Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-12-04
By M. BOWLEY

A Fairy Tale

THE Grand Duchess walked in the palace gar
dens By her side was the stately head
for the Grand Duchess young. Behind her
were two pages who held up her train of cloth
of-gold
The Grand Duchess kicked up the stones and
then with the of dainy pointed shoe and pres
emily she sighed very big sigh
Il am so tired of the walk every day and
day. she said to go this minute right out
into the fields and pick flowers, dear little
flowers on the hill the stream"
Impossible, your Royal Highness!" cried the old
nurse, quite shocked.
By no means" replied the Duchess, wilfully Give
my train" said She turning to the boys. Il will
carry #. You may go.
Then she ran to the great gates. With some dlfl-
Guilty she pushed open and passed out The nurse,
painting and groaning, followed her
The Duchess scampered about joyfully. She was in
convenienced by her train it was so heavy but she
gathered the daisies and put them in her hair she
songs and called the BIRDS and talked the sheep
cropping the grass.
The Duchess crossed the stream by the plank The
danger SO new delighted her. She laughed and clapped
her hands the board creaed under the weight of the
old nurse.
~I'u rest right here in the shade" said the Grand
Duchess presently. Going toward clunp of trees,
she was seating herself a large stone, when
thing from underneath it across her foot
On the sweet brown mouse!' she cried. She fell
upon her knees to catch it. but at the moment
hand as brown the from beside bush
near, and the mouse ran into the hand
The face OF shepherd boy peeped over. That's my
mouse" he said.
The Grand Duchess sat up the ground, and looked
back at him.
"I want it to be rnine" she answered.
Give it to her Royal Hghness immediately"
rranded the You are honored that she should
care to have IT."
But the shepherd boy only repeated It's my mouse"
The eyes of the Grand Duchess opened-very widely
They very blue eyes, and her parted lips
rosy as the wild cherries above her head
"I like you, you funny shepherd boy, she said, after
q long pause But want that dear brown mouse. I
will give you my white for it Mine has wings"
It was of the shepherd boy osopen his eyes
/ go back and look for my mouse" said the Grand
Duchess the &c shall stay here and pz with
this nice boy
But your Royal Highnesss' protested the nurse
"you surely will not give the Winged Mouse
country lad Besides, L cannot'leave you here"
81 VIII take of her. said the shepherd boy with
4 1ordIy air. He about year older than the
Duchess.
go this minute =" said She getting up to stamp her
foot inperiously.
The nurse turned away grumbling and rluttsring
little did the Duchess think how long itswoid be be-
fore she saw. her again
She watched her out of sight. She=had a naughty
smile in her blue eyes, and the simple shepherd boy
stared as she reached for the embroidered pocket that
hung by her side and took from tia snow-vhe mouse
which she held out to- him in theaPink palm of her hand
It will be such fun to have no. oneto trouble US.
had my all the time Now it yours arT viii
have the brown one"
The shepherd boy touched the delicate thns-it was
gift of her fairy godnotherto the Grand Duchess
and ehought he had anything so beautiful
and much to be desired
The Duchess showed him its wonderful wings They
shut neatly down against its sides like closed fans
When they spread out the looked as if it
a.large white flower
He took it tenderly and pressed it lovingly to his
tanned cheek while he handed little eldrnoue
As they played the shepherd boy told her he lived
with his stepmother In saalE cottage edge of
the town Hekept esheep of any Of sneighborng
farmers who would hireshim.
He dared not let his stepmoter his treasure
for she cruel. witch woman So they arranged
tomake ttletnestp it, anA eo with r1osses
among the tree roots, where stone fit in the
opening and keepit safely TheyWere busy they did
notice the sound of footsteps approaching but they
looked up when shadow fell across them, expecting
see the
pressed his shoulder and he exclaimed Steprnothert"
She snztcbed tho white from him. thrust it
inside the bosom of her dress,s seized wrist of the
Grand Duchess and of the boy dragged them away
through the wood.
Then the Grand Duchess screamed. and bitterly re-
pented of her deceit bat. was too Fate
On ard oo=they went The Duchess creds until she
had Bore tears isfhs and by nighttime the part,
reacheas curious hut sdcepinE fheI forest
Tia 6utsgasxounde1ike sssesaivss Il hzd one room