The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1910-06-18

and looked helplessly up and down
the long stretch of country road. The
sandy highway was deserted. There
was not house in sight, nor We
hicle of any description, nor even a
human being. save woman and two
children crossing a distant field.
1t was a bad breakdown, he admit
ted. as with hands in pockets he sur
veyed the machine. He had left the
city with the intention of running
down to the Towers, where he had
been invited for the week end. He
was a good three miles from the
house now as the road ran, and the
disabled automobile was stranded on
this by-road he had foolishly taken
merely because he had once watched
sunset here with Helen Weir. As
they had parted forever six miser-
able weeks ago. there was bitter
sweetness in relieving one of their
happy days.
BY Jove. it's the very same tree!"
he exclaimed, looking up into the
branches of the lofty elm that threw
a generous shade on either side of
the stone wall. I'll rest here awhile
and wait for tow into the village"
With this fiimsy excuse to sentiment
Eames threw himself down on the
grassy bank and closed his eyes.
Let us sit here. chilrden." said a
sweet voice on the other side of the
wall.
Tell us story. auntie." pleaded a
shrfll young voice.
What shall it be, Peter?"
"Oh. about wicked man and a
lovely princess" cried the voice of
Peter. "A goggle-eyed man with ter
rible horns!"
Very well; let me think a mo-
ment." Intense silence followed, and
then:
Once upon time there lived a
foolish princess whose home was In a
country very much like this"
Was the castle like the Towers p"
sQueaked third voice.
Not at all, Peggy. She lived in a
little cottage, for she was poor. al
though her rich relations lived in a
great castle near by"
And was the castle like the Tow
ers? Did it have high wall with
great spikes on top?" persisted Peggy.
Yes. indeed; but you must not in
terrupt me or shall forget the story.
One day the princess was in her gar
den when a handsome young prince
came riding by. and seeing her in the
garden, he fell in love with her"
How do you know he loved the
princess, auntia?"
Il don't really know. Peggy" re-
sponded the sweet voice, rather sadly.
Il know only that he told her that he
loved her and that some day they
would be married and live very hap
PLY together. Every day they took
long walks and drives around the coun-
try, and one afternoon they came and
stod under tree just like this one"
The voice broke.
What makes you cry. auntie? |
don't think it's sad bit. They only
came and stood under a tree, and it
was like this one." expostulated prac-
teal Peter.
I'm not crying-don't be imperti-
nent, Peter"
Tell us funny story. don't like
this one."
i want to hear the rest of it,
howled Peggy, mournfully. Il want
to hear about the wicked man."
Now, be quiet. children. and will
go on. AS was saying, the prince and
the princess came and stood under
this tree and watched the sunset. and
wicked fairy saw them, and as it
made her angry to see any one happy
she said to herself: There, I'll settle
those young people, And shaking her
staff at them she disappeared in her
cave.
THE next day she approached the
princess and said to her: Lovely
maiden"
WAS she lovelyY interrupted
Peter.
The prince said she was" admitted
the voice. modestly. The witch said:
Lovely maiden, the man who seeks
your hand is not free. He Is engaged
to marry another damsel who has vast
wealth and greater beauty than yours.
The princess was much distressed at
this news and all that night she wept
because of the mans faithlessness.
The next morning she went to the
wicked witch and said. boldly: Il don't
believe your story. witch. and the
witch smiled and said: Follow me-
They went to window that over.
looked the highroad and the witch
said: The prince will be disguised
in bearskin cloak and he will wear
great google eyes and you may not
recognize him. but-here he comes..
There was a cloud of dust, a loud
blowing of horns and an enchanted
coach whirled by"
Just like an AUTOMOBILE" shouted
Peter gleefully