Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1910-02-23
fine day, verona?"


The princess glanced downward. 81
lent for a moment.
1T is very hot in here she said
"Good-by. papa"
And she stood on tiptoe. and kissed
him.
The prince held out his hand to
Hal. and he saw that he was seated
at the table and his book, almost be
fore they had turned.
The princess looked at Hal with
the questioning expression of a child
anxious to CLEAN his thoughts, but
Hal stared straight before him.
Papa is always very busy" she
said, very softly and slowly. He
does not like this sunlight re-
minds him of italy,
"why doesn't he go back there?"
asked Hal, in his delightfully."- blunt
English fashion.
"He cannot" she said, quietly;
they viii not let him. Papa is pan
ished."
Hal stared
He has offended the people in
power, went on the princess,
luctantly-" ofends them still All
his friends are banished; all those
letters are from friends of liberty.
You see, 1 tell you because YOU are
English, and the English never be-
tray"
And the prince said Hal. does
he never go QUITS he always read
ing and writing?"
Almost always she replied.
Then Hal looked at her, with a
great swell of pity gushing up in his
heart
Shut up in this place with an old
man who preferred lamplight to sun
light, and never left his writing
table, and a woman who watched ner
like a cat-this bright, lovely flower,
with the artless grace of a child. To
Hal It seemed too dreadful to be
thought Of
oh. but | am very happy" she
said. as if she-as she really did
read his thoughts q have my flow
ers, ana Carlo and Florida"
who is Florida?" asked Hail.
with the deepest interest
Ny horse, she replied
Are you fond OF riding" aeked
Hal.
Yes she "veryl l ride
every evening, and sometimes in the
morning And you?"
yes" said Hal.
He had got a stout cob down al
Newton. a present from Vane.
Yes. all Englishmen are, she said
"Anda and, said Hal, where
mean where would You recommend
as a pleasant rider"
There are many" said the prin
cess, innocently. Il generally ride
through the valley IL the hills. one
gets some air up there, 1t is like
"esh life" and her eyes kindled
You must 80 up to the hills"
Yes, said al with altfully feigneo
oarelessness, 4 think | must
There fell q silence upon them as
they paced side by side. mainly
caused by Hal puzzling his brains tc
find some excuse for staying longer
Presently they came to a dollhouse
The princess opened the door.
Here ARE some Of my flowers, sno
said, and they entered.
A gardner who was at work made a
low obesiance and withdrew.
Like everything else he had seen
this place was on the grandest scale
and In he most perfect order.
y ~ this my kingdom" said the
princess, smiling with evident delight
at Halls admiration.
Il know every flower IN It, See
these are my fayorites, and she
drew down bunch OF white ca
meias.
George" said Hal, they are fine
We've nothing like this in England
They are as thick as blackbarries.
Come, said the princess. you
shall take them IN return for youl
fish and she caught up a knife and
cut handful of the flowers.
"Stop--stop'" said Hal; you are
spelling the plant"
And why should l not?" she said
with a sweet smile See, they are
beautiful. are they not? Win you
have one in your coat?-ah. yes, you
have flower already"
Hal snatched the azalea from his
huCton-hole, and pitched it under the
stand.
No, | haven't" he said.
She laughed like a child. and Sc,
lecting the largest of the camelias
handed ii to him.
Hal took it,
Thanks" he said. and tried to put
it in his buttonhole, where it hung
clumsily out, as they always do when
clumsy hands NEEDLE with them.
"Ah, sou viii lose II. said the
princess. and in the most natural
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