Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1908-09-26

Fairy IaIes.


Paul sat on low stool facing the
FIRE, his breakfast spread on a great
armchair beside him. Beside the egg
and the toast and the glass of milk
there was The Book, with It's cover
wondrously decorated in red and
gold, popped open at the picture of
the princess. AS he finished the last
morsel of buttered toast and began
quite slowly on the egg-one kept the
egg always for the last-he turned
his eyes meditatlvely on the nurse.
what could one do to grow large
AS large as you-large enough to
I'LL this big chair?" he wondered,
thoughtfully.
Mary was pinning on her cap at
the mirror. She spoke with difficulty,
her attention on her task.
"Oh, eat much and sleep much and
be very good and obedient."
Eat and sleep-and be good"
Paul summed up concisely. "Does 1t
take long?"
Mary turned her laughing eyes on
him, curiously "Not very long" said
she. "Why does he want to be big,
1 wonder?" He reached gravely for
The Book and opened 1t quite slowly
to the place.
II should like" said Paul, ito eat
downstairs, where Simpson waits,
and to go places with--with her, and
to see what happens after she kisses
me good night"
"Oh!" said the girl, in an odd title
voice.
He thumbed the pages wistfully.
81 suppose 1t rather surprised her
having a little son." said he. "The
princes in this are all big, and / sup
pose she wouldn't know quite what
to do with me if went down now
1 wouldn't-fit in. But don't seem
to belong to her up here, somehow"
Mary dropped upon her knees and
patted his legs comfortingly. They
were rather fine little legs, straight
and shapely, and rosy-brown above
the socks.
Don't you now?" said she. Her
eyes grew very narrow and bright as
they always did when she was
thoughtful or cross
II tell you! Let's have a sur
prise?" she proposed brightly.
A sur-prise!"
Something nice when she won't
expect" explained the girl. "Shall
we have it,"
"Yes, let's!" cried Paul eagerly.
ais 1t something about being big and
eating downstairs and being with
with her? What is it?"
Mary Rugged him tenderly. "It's
sleeping in her very own bed with
her!" she said impressively Would
you like it-just for once! And when
she wakes up she will find you!"
Paul put his arms around her hap
PLY. "When-when will it be bed
time, please?" said he.
The boy opened his eyes on a
strange world. Before him stretched
wonderful view, waving, futtering
biflows of soft blue silk. His little
body was almost buried in downy
sheer pillows. He had never been in
this place before, hut somehow it re-
minded him OF her. perhaps because
the faint, very faint blossomy smell
that she had was here, too. Suddenly
| he rem smbered. He breathed
quaint little sigh of content; then he
opened his eyes again, amazed. Soft
strains of music were floating in to
him. Very cautiously he pushed back
the curtains and peeped out.
The room was as dainty and blue
as the bed, and was dimly lighted by
pale blue lamp in the alcoye. He
| crept out of the bed scarcely breath
ing, and, half-awed, approached the
window. 1t was black outside, and
the familiar sky was strangely lit
with many twinkling lights. He was
five years old, and he mad never seen
the stars He dropped down on his
knees and gazed at them estatically.
"How pretty-how pretty!" he
murmured softly, and then, remem-
bering, he drew a sharp little breath
and added, How very clever, tool"
Outside the music was running on
dreamily. He scratched his head an
instant, rejecting, and started slowly
for the half-open door in his bare feet
and pajamas. And so, in his journey
OF inspection and exploration, he
came, unheard, upon the two upon
the stairs-a pale, slim, little. face, all
eyes and thy, quivering lips.
"If only you were not unhappy, t"
said the man slowly, "I-why-I
could bear it then; that would be
enough for me; but"
II am happy" said the Princess
TREMENDOUSLY. She raised her roses to
her lips to hide their piteous trem-
bling and dropped her eyes.
- Last week-yesterday perhaps
might have thought otherwise, but to-
night I'know that ! have
everything-everything my heart de-
sires"
Everything"
She nodded, her face turned away
to escape the pain in his eyes; her
own were very soft and dark and
plying in the half light, and a little
wistfU;.
Yes she repeated, everything. :"
The man fastened his glove intent
ly and looked of somewhere into
space
IL believe" he said. grimly, "that
you are breaking your heart"
No, no." she cried, softly, "but l
am breaking yours again oh, If l
might make you happy-if l might"
why not?" he asked earnestly.
"Why?"
She leaned over thoughtfully, her
eyes on the people below them.
You wouldn't understand" she
said; but she half closed her eyes
and seemed about to go on, so he
waited quietly.