Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1905-09-20

tween us. II she really cares, and 1t
must be she cares Or
When got so far 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 fiimsy gown floating like
lovely white cloud around her.
"You can laugh or you can scold.
don't carer she asserted tearfully. 81
did wear an amulet, but now it's
gomez
She sat down by me and dabbed at
her pretty eyes with a square inch of
lace edged linen.
I neither laughed nor scolded. I be-
gan telling her 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 be saw In the sunset gold of
the princess hair. IN every blue flower
hue Of her eyes. In every puriing
streamlet, the music OF her laughter.
Often he criticised the princess, al
fhnuty1, 70 oha
What did he do 1t for. then?' cried
Florine.
"He had a mighty purpose"
Florine giggled. looked at her sus-
piciously but she made another dab at
her eyes, so I 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 80
sweet2 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"
"Why?"
II don't know what the princess did
after heater that" 1 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 1t; so methinks l will
publish a decree that to him who find
eth it Will give his hearts desire"
Describe the amulet. o prtncess!"
1.-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 lineaments of-of''-
Florine's dark lashes rested upon
very pink cheeks. She hesitated
II 60 to search for the amulet" l an
nounced. rising.
She looked at me approvingly. l
peered under the step. made two short
detours In the direction Of the lake,
then discovered It under small fir
tree
Florine clapped her little hands.
How beautifully the story proceeds
she cried as l sat down again to tell
her my hearts desire.
II am wondering though" she unused
a very long time afterward. how the
man came to find the amulet under
ar tree when the princess lost 1t In the
summer house."