Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-01-06

This party was headed ny Sentle-
man Of middle age, tall and stately,
but very kindly and pleasant in his
looks. He wore military uniform,
but was addressed as "my lord" He
held by the hand a smiling, rosy,
dimple-cheeked little girl, whom he
called Fanny.
1t was a pretty sight to Sc her
break away from them all, and fit
about the ruins like bird on the
wing. Once her father found her peer
ing into a dark, green dell, her dark
eyes growing big with awe.
"Why, daughter Fanny, what have
you there?' he asked. What wonder.
full discovery are you making?"
Hush, father!" she replied, with
her small finger on her lip, it's the
fairies I'm after--the good people
nurse Bridget has told me SO much
about. | am sure there must be some
of them in this still, shady place. I've
found their rings in the fresh, green
grass
Lord Clare at first smiled, and then
grew serious. Sitting down on flow
cry bank, he drew his little daughter
upon his knee, and explained to her
how there were no such beings as
the fairies in all the world. When he
had finished, he was surprised to see
that the child had covered her face
with her hands, and that the tears
we're trickling fast through her
fingers
What is my little daughter weeping
for?" he asked.
'For the fairies, papa; the dear,
beautiful fairies. can't believe In
them any more
But was it not right for papa to
tell you the truth, my darling even
though it gave you pain?'
eyes, I suppose it was. But, on,
papa, somehow things don't look SO
beautiful as they did when be-
lieved in the good people Then ev-
cry bank of moss, or bit of green turt,
I thought might be fairy ballroom.
Oh, it was so beautiful! Then, the
kindness and goodness Of the wee
things, papa. They were always help
ing people out Of trouble, and they
were such fast friends Of good chill
dren-at least, so nurse and the fairy
books said-now it is all over
"But, my daughter" said Lord
Clare. I'VE can be better than fairies
to one another, If We will. Remember,
that we have Gods good angels to
watch over and help us, when they
can"
EYES," said Fanny, Frightening up a
little, "that is some comfort.
Soon after the party assembled the
old crumbly stone steps OF the great
tower of the castle. There Lord
Glare inquired for the famous Barney
Stone.
Rooney, the guide, smooth.
tongued fellow, leaned over the ruined
parapet, and, pointing to a stone, sew
eral feet below, replied: There 1t IS,
yer honor, the rale miraculous ould
stone. Sure, if your lordship would so
demane yourself as to kiss 1t, today.
YOU would never have any trouble IN
governing Irishmen at all. You would
only have to spake, and the spirit
of fight would leave them and they
would be quiet as lambs
Indeed! that would be miracle;
but how am ! to get at the stone?
"Oh. that Is aisy done. I'll hould
your lordship by the heels and swing
Won over iust-al for half crown
' ooh. yes, I remember to have heard
Of your original way of showing up
the Barney Stone" said Lord Clare;
"but how can I be sure that you VIII
not raise your price before raising
me? It strikes me that l have heard
Of your once playing off that trick upon
a tourist" o.. 10.
"Ah!" said Rooney, with a sly
chuckle, eyer lordship alludes to a
tailor from London. He
stood where yer lordship stands for
more than an hour, beating me down
from half crown, my lawful fee. to
. shilling-and me with seven chill
dren and the wife at home down with
the fever. At last I gave in and swung
him over. 49,.
"He kissed the stone, and then
called to me to pull him up. Wait a
bit my man, says I, you gave me
shilling for letting you down. It's dale
harder lob to pull you up. I must have
half crown for that same. VIII
that, he began to call me a chate ana
threaten me Will IAc PoASS' :,
only said, MY arms is givin out, and
I can't hold on much longer, ana II
YOU won't pay me my just demand, l
shall be under the necessity OF drop
ping your acquaintance.
"Then he began to beg. for you see
he could look down and see the ugly
rocks and the black water more nor
a hundred feet below him. But l told
him he had bothered so long and given
my arms such a strain, that l could
not let him up so aisy.
AT last, to save his neck, ne prom.
ised me the half guinea / asked, and
paid it as soon as he set foot on the
tower. And now. shall l have the
pleasure of suspending your lordshlp
over the wall, this morning?'
mo. Rooney. you must excuse me.
But here. is your half crown Just the
same" said Lord Glare.
Just at this moment Fanny called
the attention of the party to a little
girl about her own age, who was stand
ing near them, looking about her visit
fully. She was evidently poor, for her
dress was coarse and patched. But
she was a beautiful child. She had
large. dark. tender eyes, and soft,
.,,.I;,o troup hair Her feet which