Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-10-02

=" hope it's than mile deepf she said holly.
lifting the mirror above her head but before she could
fling into the it melted from her hands like
broken bubble
Gracious" exclaimed the little princess whrling
around for instead OF the crash that should have come,
clear merry laugh rang i'll her ears Behind her, on
the second step, sat siivcry, gauzy figure
" No one is allowed here without my permissionl
said Princess Lii
g / know" smiled the stranger. But ] wished
much see you. your Highness. Do you mind?"
people want that that I'm quite used to it. But it's
fs7i":t the rules Did you catch my mirror when it
The stranger shook her head
" | haven't any mirror" she said.
But who are your" demanded Lii. How did yoa
I'm whoever happen to be-" the careless reply.
I'm Vara. | could be you if / wanted to-
oh Of course don't mind your PLAYING tnat you are
children do it too So silly Just because all the cour-
tiers bow when pass and think what DGIutliu d Eyes
charmingly dress Sicy suppose have everything that
| want | haven't That mirror. for instance Ny
mother the Queen gave me it for my birthday liked
it first but when other people look into IT they see
themselves instead OF me What's the use or bsing
princess if you can't have mirror to yourself:
Should thcy have seen your face when they peeped
'Of course" said Lii pettisllly IT'S mine, isn't
it Bat don't care if never see II again ITS hoTTd s,
yo4 PfT to be ABE t te see WITHOUT
Whenever | chose?' asked Lii 80
"Whenever-in meeting anyone-you think about
yourself your Hghness. That is all
"Nces do that almost all the time. 1t would be
Then take that birthday gift in exchange for your
mirror" said the stranger. throwing out tiny hand,
with the gesture of bcstowing gilt.
"Oohi - cried the princess, cold spray wet her
eyes. When SIC opened them Varia was gone
Wondering if it than jest, the princess
trpped across the green turf to where gardener was
at work-tlinking with all her might OF her own beauty
Old Dcdrch raised his rough cap on seeing her but at
her first word it longer lac who held the wheel
barrow There stood little person clad in white and
gold with a self-satisfed smile on her rosy face
Lii was gazing her double-well pleased with its
appcarancc-when gruff voice asked suddenly:
How can ! you. Highness?
In she caught up her sken dress and away:
but when she glanced back there as at first stood old
Dedrch looking after her with puzzled air m
Princess Lii walked on, thinking very hard. When
she looked up, Dame Benedcta, her nurse, at the
side gate, giving something to a beggar maid
Beneficial That is my old cloak. How dare you
give it away / might want"
Not one but two faces under yellow curls. were
looking her! With frightened cry, she rushed into
the palace up the great audienceal where sat King
Clarimond and Queen Iornne in state, with all their
court, receiving the ambassadors from neghboring
kingdom
''Oh!" she cried. 81" and in flash the great
hall was filled with a sea of white and gold gowns.
above which hundreds OF startled faces framed in golden
hair staring at her.
Lii My child" exclaimed the queen. and King
Carmond sprang to his feet at her wall OF terror The
sight OF two Princess Llis hurrying down the
her eyes. she turned and fed from the palace. down
through the garden the by the where she
lay the marble step and cried like any common little
girl who wanted her mother and couldn't somehow
reach her.
You didn't enjoy my gift? ?" asked silvery voice
hated il :" sobbed Lii with tightly closed eyes.
couldn't get away from-irom INC I want my mothcri"
%. III take Il back then. said Naria sobcrly But
did everybody you met look like you;
Lii nodded. SOmethng-Yliat II? made her very
uncomfortable There a long silence.
You mean then that you were thinking every min
Why. forgot that" confessed the princess looking
up. rcd and ashamed.
But only golden mirror was beside her lying tho
marble pavement.