Oxford Democrat., 1916-08-22
NUMBER "a

"'Yes, am to marry the youth
she taunted. lam to marry the youth
"She watched him pass through the
little gate In the hedge wondering how
soon, how very soon, he must come
back.
But the prince did not come. The
summer moon turned into q round,
red harvest moon; the rides upon the
river grew tiresOme; the water lilies
were all gone. Pettishly the princess
turned one day from regarding the
youth.
1T am so tired Of It all,' she said.
and I'm vastly tlred Of you
ITO the heart Of the wildwood then
she wandered that the youth might
not seek her there, and here half
buried by the brown leaves on the
ground reclined the figure Of another
man.
HE was studiously intent, she no
ticed, upon book spread out before
him, and even the rustling Of her
draperies failed to attract his atten.
ton. Interested, the princess came
nearer. peering over his shoulder; still
the man remained absorbed. Wulfully
she broke branch above his head.
awaiting his startled glance.
"Absently-the man looked up into
her face; then with a frown Of annoy
ance resumed his study. In anger the
princess stamped her foot.
"'You are my subject she cried,
and ignore my presence. You pay no
homage to my power
"As though reluctant the man closed
his book.
81 serve as student, madam he
replied, and must therefore devote
every moment to study
Suddenly the princess leaned TO-
ward him with an alluring smile.
You must also.' she said, serve me-
So piqued by his Indifference, she
came each day to charm the student
from bis purpose. And as they strolled
together through the shaded paths he
unfolded to her the secret Of each leaf
and flower.
"'When l have finished my course
said the student, you shall love me
forever and ever
"But now III the moment Of her tri-
umph the princess turned coldly aside
With thoughtful brows she walked
back through the wood. To those
who appeared now and then and here
and there and would have walked at
her side she gravely shook her head.
"'For.' she said. I would rather 90
my way alone
"Just as the afternoon was drawing
to close and the sun was going down
gloriously beyond the old wall she slip
ped through the little gate into her
own home garden.
"a scarlet dropping vine, haunting
sound Of melody, seemed to recall
some vaguely pleasant recollection.
But the princess was now too tired to
remember; so, being quite alone and
among the nodding hov ers"-
The voice Of the speaker trailed OF
dreamily. "Yes," prompted the girl.
"The princess fell asleep" the wo-
man went on-she smiled wistfully-
"asleep, think, for hundred years"
when the prince returned to awak-
en- her heart" the girl added.
The woman smiled and sighed.
"True, princes do not always come
back" she said
Laughing, the girl jumped to her
feet. "You are In league with Billisl"
she accused.
Slowly the gate in the hedge swung
inward to admit mans tall, soldieriy
figure. With hat held well out from
his straight white forelock. he ad-
vanced toward Miss Felice.
"You have forgotten me perhapsT
he asked slowly. "But I should have
known you among all the world. Time
with you, as with the old garden.
seems to have stood still. yet many
years have passed. years with me abb
sorbed In music, its study and its TIL
umph. When thought Of you 1t was
always-as the wife Of another man.
Last night only upon returning to my
own land knew" he paused abrupt
ly to put forth supplicating hands.
"Felice," he breathed. Still the wom-
an stood motionless. unmoved, as one
In q dream.
With little cry the girl rushed for
ward. II thought I knew your face.
professor" she said last night l
was there, at your wonderful conceft
oh, won't you play for us nowT
A moment the musician hesitated.
looking into the unresponsive eyes OF
the woman, then his fingers caressed
the old violin; a melody filed the air. Z.
The GIRL lingering beside the hedge,
watched breathlessly. She saw the
face Of her friend upraised in radiant,
glowing wonder, the other bent 70
tenderly above It Then the very
young girl stepped out Of the garden,
softly closing the gate behind her.
"The Prince Of Hundred Years" she
said.