The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1911-09-29

& P. Trunk line, which joins the At
lantic ocean with the great lakes
after the Great Man had taken per
funetory turn about the little station
and had asked a few stereotyped
questions of the station agent, he went
back to his seat in the Priscilla's
white-and-gold drawing-room, and sat
down to a game of solitaire. Being
very young president-not over forty
the Great Man was not specially
fond Of solitaire. But he was still
? less fond of the thoughts engendered
( by a two-weeks' solitary tour of in
( spection through the fiat, drab, ma
larial country of the middle west.
After prolonging his luncheon to the
| latest possible hour, and extracting all
the comfort to be obtained from a
single mild cigar, he found himself
longing to exchange his gold-and-white
grandeur for even the plebeian red
velvet of day coach, where he could
observe the vagaries of country bridal
couples, and invite the confidence of
smudgy small boys with prize pack
ages of magenta lozenges.
1t was while the Great Man was In
dulging in these vain visions, much to
the dettriment of his success at coli
taire, that he was startled by these
words, spoken in a shrill little voice,
apparently just at his back:
IF you please, sir, are you the
king?"
The moment that elapsed before the |
Great Man could whirl about in the di- |
rection of the voice was long enough |
for several detached bits of Alice in
Wonderland" to fit through his brain. |
What he saw, however, when faced |
around was simply a very solemn, |
very pale little girl who stood with |
one thin hand on the door knob, and |
one small scarlet-stoelfinge leg well |
advanced, while her hazel eyes
cleaned at him anxiously from under
a zzy3brown hat.
Really said the Great Man, good
humoredY, 81 don't know-why, yes,
now that you speak of it-I suppose
am sort of king. At least believe
Won't you come here and sit DOWN."
The small girl shut the door and
slid to his side in gait that COM
bined a hop and a glide. Il suppose
it isn't just the thing to sit down in
the presence Of royalty" she said, as
She perched on the edge Of a big tapes
try-cushioned Turkish chair But you
see, | am a princess myself--a fairy
princess, she added, with an en-
phatic shake Of her fluffy yellow locks.
Indeed The "Alice in Wonder
land" memories suddenly revived.
That's very interesting, and l don't
like to doubt the word of lady. But
all the fairy princesses Of my ac-
quaintance have had wings and
spangles and carried star-tipped
wands-and-and all that" concluded
the Great Man vaguely.
But that was because you saw
them during the performance" said
the small girl, claslping her thin little
fingers over one scarlet-stockinged
knee. Il wear wings and spangles and
carry a wand myself, in the evenings,
and at the Wednesday and Saturday
I'm the Princess Iris" she
explained, "in the Golden Crown opera
and if ! wore my fairy
clothes all the time my wings would
fade and the spangles would wear off
But you know said the small
girl, you don't look a bit like the
kings Of my acquai ntance. They all
wear gilt crowns and velvet and er-
mine robes, and carry scepters. And,
besides, you are great deal too
young"
The Great Man laughed. 81 am
afraid you have me there; at least.
mean, | suppose you are right" said
le, leaning back in his chair and re.
sardlng Princess Iris with twinkling
yes i don't look my part But,
hen, am not performing now my
ielf We are In the same boat--that
S."
"oh, you neef INT bother to explain"
aid the small girl. u understand