Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-29

comfortable voice here's your ring little girl"
'Melia took it wonderingly; then turned upon the
Princess and faltered dQggedly: lin goin to
give it to you He wants you to have it, an you-
you look if you wanted it too.
The Princess took the ring, STOPPING low in such
a tender confusion that Mela thought she must
be about to cry But just then the Prince, who had
drawn near, knelt down and kissed Melia's cheek.
God bless Your Majesty" he cried.
And the Princess, kissing her other cheek, muir
INJURED: Long may you reign!"
Then the Prince took the Princess's arm and
marched her slowly, deliberately about the room.
And all of these things had happened so suddenly,
with such bewilderlng teryor that Mela stood IN
a trance, wondering whether she had done some
thing right wrong.
When the couple returned, the Prince said
apologeticallv: Il beg your pardon for not pre-
senting you two Your Majesty this is the Princess.
Princess, this is Her Majesty uncrowned
The Princess was one of those wonderful under
standing people; she sat beside Mela and asked
all about her mother Mullarkey's tenements, and
everything just if she had once lived in the
block. Meanwhile, the Prince had vanished-to
rub the ring perhaps for after his temperance
beautiful young ladies and gentlemen began to
dash in in twos and threes. The ladies kissed the
Princess, the gentlemen shook hands vigorously
with the Prince Melia was Rugged right and left,
and everybody told everybody that they were so
gad-though why, 'Melia could not discover. She
only knew that everyone was kind to her, and
that she had dreamed that the world contained
so many beautiful people
All the while servants were busi1y clearing the
room; and before 'Melia knew it some one was
crown and veil she leading grand march.
Then she found herself enthroned glittering
scepter her hand with all her dancing about
the May-poe; while one tall gentleman after
other came up and said: Your Majesty NAV l sit
this out? " which seemed to be the polite way of
saving: " | am going to sit down" Next, everybody
gathered about a long table, with Mela at the
head; and there were enchanted refreshments and
speeches, through which the Prince and Princess
blushed.
Then some one said "Carrages!" and carriages
it was-a long line of them with Queen and royal
family in the first and May-pole streaners
futtering from the harness. Up the broad avenue
they drove between lines of wondering faces and in
and out amid the parks cool depths where mounted
policemen grinncd and naughty automobile
personages smiled and bowed in the most affable
manner, and at last turned the corner of familiar
block. And just then a small bedraggled May party,
headed by Lena the Proud, rounded the opposite
corner and collapsed in speechess decentralization
at sight of 'Melia
As the crowd gathered about 'Melia the side
walk, the Princess stopped and placed ring her
hand.
Whenever there's something you wish for"
explained the Prince, rub the ring. If it doesn't
true immediately" and he handed her
card, drop line
Then Mela was rescued by her mother, and to-
gether they watched the party drive away, cheering
and waving, through the dusk.
What vague vast wonders fOated through
Melia's pillowed head that night a million dollars
for the Prince she drowsily murmured, closing her
eyes, an lots O little babies for the Princess.
An" And Queen 'Melia fell asleep, still rubbing
the ring