Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-05-02

And with this hope he got up and
stood close to the frosty pane, looking
in the direction where he supposed it
was. There were no lights to be seen,
but far off he heard the thud Of horses
hoofs on the hard-packed snow and
wondered what was coming, for no
sound of bells broke the stiffness of
the night. Then suddenly into view
flashed wonderful sight-four white
horses going their swiftest and draw
ing after them a golden sleigh, which
seemed to radiate light. 1t passed al
most before Quentin had time to no.
tice the fur-clad man with the spark
ling stones in his cap, who sat silent
with young officer beside him; but
all at once he realized whom he had
seen-the King of the Fairy Palace.
The next morning dawned bright
and clear, much to the satisfaction OF
two Germans, who also wished to take
look at Quentin's Fairy Palace"
The little boys mother and father
stood at the window with their friends
that afternoon to see the Germans OH
on their long drive, and hoped they
would not be cold, and that they had
plenty Of straw on the bottom OF
their sleigh to keep out the frosty air.
AS the two drove off with a merry
clash of bells, Quentin's mother turned
from the window.
why, where is Quentin" she asked
If the 10y had realized how many
anxious voices would repeat that ques-
.tion, and the dreadful fear that was
to fill his mothers heart for many
| hours, he would have given up even
the cherished plan of seeing the Fairy
Palace and it's beautiful king. So
absorbed was he in his own idea, that
it never occurred to him how much
suffering his thoughtlessness would
cause his friends, and he lay quite still
and warm in the straw that covered
the floor of the Germans sleigh,
thinking of all the wonderful things
he would tell his mother when he got
back-things so interesting, in fact
that she would forget to scold him for
running away for such little while
He was quite stiff with cold when
the horses finally stopped at the same
inn where he had lunched with his
father and mother the day before;
bue he lay hidden till the sleigh was
| led away to the stable, and when al
was quiet, slipped from his straw nest
to the road, and started on his jour
ney to the Fairy Palace.
He knew the way; the waiter had
pointed out the steep road to his faith
er, and Quentin remembered wonder
ing whether it ran right into the big
fluffy cloud that hung between the
solid earth and the mist mountain-top
on which the castle stood. Now, how
ever, he could quite plainly see ht'
road winding up, with no fleecy barrie
to separate the Fairy Palace from
where he stood.
On he walked quite briskly.
could not be very far, for he had seel
everything quite plainly before tn
trees hid it from Sight So he hurried
along slipping and sliding on the hard
packed snow, till at a turn in the roa'
he saw the castle once more-just a
white, just as dignified just as ia
above him as before!
And he thought he had gone TO
far! 1t was discouraging, but he KEEP
bravely on, though his feet were be
ginning to drag little now, and nj
fingers to tingle with the cold.
The short winter day was drawing
, to close, and the shadows of tn
, sentinel-trees pointed down the mount
ain. At home his father and mothe
, were probably drinking their tea. HOY
Quentin wished for "SemmeP Qittl
German cakes) or a "Hornchen'-
even the most German delicacy tina
ever came out of a Bavarian bal5e-sho
He knew now that he was tired, an
cold, and hungrey, and thai he ha
: missed his lunch. But still he plodde
, on. one cold tear trucking down hi
red little nose. 1t was so very ia
to the Fairy Palace!
The sun had dropped behind tn
mountain, and the trees seemed t
grow taller and to close in about hir
threateningly, as if they recognize
him as runaway and an intruder.
II think I'll rest a minute h
said aloud, and sat down on falle
, tree rubbing his stiff hands agains
his aching little knees.
! Somehow he felt warmer now.
/. comfortable glow spread through hin
3 and his head nodded, nodded again
3 "Its-so far-to the-Fairy Pa
, ace" he murmured.
2 The sentinel-trees tossed the
pare arms anu luOdueu. lue sud-
D twinkled forth. disappeared, twinkle
: again undecidedly, and finally appea
ed to stay and to look down on til
4 little American boy, sleeping on tt
( snow beneath the frosty Bavaria
e sky.
Thud, thud, thud! came the sound I
hoof-beats, muffled in the snow. Dow
S the steep grade plunged four viii
$ horses, with a golden sleigh at the
s very heels. Suddenly the leaders rea
l. ed and the sleigh slid da
e gerously sidewise, hung for OF
dreadful second over the mounta
:, side, and then shot into the middle
= the road again at plunge of II
J. horses.
d What has startled the beasts
< asked a calm voice in German.
b 81 do not know, Majesty" answert
e the trembling driver; there is som
l. thing lying youder by the roadside.
A young officer sprang from Il
If sleigh to investigate. He knelt dow
re by the bundle, dark against the sno
is and struck a match.
d at is child" he exclaimed, jun