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

LII
Dyes 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 n very
forced cough. They turned their
heads curiously at the sound.
II beg pardon" said Prince Paul,
gravely, one hand on the balustrade.
the other nursing a bare foot. 81
think must have Weakened by mis-
take"
The Princess caught her breath
sharply and held out her arms to him.
as It Fairyland?" he asked seri-
ously, coming down to them. IL have
never seen things like this before"
at is" said the man, "and how,
will you tell me, did you get here?"
IL don't know. / really shouldn't
have come, 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 I'M
steadily.
It 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 bordering
the question.
at is only for 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 confided to her in a
whisper. II recognized you. That's
how / knew you are princess, and
Mary says it's true. Princess Terri
mini"
Then he turned politely to the man
and added:
II expect you didn't want your pic
ture in? Or maybe you aren't a
prince?"
no." said the man. II am not a
prince; I'm afraid I'm not much good,
you know. Tm-Im there, though.
Perhaps you didn't recognize me.
I'm the Wicked one"
why, mol" 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. al
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 wrinkled his forehead,
puzzled.
81 don't quite remember that
story" said he.
He lay back comfortably in the
Princess arms and closed his eyes
TO shut out the glittering lights. Over
his slim white form the man stretched
out his hand and caught the Prin-
cess.
Goodbye" he whispered. "I'm
off again. You are happy, 1 see, hap.
pier than could ever make you. L
I'm glad"
Then she smiled at him. Tears for
him were in her eyes.
But Prince Paul sat up, as he had
turned to go, and held out his hand
to the Wicked One, who arose from
his stair seat.
"I'm sorry you are the Bad Man, )"
he said IL rather like you. IL
suppose, though, you have to be.
They wrote you that way. And I'm
sorry | couldn't rem-remember the
she story. I'll look-it up-to-
morrow" then he turned and smiled
up into the Princess soft blue eyes.
Would you put me-in bed?" he
asked timidly, land kiss me good
night again-if the others could get
on without you, mean?"
"They must" whispered the Prin-
cess happily. "They must, for l am
never coming back to them am
going to stay always-with you"
He blinked his eyes sleepily and
pressed his warm little lips tenderly
against hers.
"To-morrow-and to-morrow-and
Tomorrow" he asked doubtfully.
For always" she promised.
He closed his eyes signing, and
smiled and so, in her arms,
she carried him back to the blossomy
bed.-Fred Jackson, in Black and
White.