Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-05-29
She Hrgus Daily Short Story
1.-The Real Princess."-By Martha Cobb Sanford
Literary Press
Copyrighted, 1908, by Associated Literary

How katherine Searle came to ne
Jack Carrington's ward belongs to the
early chapters of a long story. 1t date;
back, in fact. fifteen years. when Katl-
crime was three year-old baby and
Darlington young man of twenty.
But ut the beginning of the present
chapter. after having been finished
off, at very proper boarding school,
Katherine had just returned from a
winter in Europe with Carrington's
married sister.
And Darlington as he sat in the twi-
light on the luxuriously appointed
porch of his out of town house was eX-
pectantly awaiting a promised after
dinner talk with her.
In accordance with long and care
fully formulated plan he felt that the
time had now come for him to take
Katherine seriously in hand and to,
prepare her for the prominent part she
was sure to play in Il world of admir-
| ing but, alas. inconstant men.
katherine. radiant in a fluffy glory
I of some soft. delicate stuff beyond
mans comprehension, at length tripped
| out through the easement door and
perched herself affectionately on the
| arm of her guardians easy chair. He
took her little white hand in his and
| patted it gently as he would Il child's.
| II suppose you haven't begun to
think about marriage yet, little grip
he asked by way of tactful beginning
Begun to think about it," echoed
Katherine. why. I've always thought
| about railways and always"
| Darlington looked up in amazement.
| Him." he unused. Il haven't begun
aloud he added: $50 you've always
thought about marriage. my dear?
| Well, we'll! And what have you thought
about it?''
Katherine threw her arms about his
neck and gave him an energetic hug.
Then she placed a cushion at his feet
and settled herself comfortably.
"I'll tell you," she began confidential
iy. "Pve always adored fairy stories.
and of course there's a glorious young
prince in every fairy story. you know.
Well. it was always fun when l was a
little girl to imagine myself the beau
tiful princess whom the prince was
looking for-and now I'm grown up,
guardy, dear. it's just as much fun
she finished naively.
Il Darlington laughed heartily. He
was greatly relieved.
Imaginary princes are all very
harmless and proper, little Kit" he
commented indulgently, '.but pretty
soon you'll begin to think about real
everyday men,"
! "Pretty soon?" she queried teasingly
, Dear mer' exclaimed Darlington
with an unconcern he was far from
; feeling. you've not thought about
/ real men already"
you'd call Harvey Dunton a real
man, wouldn't your" Katherine asked
looking at him roguishly.
Il Carrington's testing mood passed il
a flash. He shut his teeth with sud
, den vexation.
where did you meet Harvey Dun
ton?'' he inquired searchingly.
"On the steamer coming back" an
swered Katherine 'Your sister intro
q duced him. He's really very devoted
A to me. He's coming around later thi.
, evening. He sings. you know, ant
I've promised to play his accompani
ments. Don't you like him. guardy
You don't look as though you do
= "Oh, Duntons all right" he answer
ed good naturally, suddenly alive t.
the fact that he must play his hant
cautiously. "You evidently like him
little grip he parted.
al 81 dap't know really. guardy. But b
likes me. That's as far as we've got.
was Katherine's Ingenious reply. "Pr
not taking him very seriously because
Lyon see. somehow he isn't exactly lik
] the prince I've been expecting"
ii Il should hope not" muttered Car
rington.
what. did rou- sax2"