Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-08-18

fairy tales since | became q grown-up
and yet when I was absorbed In those
pages I recovered all my childish sense
of proportion. The princes were more
than mere men, the princesses hope
fully real, the giants enormously
large, the good fairies impossible tc
doubt and the bad ones excitinglJ
possible, with just sufficient improb'
ability to keep them from being toe
scary-"
Il know!"
what! have you"
Lots. and lots and lots of times!"
Surely it was an eager, animated lit
tie girl that nodded rapidly as she an
swered, loo'-ing out at him through the
waning firelight-a small comrade
sympath etic. enthusiastic and fearless
There was a delightful suggestion ol
womanhood. It is true. in the dressing
Of the hair-the big braids had been
cleverly transformed into quite the
young lady's coiffure-there was even
hint Of coquetry in the daffodils
which nestled between the wavy
strands-and q delicious assumption
of quiet dignity. in pei ect keeping
with natural childish grace and inno-
cence. But these only added to the
picture.
Kennard nodded back at this
charming little companion-smilingly
confidingly.
when was a small boy" he con-
tinued-"I mean a very little chap
you know-I used to squat on the nur-
sery floor before the fret was i'm
possible to sit in chair and read fairy
tales, things seemed ali 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
lndisputable fact.
"Who wouldn't have come back?
he asked.
"Why, the fairies. of course. and the
princes and the princesses. and. oh
everybody"
"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 q
long, long time"
Sometimes they wouldn't come to
me. never discovered the reason,
for when they did return l was afraid
to question why, lest I break the spell.
Yet know this. Fairyiand Is posi-
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,
f."
"Of course you had visitors and"
81 didn't see everybody who came"
he continued "but l 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 companionab BILE, friendly
and CHEEKY.
who wrote those wonderful tales?
she asFed after 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"
81 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 I'VE" on her lips he
could have refused her nothing-would
have attempted a far more difficult
task to hear her repeat 1t.
Very we'll. Let me see. There was
one about a giant. and another about
an enchanted ring. and third about
prince. Suppose try that one. In
afraid it won't sound real. but Once
upon a time there lived in the King,
dom Of Desires. a prince"
There was q rustic OF silk beside
him. and Kennard turned quickly to
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 oi
Desires there lived a prince" she
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 wise
old nurse who told the most convinc'
ing tales. But every time the prince
heard of a fairy he pooh-poohed the
idea, and said II couldn't be. and Il
wasn't possible. and was really quite
absurd. Bah. pish, tush. CANNON!
was his unvarying reply to every stor!
of his nurse, to whom he was very
rude and inattentive. One day sh
grew angry with him. and said he't
repent of his ignorance before long
But the little prince replied. Bah, pish
tush. CANNON" and turned to hi
blocks and puzzles. which interested
| him far more. and with which h
PLAYED all day long Rnt by and by
~ The prince grew older he wearie'
| Of bis blocks. which had ..'" 10 be N
play at all but very hard work In
deed. Still he labored along diligent
ly, though joylessly. building up cas-
ties which always topped before HI
reached the summit. and trying solu
tions for hopelessly complicated puz
zles. Now, one day. while engaged a.
usual in this dreary task, a fairy came
10 him and touched him on the shoul
| der.
What are you trying to do" sh'
asked.
Nothing YOU could understand.