Oxford Democrat., 1916-08-22
The Prince of
a Hundred
Years
A Love Story
By AGNES q. BROdAN

By AGNES G. BROGAN
A very young girl stood before 9
mirror putting the last touches to her
toilet. A card bearing a mans name
lay on the dresser before her. She
was preparing to 60 down to see him,
but the preparation was rather for de-
lay than for her adornment.
She knew very well for what he had
come. He had been to see her often
before for the same purpose. He had
offered her his love. She had neither
declined nor accepted him. She had not
declined him because she was not sure
but that she would regret having done
80 II she did, and she had not accepted
him because it did not seem to her that
she felt a change which she considered
would come over her once she had been
stricken by the little god.
When she could think Of nothing
more to add to her toilet, when she
had for the last time adjusted the rose
In her hair, smoothed away a crease
here and there in her costume. she
placed her hand upon the doorknob
and stood irresolute.
"What shall I say to himT
She could not decide. Turning, she
looked through the window and saw a
peaceful garden. And there, too. In
the garden was woman.
The very young girl burst tempestu-
ously into the peaceful garden, and
her eyes were bright with tears.
II came for sight Of you, Felice,"
she said, ITO calm my troubled spirit.
It Is Billie again, Of course, and he
will have his answer. Now, how Is a
girl to be sure Of her heart who has
not seen the worId2 One might say
yes today and be filed with regret
tomorrow.
"Oh, for a sign by which we women
might know our own true prince when
he comes! You remember the olden
fairly tales, and your gift for making
different stories Of each to satisfy my
demand for Just one moreT Always
I found you here among your flowers,
Felice, understanding Of each rebel
lious, childish mood.
"Well, I'm q rebellious child again
today, and I will rest my wayward
head upon your dear shoulder while
you weave for me q new version Of
shall It be The Sleeping Princess and
the Prince Who Awakened Her After
a Hundred YearsT"
Musingiy the woman smiled; then
low she told the story:
1.-The princess sat high on the garden
wall while her golden tresses streamed
out In the breeze like a shimmering
fan. Upon her cleaning crown was
perched saucily a soldiers cap, and
from beneath its brim she glanced
half shyly, half daringly. at the young
prince beside her.
"'An you wear my cap" he warned,
I shall surely steal hssr
with a soft mirthful laugh the girl
sprang to the ground.
"'Never in all your life.' she Knocked,
shall you kiss me-
"For q moment their eyes met stead
lily, his gravely pleading. hers bright,
yet fearful: then the girl ran swiftly
down the path.
Charmed. intent, the prince gazed
after her departing figure; then from
its case came his violin. while the un.
spoken longings which he himself had
hardly known breathed forth In music.
"From her hiding place the girl
watched him, gloried in the sweet seri-
BUSINESS Of his eyes, the firm cut OF his
youthful chin, delighted in the straight
forelock which her theft Of his cap
left uncovered.
when as the music quivered to q
minor key, slowly the girl crept back
to sit at his side. Hand in hand they
fingered, while the young, pale moon
rose in the sky.
Tomorrow you will come againr
pleaded the prince at parting.
Overcome by new and inexplica-
BILE shyness the princess shook her
head. Tomorrow I shall have dutles.'
she told him.
$50 while the roses bloomed and the
bees droned in the garden, there the
young prince waited his lady's pleas
ure, glad for a smile that she gave
him, silent before her tauntings. speak
ing his love in music.
"And, as In teasing mood, the prin-
cess danced from him one day down
the winding path toward the river. she
came upon another youth, one who
bowed low before her, as a subject
salutes his princess, one whose eyes
were filed with worshipful adora-
ton, which the princes eyes, in all
their tenderness, had never shown.
"The princess motioned to the youth
to rise from his place at her feet, and
her heart was filed with the spirit OF
adventure.
"'Come,' she said, you shall teach
me to row your boat on the river and
shall gather for me lilies out far. where
4 cannot reach them.
"And as the youth bent eagerly to
his oars she was gay and friendly and
kind as she had never been In the
presence Of the prince.
"'Your eyes, the youth reverently
told, her, are blue as the sky at early
evening; your hair is like cloth Of
gold; your lips have stolen their Grim
SON from the berries
"And the princess smiled and was
pleased. for the prince had never told
her any Of these things.
"T love you.' said the youth, and
you love me. and We must speedily be
married
.'Are you quite sure ne assed
him, that do love your
ssQuite sure, he answered firmly.
.And as he went all joyfully up th'
path from the river he saw the princ'
there In the sleepy garden, bis violil
locked silent In Its case
"T am to marry the princess th'
youth cried Jubilantiy, for though
am but q humble subject she loves M
royalty ..
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