Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1906-12-20
mo. DEAR" he answered, Anaily.

mo. dear" he answered, finally.
The child sighed.
Il guess she went truly 70 the park,
then" 20 &
YES" said the man between bic
teeth.
He began to walk up and down rap
idly. Her Hishness looked from him
10 the floor In great perplexity.
But I should like to have seen her
before ! sailed" he observed. pres.
emily, In . strange, strained voice.
Her Highness glanced up quickly and
lisped:
she - thought - you - we're -
comm you - know. Then-she-
ought-you-weren't-comin' BY and
by she thought again - you-you-
were-comin'."
He leaned forward with . Jerk and
stood tensely W her.
Yes, yes, Dottie, and"
Then she looked out Of the window
awhile and said you weren't comm"
Il was delayed by the accident" he
fastened to say.
Her Highness clapped her hands.
IL said you were COMM" she
cried, triumphantly. "'Cause-'cause
you promised to bring me something
to-day. You was goin' to keep your
promise. wasn't your"
He seized the chubby hands tender.
ly.
Before God I intended to come"
he said. in a solemn voice.
II knew It," Her Highness chlrped.
II knew 1t. cause you wouldn't go
away and not keep your word. told
her that. Maybe II you had promised
to bring her q Christmas something.
she would have believed, too, that you
was comm"
she - kissed - me - an awful
lot - and - said she - wished
you would come" lisped the small
voice.
He wheeled and stared at her: then
he rushed acros the room toward her
throne and picked Her Highness up
in his arms and kissed her many
times, and stroked her hair, and de.
manded excitedly to know what she
said. Her Highness. much confused,
nestled her head on his shoulder and
murmured again:
"She kissed me lots Of times, and
said she wished you would come. Then
when you didn't she put rose water
on her face and dressed and went out.
And she didn't say any more 'cept
when I told her you vas comm to
bring me something, and-how nice
you look to-day, sir knight"
He imprisoned both her hands.
60 on-go on" no entreated 80
feverishly that the blue eyes opened
wide. What more did she say-dear.
est?"
"She only said you was sailin' away
to-day, and perhaps you'd never see
her again. But you wanted to SEQ us
fore you went, didn't you?"
II should hope So" he cried, fer.
vently. "But-did she say anything
more?"
III you give me another"
He thrust the entire box OF bonbonA
into her hands.
did she?' he demanded. please
tell me. Dottie?"
MOO" she didn't say anythin' more
-'cause-'cause-"
He waited impatiently.
"Cause she mos cryin', I CUES
She really wanted you to come, you
know. Didn't she tell?"
Lord. l wish she had" he groaned.
"she told me-" Her Highness wills.
pered. softly, "she told me that II
you didn't come. you were-you were
a big brute. And then she jumped ar
and said you didn't love her. and
said you loved me Don't you?" asked
the child, seriously. Are you goin
to cry? What makes your mouI
pucker 20? And you're hurryin' righ1
away?"
Eyes," he said, very gently, kissin,
the upturned. inquiring face. But In
only going to auntie's. And then In
coming back to see Your Highnes'
, again."
, The child plucksd his sleeve confd
ingly.
Then you'll all come back together
D won't you-you and her majesty?
He stopped and kissed her again
= And then he Strengthened to his full
] height and smiled happily and cried
gayly:
: Il promise. Your Highness."