Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-10-30
SANDMAN STORY.
By Mrs. r. A. Walker.
Copyright. 1918. by Mcclure Newspaper
Syndicate. New York City.
THE ENCHANTED CASTLE.
PART

FAhI i.
Little Hilda was an orphan girl who
lived with her uncle and nunt. They were
very unkind to little Ililda. and she could
never remember playing but had TO work
hard all the day long.
Before il was light she had 70 got up IN
the morning and make the fire. As soon as
she WAS old enough she had to milk the
cows and feed the chickens, and then get
breakfast
Then the dishes were to he washed and
the beds made and the floors scrubbed,
until ono day, when Hilda went To the
spring for a bucket OF water which was
much too heavy for her to carry, she was
surprised to feel the bucket pulled out Of
her hand as she drew it full Of sparkling
water and many little brown men ran
along with the bucket, which looked to
Hida astonished eyes as if the bucket had
dozens of little legs
Before she could recover from her
astonishment a voice said "Do not be
worried the bucket will not be seen until
YOU get to the house Those little brown
men arc the Gnomcs, and they want to
help YOU
Hida turned around and on bush by
the spring on the edge of a wild rose sat
a dainty little creature dressed in pink
with silver wings nj least they looked like
silver to Hilda rs the little darts of sunlight
came through the trees.
Who are you" asked Hilda.
"A fairy" replied the little pink
creature, land ought to be AT home this
minute for YOU know, we do not like the
strong sunlight and am having time of
it trying To dodge the old fellow he does
love to plav tricks on us by catching MS
out in the daytime and shining full on us
The Queen sent me ont because she
said could only catch YOU here in the
daytime and she did not want ms to
frightcn YOU by appearing at ght IN your
attic, for sne knew YOU had never heard of
fairies Or any Of us lmmCrtas
Now. run home and you will find the
bucket right by the door and the first
your aunt will know about IT will be when
YOU stand beside it. but tonight when |
come for YOU do not be frightened, for !
shall SIT right on your pillow when
awake
Hida found the bucket Of water Just
as the fairy told her and for the rest Of the
daN she did not seam 10 mind the hard
work so filled were her thoughts with what
had happened in the morning.
When she went to the attic 10 her little
bed that night she had no thought OF
Sleep for she wanted 10 be WIDE awake
when the fairy came
Rut that is one thing the fairies always
insist uponthat no one shall be awake
when they appear Mt night, so before she
knew Il Illlda was sound asleep and slept
on until midnight when the little pink
fairy touched her lightly on one check with
her silver wand
IIlda opened her eyes and the moon
light streaming in through the window
showed her the fairy sitting on her pillow
"Oh, how beautiful YOU are! SAID Hilda
sitting up and looking At the fairy Arc
your wings really silver?
oh no. laughed the fairy They look
80 in the moonlight. suppose They are
very gauzN. YOU know, so can fly. about, +,
but my wand is silver Some OF my sisters
have gold wands. but like silver better
But your shoes are silver, ! am sure,
said Hilda. looking st the tiny little feet
of the fairy.
YES. they arc silver and my dress is
pink spider webbing. Ism II sweet
But come We are wasting time and We have
much to do this nigh,
The fairy took Hilda by the hand and
before Hilda could wonder even what was
10 happen they fioated out of the window
and over the trees through the moonlight
"Oh, this is just like flying, said
Hilda How beautiful the world looks
You mortals miss great deal sleeping
at night as you do. said the fairy. Il
often wonder why YOU do not sleep IN the
, DAYTIME as We do: the world is so wonder
full Al night when all Is still.
Hilda wanted TO tell the fairy that
II everybody slept IN the daytime they
would be awake at night and it would not
20 still and peaceful, but she felt she
mould not express her opinion TO one who
VAS so wise and wonderful, so she kept
silent
After VIII lie the fairy alighted on the top
OF tall tree and Hilda, as she looked
down saw beautiful big house in a
wonderful garden of all sorts Of flowers,
II really was a castle but little Hilda
had never heard Of a castle, so how could
she know one when she saw it
Tomorrow | Will tell you mmore about
Hilda and the fairy and what they found
in the enchanted castle
Continued Tomorrow