New-York tribune., 1906-04-29

forgot carefulness, even forgot that she carried
parcel; she was blocks away clad in white with
gilt crown and mosquitO-netting veil, anolnted
sovereign of the May-pole.
And meanwhile in an almost hypnotic manner
her feet had strayed into the coronation route, had
wandered on and on until at last she caught sight
of white figures upon the green common and stopped
abruptly. For a moment Melia saw the ftutterlng
srea1ners her rival standing velled and crowned
amid the throng, with gentlemen courtlers turning
soersaults of homage about her; then hOrrld dread
Of discovery shook the Pretender, she flashed her
back upon the scene and haStened thence INTO hard
sterile streets, dabbing her eyes with convenient
corner OF the bundle But all the While there was
great lump in her throat and great tear on either
cheek
Melia found her way to the great hotel, and
paced three times up and down before 1t IN great
awe and wonder to gaze in upon ladies and gentle
men luxuriouslv lunching-Or was It breaktasun9:
at snowy tables behind paln-trees. At length,
gathering courage she passed IN at the door marked
@Emplovees' Entrance" and inquired Tor Miss
Meara the chambernaid.
Now perhaps 'Melias timid whisper was mis-
understood or perhaps the elevator gen ge1lei1n it
photograph decorated his cage; but however It
might have happened, when Mella was deposited
she found herself a long silent corridor OF sub
dued lights and rich carpets wherein her fect
seemed to sink almost ankle-dcep. There was none
to direct her, and she dared not stand like some
oar,ir7o intruder: so she wandered on and on down
stiravs along halls and around corners IN breath
less a1)prehensOn penetrating more brilliant larry
like realms at every turn and qualung aresh at the
awful stiffness OF her footsteps.
Suddenly there broke upon her strained sense the
close clarior of mems voices With thrill OF
terror 'Mclia fled through wide doorway and
behind a provdential oasis of palm-trees. When
the sounds had passed she took breath and began
to look about her.
She was in room so wide, SO lofty so bettoWered,
that it vaguely suggested hospitals on visiting days
Its floor one vast stretch of smOOthness lay glSten-
mo in the light like a tremendous bowling alley.
There were flowers everywhere: flowers pushed IN
corners and banked about the das upon which
qlittcred single golden chair flowers stacked along
fhe music gallery overhead, flowers tWlned about
the Mav-pole that rose with its rainbow fall OF
strea1ners in the center of the room. Yet pccrlng
patches Of gray daylight gave the scene a spent
dshevcled look; stray roses were scattered on the
floor; and all about there stood half dlsmantled
little tables.
Lured onward by a rich watt of flowers, Mclia
hovered about OF the tables; her fingers fastened
helplesslv upon a sandwich; then she stole back to
her corner in panic of guilt. Her teeth met upon
the sandwich; it tasted not only OF toast and ham
but also lettuce, egg, and several other things
'Melia sighed ecstatically one who has slipped a
magic potion Here she in an enchanted land
eating an enchanted sandwich She recalled the
tale OF how beggar maiden. once wandering II
fairv-land. had been turned into Princess anC
married to a Prince.
And Just then, naturally as in any fairy tale
in w1lkod the Prince. He ordinary creased
trousers and carried Prosaic newspaper yet Meli