Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1905-12-29
THE WHITE PRINCESS,

BY MYRA HAMIL TON.

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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 amy 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
i'll spite of her wonderful power, she
would have been happier had she re-
NAMED a simple country maid, the
footing of 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. II
entreat you to have no fear" he said.
Il am only huntsman who was lost
this way, but few gracious words
from your lips will soon set my feet
upon the right path. I seek the
palace s4
This is the palace" she rejoined,
'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 l cannot direct your path,
| can show you some little hospitality.
[ pray you come in, and we will par
take of some food together"
The Prince gratefully accepted the
invitations; but, oddly enough, each
time he attempted to enter tie 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 hand TO help him she
shook her head. 81 cannot" she said;
Nyou must :scome to me unassisted;"
anG>the Prince, seeing how Indifferent
she was, &ecided to give her up.
Dear lady," Ter cried, FAREWELL
Perhaps in our next meeting I shall be
more fortunate. May / Seek You
again? Are you always to be Tound
here?"
II and my palace are one she told
him. "Come If you like N
Nay, he responded, that is no in
vitation. Won't you bid me welcome?
But she carelessly shrugged her
shoulders, and moved away without
making any sort of 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
she passed through the city in a carr
rage 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, excep. by a chill feeling in the
air that hera.ded her approach. Once
only did she meet her new acquaint-
ance as she drove along, and then she
gave him such 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 chair she utterly ignored him.
In vain he strove to .amuse her with
his conversation, for though he talked
brightly upon variety of subjects,
nothing seemed to interest her until
be produced a great cluster of crimson
roses he had brought with him. She
extended a 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 smelIed its perfume, but ere she
had finished the 1ich red color faded
from the petals, and the flower became
dead and shrivelled.
Look cried the Prince in astonish-
ment. what mystery surrounds you,
when not even rose can live in your
presence? See how it fades and dies.
Poor little blossom. Oh, Princess,
speak and tell me the secret you so
carefully guard. I cannot be happy
unless hear the sound of your voice
in my ears. / came hither to ask you
to be my wife, but your coldness is
such that the words freeze upon my
| lips, and, like yonder rose. can feel
myself changing. Is your heart of ice.
fair one? VIII nothing warm it? Dear
Princess, be mereifuI; for I love you,
love you"
The White Princess began to trenlble
violently, and when she rose to her
feet a strange noise Startled her con-
siderably. Drip drip! drip! sounded
from all parts Of the garden. Little
streams of water began to run from
| the palace walls, and her own spotless
robes hung Imply upon her. But be-
| fore she could move Prince Roland
stepped forward and seized her hands.
1 *Princess," he said fondly. II love