Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-09-25

use of my prerogative as a princess
and tell you what to do"
II assure you, Princess, that I shall
take the greatest delight and pride in
obeying your wishes, whatever they
may be, for one so fair and innocent
as you could wish for nothing wrong
to be DONE" said Dick, his look ex-
pressing more than did his gallant
words
Have you thought seriously on the
subject? Do you understand the re-
sponsibilities resting upon the should
ers and heart of so exalted a person
age as a ruler?" again asked the prin-
cess.
ooh, yes, indeed" answered Dick
emphatically.
"Then come with me-" ordered the
princess, starting to leave the barn
loft
But it is raining" began Dick, fear
ing that they would get drenchins
should they go out now.
"Ah, I shall not take you into the
rain" smiled the princess. Come
follow me if you would have your wish
granted" And she led Dick to the
door of the barn. To that young
mans amazement he found beautiful
carriage waiting for him. A driver,
wrapped against the rain, sat in the
coachman's seat, holding the lines of
the horses. Dick, very gently, hand
ed the pretty girl-princess into the car
riage; then took his seat beside her.
Without word from the princess the
driver touched the lines to the horses
backs, and away they went like the
wind
For long time they rode; then they
stopped on the shore of beautiful bay
Dick looked about him for familiar
landmarks, but the scenery was all
strange to him. The princess gave the
order to alight, which Dick obeyed,
!, handing her gracefully from the car
riage. She conducted him round a
curved cliff which projected into the
water. In few minutes they came
upon small, splendidly rugged little
seagoing craft that was fully equipped
for, several weeks journey. 1t was
anchored close to the shore, and a
small rowboat was pushed out by a
strong sailor, who came to take the
princess and Dick on board
And for many, many days they sail
ed and sailed, sometimes in storm and
\ again in fair weather; but during all
the voyage Dick never once saw the
princess. He had the privilege of the
vessel; could walk the deck, sit in the
cabin, eat his meals in the little dining
saloon; but he was alone save for the
" presence of the officers of the boat and
3 the crew.
On fair day they entered quiet
g harbor near the coast Of a dazzling isle
a-bloom with flowers and shady with
= great spreading trees. AS Dick went
u ashore there came a sound of music;
: then through the avenue of trees Dick
| beheld marvellous sight. At the head
of great and beautiful procession Of
: people in carriages, and on foot was
. Princess Maiziee, mounted on a snow
, white steed She carried small wanG
in her han1 In the carriage behint
her rode the Fairy Queen, mother Of
Princess Malice.
= Bowling low before the young T.
cess Dick expressed his surprise a
y finding her already in the land of theil
: destination. And he dared to question
% her regarding the manner in which sht
:, had reached there first-again. how
:. - she had managed to leave the boa
!, without his knowledge since she has
:, :. before it's sailing
!, The princess only smiled and re
- piled; 1--WE fairies have ways whicl
y are not the ways of people," Then sh
;, presented Dick to her mother an
: many distinguished people on the lane
), And then a mighty shout arose
- Hail to our new king! Long live tn
- young King Dick" And before h
u could question the cause Of the de
~ :, monstration several strong young me
y, seized him about the legs and raise
- him above their shoulders, cryin
10 again. Long live our new Kin
:, Dick!'
- 1t took sometime for Dick to recove
=, - from the excitement and newness {
y the situation. Here he found himse
- in strange land, among strange pei
-; pie. He was crowned king on til
-, - very day of his arrival and placed i
~ the throneroom of the most magnit
!, cent palace he had ever dreamed O
"a About him bowed fawning courtier
~ many of whom Dick could see locke
- upon him with envy and hatred. Slave
~ dressed in the royal livery bowed the
= hea6s in front Of him and quickly an
- silently obeyed every command
his.
y, ~ After few days of reigning Kin
~ ~ Dick, of Granny Isle, (for such was tn
~ name of the island where he was ruler
ne 5 found that being king was not S
pleasant. There were laws to max
~ and much opposition to the laws h
~ wrote down in the big law book me
ne him on every hand. There We're en-
AZ mics about him as thick as flies, viii
~ pering treason against the throne.
one part Of the kingdom was gre;
ng famine and King Dicks heart WE
nj made heavy with the suffering of b
OK poor hapless subjects; but being
&c, king he had suddenly become too SCI
de ish to offer money from his own gre
treasury TO relieve the starving pc
he pie.
he Thus five years had passed by, eat
ne day bringing new worries to Xii
'ol Dick. And now that he was 10 yea
'h- old it had been arranged for him
on marry the Fairy Queens daughter, Il