The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-02

sen In the shape Of a new moon, forming
q pretty bay, on which foated q small
boat at anchor. On the inner edge OF this
headland q facing the bay stood a tall
plant, whose broad, colored leaves were
bcnt downward TO form q dome shaped
room, n leaf being turned up TO make an
opening that served as a door.
You must whistle at the door and the
Princess will appear said Pittypat. Il
c&nnot talk with her an I do with you Mr..
Dough 90 I'll leave you now. and run home
to tell my folks OF the new friends 1 have
found
With these parting words away darted
the rabbit, and John and Chick shyly APP
preached the palace Of the Princess.
Can you whistle, Chick7' asked the
gingerbread man. and the Baby, In reply.
made &C shrill q sound through the puck
cred pink lips that John gave a start OF
surprise.
Almost Immediately a girl appeared in
the doorway of the plant palace and both
John and Chick bowed low and then stood
motionless TO stare at the beautiful face
that confronted them. For this mock
Princess OF the Mifkets was quite the
loveliest snd sweetest maiden that any
one has ever ooked upon, and so round
and innocent were her clear eyes and 90
gentle IND winning her smile that TO seq
her but ono was to love her dearly. John
did not marvel that the wild creatures OF
the forest had set this girl apart a. too
hallowed to become their slave or oom-
panion, and he instantly accepted this
shipwrecked waif as a real Princess and
from that moment worshipped loyalty at
her shrine.
Chick, standing solidly, with brown
feet spread wide apart, chubby fsts clutch
ing the last Of the forest fruits, and tangled
locks howias csrelessly around the laugh
ing face. was a strong contrast to the little
lady who advanced from the door with
dainty steps TO welcome the strangers.
Tho Princess wore a gown of woven leaves
plucked from the island plants, but so
slight and graceful was her form that any
sort Of dress would be sure to seem fit and
becoming II the maid wore It.
-Hello.- said Chick. We've come to
see you
I'm glad Of that answered the girl
In q soft voice, as abe came oloss and kissed
the Cherub's rosy mouth. 1T has been
dreadfully lonesome In this place without
my one 70 play with or to keep me COM
RAlys Nhhy Il Al4uALc u ybo oAG
This IL John Dough- answered the
Cherub briefly. and I'm Chick
I'm pleased TO make your Acquaintance
said the girl. They call me the Princess,
but that Is in mockery. / am sure"
But are you not treated as a Princess
asked John.
Yes, and that lie why l am 80 lonely
the girl replied sadly. The naughty
Mifkets lave made my poor father and
mother their slaves and mock me by shut
ting me In this tree house and calling il a
palace and me a Princess. But really l
am as much a slave as either OF my dear
parents
Can't you 60 out IL you want to- asked
Chick.
ooh. yes, but the island il small, and
there Is no one to play with except Pity
pat, who is a white rabbit. and Para Bruin,
who IL a bouncing brown bear"
What strange ~companionsl' said John.
1--WE met Pittypat. and like the white rabbit
very much; but a bouncing brown bear
must be a dreadful creature"
Not at all. l assure you" returned the
girl. earnestly. just wait until you meet
| him, and you'll see that he couldn't hurt
any one II he would, and wouldn't II he
could
That's all right" said Chick.
But do the Mifkets i'll treat you in any
way2" asked John.
ooh, no; until now they have lone me no
real injury whatever" the Princess an
swered; but their tempers are 30 hateful
that I'm in constant fear of them. You
must meet The Mifkets, OF course, since you
cannot leave this island; and you must obey
them, as we all do. But per haps Mr..
Dough, being made Of gingerbread, win DO
treated with more respect than human
beings are"
"Or with less, said John with a shudder.
Nevertheless, we will meet the Mifkets
boldly. and / am not going to make myself
unhappy by being afraid Of them
Nor l. said Chick. They're only
beasts"
Then il you will please follow me l will
lead you to the Kings village. said the girl.
and there o may see my father and
mother
very WE'LL agreed John. But I must
tell you that we have already encountered
three OF these creatures and defeated them
easily
Il pounded 'em like sixty" added the
Cherub with a nod and a laugh.
The Princess led them by a path deep into
the forest, passing underneath the broad
leaves Of the plants. which we're so thick that
they almost shut out the daylight and made
the way gloomy and fearsome. But before
long a big clearing was reached, in the cen-
ire Of which was a rocky mound, with a
broad, nat stone at the very top.
All around we're houses, made by bending
down the huge leaves of the plants and fas-
tening them to the ground with wooden
pegs, thus forming circular rooms. None
OF these houses seemed quite 30 handsome
as the palace OF the Princess; but they were
big and OF many c%olors, and when our
friends stepped into the clearing a swarm
of Mifket people crowded out OF the door
ways to surround the strangers and gaze
upon them curio usly.
Upon the fiat stone in the centre of the
clearing reclined an aged Mifket, who was
lazily summing himself and who seemed 10
pay no attention to the chattering of his
fellows. Yet it was toward this stone that
the Princess, after a half frightened look at
| ifa oocrtnapt Lad har naw friAnda. and al