported, for then the fairy tales
seemed most real"
The clock on the mantlepiece was
still ticking; its sound no longer Of
fensive, but companionable, friendly,
and CHEEKY.
who wrote those wonderful tales"
she asked after a pause.
He glanced at her reproachfully.
What a question! The very sug-
gestion turns my prancing steeds into
mice, my coachmen and footmen into
rats, leaves a pumpkin in place of the
chariot, and as for the poor little
princess"
Il withdraw the question absolutely.
Danish the suggestion by telling me
one Of the stories"
would that be wise after what I've
claimed for them? | might spoil 1t in
the telling, and then"
I'm sure you wouldn't and Well.
we're both believers, you know"
With that word 1--WE" on her lips he
could have refused her nothing-would
have attempted a far more difficult
task to hear her repeat it.
VERY well. Let me see. There was
one about a giant, and another about
an enchanted ring, and a third about a
prince. Suppose | try that one. I'm
afraid 1t won't sound real, but Once
upon time there lived, in the King
dom Of Desires, prince"
There was rustic of silk beside
him, and Kennard turned quickly tc
the sound. Leslie had slipped softly
TO the floor, and was sitting. with hel
feet tucked under her, her elbows or
her knees and her chin in her hands
staring into the fire.
"Once upon time in the Kingdom o.
Desires there lived prince" sh'
prompted, without looking up.
"a pig-headed, self-opinionated, ig
norant little prince" corrected Ken
nard "who didn't believe in fairies
despite the testimony Of very wis
old nurse who told the most convinc
ing tales. But every time the prime
heard of a fairy he pooh-poohed tn
idea. and said it couldn't be, and
wasn't possible, and was really quit
absurd. Bah, pish, tush, CANNON
was his unvarying reply to every stor
OF his purse. to whom he was yer
rude and inattentive. One day sh
grew angry with him, and said he
repent of his ignorance before loni
But the little prince replied, Bah, pisl
tush, gammon!' and turned to h
blocks and puzzles, which intereste
him far more and with which
played all day long. But by and b
as the prince grew older, he wearie
Of his blocks, which had come to be
play at all but very hard work in
deed. Still he labored along diligent
ly, though joylessly, building up cas-
ties which always toppled before h
reached the summit, and trying solu
tions for hopelessly complicated pu7
zles. Now. one day, while engaged a
usual in this dreary task, fairy cam
TO him and touched him on the shoul
der.
"'What are you trying to do? sh
asked.
Nothing you could understand
he answered without looking up. g
away. I'm busy
"At this reply there came to his ca
the sound OF laughter. low at first. bu
clear and musical like sunlit wate
bubbling joyfully over mossy rock
The prince looked up surprised at tn
sound. ana discovered standing befor
him the most enchanting princess yo
ever ssw--not stately. sanity. stupi
princess. but merry. teasing, cleve
princess. with eyes which could B