The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-16

passage. and through this the King led
them. the wall closing just behind them a.
they entered. r'
The noise Of the waterfall now sounded
but dimly in their ears. and presently they
emerged into a large vaulted room, which
wAs so beautiful TINT the little Princess
clasPed her hands with q long drawn sigh OF
de.leht, Chick laughed and John move
from his head the crumpled and soiled silk
hat that he had chung to ever since he had
left the bakery.
He had seen beautiful rooms IN the Island
Of Romance. but nothing there could conn
pare with the m~&gnihcenee and grandeur
Of this hall OF the Fairy Beavers palace.
The walls were set thick with brilliant
jewels, arranged in a way that formed ex-
quisite pictures, all Of these borrowing color
from the natural tints Of the gems. The
ceiling was clustered with tiny glass globes,
in each Of which was a captured sunbeam.
and these lent q charming radiance to the
splendid room. &C.. r
Many cushions were strewn upon the
floor, and the floor itself was Of gold, richly
engraved with scenes depicting the lives
and adventures Of beavers.
While our friends admired the lovsiiness
VI tuc Dah u Luc DC3 NCfc, ~ ohVOA ~
King spoke again. in his soft voice:
You are now underneath the deep water
formed by our dam, which was built by the
beavers who were our forefathers many
years ago and which has endursd until
now. But in all the years Of It's existence
the little Princess and the Incubator Baby
are the first human beings 20 be admitted
to our fairy palace. Your companion, my
dears. is merely gingerbread and lives
by means OF fairy powers that make him
q At comrade for fairies the world over.
st was very good Of you to save us from
the Mtfkets, and we are grateful said the
Princess.
you're all right added Chick, en-
phstically.
Il am glad to be Of service to one % sweet
and beautiful" returned tho King, with q
dignihed bow toward the Princess. and
TO one 90 merry and frank" he continued,
turning to Chick. And now. IL you will
kindly follow me, 1 will show you the rooms
| Of my palace and introduce you to my
people. You must be content to remain
my guests until l can find means to restore
you TO the freedom OF the upper world In
which you are accustomed to exist"
! He led them through the gorgeous hall and
along delightful passages into various
rooms. Some were large and some were
small, but all were extremely beautiful, and
Chick wondered greatly at the extent OF
this under water palace, the existence OF
which no one could suspect who stood in
the forest above, beside the dan OF the
beavers.
Are all beavers homes like thisG' asked
the child.
NO, indeed!' answered the King, laugh
ing softly. They are usually houses
composed OF mud mixed with bits Of wood
and the leaves and branches OF trees.
But 1 am King Of the Beaver Fairies,
who watch over the fortunes Of all ordi-
nary beavers n take caro- of them. We
are invisible sven to beavers, and the eyes
Of mankind can never see US unless, as in
your case, we permit them to do 90.
These rooms seem to you deserted. but
/ assure you they are filed with many
beaver fairies, who are even now watching
you with much curiosity"
Both the children started at hearing this
and glanced hastily around, but nothing
but the walls Of the palace met their gaze
and the King smiled upon them indul-
gently.
AT our banquet this evening" said he,
Il will permit you to see my people. Blu
now please come to the music room, where
YOU nay enjoy the strains OF harmony
that provide us with one OF our chief amuse-
ments."
He led the way to another room, h roof
of which was dome shaped. From diff
ferent points in this dome projected the
ends OF many silver tubes and near the
floor OF the room, directly underneath each
OF the tubes, was placed a plate OF glass OF
OF metal.
The King invited his guests TO seat them
selves and then pressed a diamond button
that was placed in the wall. This allowed
the water from the river above them to
drip slowly through the silver tubes, and
az il fell drop by drop on the plates be-
meath it made sounds that were very sweet
and harmonious. The metal plates gave
out deep and resonant sounds, while the
smaller glass plates tinkled ~melodiously
az the drops Of water fell upon them.
Neither Chick nor the Princess recog
nized the first tune that was played, for Il
had been composed by one Of the FAIR
Beavers. but afterward the King playeS
Home, Sweet Home" for them and Annie
Laurie" and the music was 30 exquisitel,
Weet anu SOlJ JuhL thO Bhi Sh'
would never rave imagined that sound
30 delightful could be produced, and Chicl
pronounced the entertainment all right.
The gingerbread man was also pleased
for it was the first real music he had eve
heard and il soothed and comforted hin
beyond measure.
The fairy King seemed glad to give hi
new friends pleasure, and when the Prin
cess remarked that she would like TO know
what the Mifkets thought Of their suddeI
escape the beaver led them TO what h
called the observation room" In it wa
q square box draped with black silk an
having a window in one side.
Seating the girl and her companion
before this window, the King said:
You will now observe what the Mifket
are doing"
Instantly a picture appeared in the boz
and il seemet that through the little win
dow they were gazing upon a section Of th
forest they had recently left. There wer
the MiTkets, indeed, with Black Ooboo an
the Arab among them, and all were quarre