The Somerset reporter., 1906-06-14

of the bluff when a young voice as.
sailed him
Il thought you would come before
long. You are the prince, of course"
He wheeled with a start and stared.
She sat OF a low rock, looking straight
at him out of smiling brown eyes.
There was general impression Of
provinces. 1t seemed to be gown of
some shmmery brown stuff-or was 1t
gold ?-and a kind of aureole OF fluffy,
light brown hair. How the deuce did a
girl get up that cliff? About how near
! ly a putting porpolse had he sounded.
anyway? Pity a man couldn't keep
track of his breath, He'd go into train
ing on that hill till he could take it on
the run without turning a hair-he
would, by Joye! Must be something
the matter with her eyes. He'd never
seen-that is to say, they sort Of
You said yes, didn't your" she inter
rupted sweetly. Surely you must be
the prince"
II beg your pardon" began Dudley.
suddenly realizing that she had asked
a question some minutes ago and that
an answer was expected of him. THE
! prince, you say? I've never been ac-
cused before you know" And then, In
a flash of comprehension, Most assur-
eddy l am the prince-if you are the
princess" he finished triumphantly.
The brown eyes twinkled into his
more dstractingly than before.
"Oh, not at allT' she laughed. "T'm
only poor Cinderella"
"Cinderella?" questioned Dudley,
! looking the mystifcation he felt.
why, yes-you see She hesltated
And then very wonderful thing hap
! pened A line of rosiest pink appeared
! just above the brown collar and crept
up stealthily, enveloping the tiny eur,
/ flashing into flame on the white brow
and hiding at last in the light hair that
! blew about her face. Dudley, fascinat-
ed watched its progress and forgave
the intrusion.
"Of course It's very simple, only dis
gracefully stupid of me. And"-slt-
ting up straight and suddenly becom-
Ing very brave-"I'm not In the least
afraid to tell you"
Dudley mumbled suitable assurances
while the girl moved uneasily on her
rocky throne and continued to look
/ brave.
Il just--I only-the flower was way
over the edge of the bluff, and-I held
on to branch and leaned down-and-
my heel got wedged by stone-and"-
! There was tentative shifting of the
shimmery skirts, then a hasty motion
of withdrawal beneath them. And II
lost the mate to that" she finished
with desperate courage, thrusting into
sight the other foot, incased In stout
little brown walking boot.
Two furious bushes were In full OPP
i GRAFTON by this time.
Dudley gaZed tixedly at the small
trim boot You say the one you lost
was just like this?" he questioned, with
great solemnlty.
! "Oh, no; 1t belonged to the left foot
you know" she responded, with CORE
| spending earnestness.
! And then came the welcome relief of
laughter, under the relaxing influence
of which Dudley sank upon the edge
of the rock
81 only meant to suggest" he an
nounced fervently, my unbelief that
there could be another like 1t In the
world"
Bravo, brayor she applauded gay.
ly THAT is pretty enough to SAVIOR of
much practice in such speaking"
Dudley's ardent expression was re-
placed by one of due submission to re-
| buke.
at Is meet" he said as his hand
sought a capacious coat pocket and dis
appeared therein, that the downtrod.
den should arise to do thee service.
Perhaps l can aid you better than you
| know"
I'm sure you cam" she interposed
hastily. But let me tell my plan first
l couldn't let you go to find it and
leave me helpless and alone again"
"Of course not" Dudley's face as.
sumed a thoughtful expression, and
his hand slowly left the big pocket
T-a-hardly suppose you could Dor
row mine"
Again her bright laughter rang out
"Oh, lattery, where is thy stingY she
cried gasplngly. And Dudley, looking
ruefully from his own generous boot
! to the adorable mateless one, realized
that once more he'd put his foot in it.
Forgiven" she declared in a mo
ment, because of the pretty one you
| said first. And so, to go back to our
muttons, see only one way. And yet
of course, It's such a little distance
the camps just back In the trees there
Il could hop on one foot, l suppose"
She paused mischieyously for the
mere pleasure OF regarding his look OF
frank disappointment; also to observe
whether it occurred to him to wonder
why, with friends so near, she had moi
! called for help.
"But | should be sure" she relented
"to lose my balance and let the wrong
| foot down" Dudley frightened per
eeptibly. And it's very stony and,
know, would hurt dreadfully. So after
all there is Just the one way, as said
She tilted the lonely boot back and
forth on its heel and regarded it pen
slvely. Dudley did likewise. When
this had gone on long enough she
raised to him an expectant look.
Eyes" he said, almost mournfully
"there only remains for me to help
you. l suppose | ought" he continued