The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1908-09-18
why not!' he asked earnestly.

eyes on the people below them.
You wouldn't understand" she
said: but she half closed her eyes
and seemed about 10 SO on. so he
waited quietly.
when / married." she said slow
ly. -you-you know the story. We
it was not love. you see. We didn't
even pretend that IL was love-"
Shelooked up. but his face was TX.
pressionless and set.
Il loved you," she went on calmly,
"loved-do you see. but, you didn't
ask me-then, and Terrinini did. Az.
terwards you told me-afterwards.
and so l had that comfort 10 begin
on. Then-and then my child was
boy. didn't want-a boy. know
nothing whatever about boys, and
was very young, and so-but, mean
while, have come 10 know Terrinini.
and"
She raised her eyes to his curious
ly, and he WINGED.
"He's brave-and big-and true"
she went on evenly. 'and my boy is
growing up. Some day he'll be a
man. l don't want the love In his
eyes TO change. want him always
to look at me as he does now. L"
There was the slightest rustic on
the stairs behind them, and a very
forced cough. They turned their
heads curiously at the sound.
IL beg pardon" said Prince Paul.
| L. Lac % 40,
the other nursing bare foot. Il
think | must have wakened by mis-
take"
The Princess caught her breath
sharply and held out her arms to him.
lis il Fairyland?" he asked seri-
ously, coming down to them. 81 have
never seen things like this before"
1T is," said the man, land how.
will you tell me. did you get here?"
Il don't know. l really shouldn't
have come, l suppose, I'm so little.
and little people don't belong to
stories, butt wanted to be near
you," he finished sweetly in her ear.
She clasped her white arms around
him, and let her head fall down on
the soft, silvery folds OF her gown.
"Boy-boy." she murmured un-
steadily.
1t was a confession OF love and a
prayer in one.
The man reached over and caught
the child's hand. And now that
you've come-what?" said he curl
ously.
Paul sat thoughtfully pondering
the question.
at is only for a visit, guess" he
sighed. There is no place, you
know, for-for just children. They
don't count. in things at all-they
don't"
The man pressed the hand he held
tenderly. They just do" he insist
ed. "Fairyland is Childland. Don't
you know? Fairyland is only for
you"
And mother" said Paul. For
princesses, too, Your picture is in
my book he conhded to her in a
whisper. Il recognized you. That's
how | knew you are a princess, and
Mary says it s true. Princess Terri
mini"
Then he turned politely to the man
and added
Il expect you didn't want your pic
ture in? Or maybe you aren't a
prince?"
NO" said the man. Il am not a
prince; I'm afraid I'm not much good.
YOU know. I'm-I'm there, though.
Perhaps you didn't recognize me.
I'm the Wicked one"
why. no." cried the boy, wide
eyed. Are you the one who kept
the princess in the tower and made
her old and unhappy and"
NO" said the man gently. "I
couldn't. The little prince won her
away from me; got into her heart and
held it against me, and then-and
then even captured mine"
Paul wrink!ed his forehead,
puzzled.
Il don't quite remember that
story, said he.
lie lay back comfortably in the
Princess arms and closed his eyes
TO shut out the glittering lights. over
mis- slim white form the man stretched
out his hand and caught the Prin-
cess.
Goodbye" he whispered. "Tm
of again. You are happy, see, hap
pier than could ever make you. -
In glad"
Then she smiled at aim. Tears for
him we're in her eyes.
But Prince Paul sat up. as ne had
turned TO go, and held out his hand
% the Wicked one, VINO arose from
his stair sea-.
I'm sorry you are the Bad Man, >
he said. Ill rather like you. IL
suppose, though. you have TO be.
They wrote you that way. And ] in
sorry / couldn't rem-remember the
the story. I'll look-it up-tO-
morrow" then he turned and smiled
up into the Princess soft blue eyes.