Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-11-28
THE DAILY NOVELETTE,
PRINCESS DREAMS
BY HORTENSE wILESON

TT WAS a wild, bleak, winter night
but the wildness OF the night seemed
to have little or no effect upon the
crowd of merry young fellows gathered
around the fireplace in a room OF one
OF the dormitories Of jameson College.
Although there was much laughing and
good -natured kidding" as story after
story was told, friendship and good
fellowship prevailed. After all but one
had related some story. true or nc
fitious, deep silence reigned for several
moments.
Little Jack Mackenzie finally piped
sip. ''well Dick Holmes, it's about
time we heard your tale.
The fellow thus addressed was sit
ting apart from the others. gazing
dreamily into the fireplace, as if deep
IN thought. When spoken to, he lazily
stretched himself, and settled more
confortable into his roOmy Morris
chair as if reluctant to leave his
thoughts. .
Then after hesitating moment he
started u
VI NIt was one morning last summer,
when I was spending my vacation at
a small village IN the White Noun,
tains. The hotel was deserted. and all
tbe usuai diversions of a summer re-
sort had lost interest for me. turned
TO reading, but | was unable TO ma
anything interesting around the once
90 l walked over to the village library
for some books to pass away the time
before luncheon.
SWhen | was looking over the
shelves devoted to fiction, | noticed a
hook bound in white leather, the title
of which was Princess Dreams. The
name seemed promising. so | took
down. OF course you know, fellows,
anything pertaining TO the opposite sen
always interests me-.
s'Ieave that to you, Dick, re-
marked Tom Award, his chum.
''I took the book to Il chair near tn
window, and as l opened it, picture
fell out. 1t was picture OF giH
about nineteen.
"Enter the princess. The hero ia
In love with her." chimed in Tom again.
Here there was moments pause
while Dick seized Tom, and calmly de-
posted him in the waste paper basket.
continued Dick, after Tom had rescued
himself and resumed his seat.
'She was seated on a rustic bench
holding a parasol in one hond and
letter, which she was reading, in the
other. BY her expression it was evil
deutly a very pleasant letter
''There was something very attrac
tive and pleasing about her face, and
the more l looked at the picture the
more determined l became to find tn
original, although l was at loss to
know how to begin.
II thought and thought, and at last
/ asked the librarian who had borrowc'
the book last. She told me that the
book had been loaned to a guest at
neighboring hotel, but that it had been
returned more than a week ago.
''Then another difficulty arose. Was
the person who borrowed the book the
original of the picture? If so. had the
girl left the sillage? If not, how was l
to gain hef acquaintance
HSeyeyal evenings later | was sitting
In the Office of the hotel reading. The
DIOR opened and party of young peo-
pie stepped in. They stood in the door
way as if looking for some one. Then l
saw one of the guests. Young woman,
who had recently married one of my
brothers college chums, hasten across
the lobby and shake hands with them.
Wondering who Blanche's friends were,
j looked up and saw-'Princess
Dreams. After preliminary greetings
were over they turned and went into
the parlor.
sit was impossible for me to read
] sat there thinking of the picture |
had in my possession, the original of
which was in the next room. Soon
Blanche came out through the office
and looked around. Seeing me appar-
emily buried in my book. which, by the
way, was Princess Dreams, she came
over to me. Dick, 1 want YOU to meet
my friends. Do leave that book and be
entertaining. l want you to make
good impression on Elise.
" Certainly, Blanche said /, it is
s'Princess Dreams, as ! caught 4
glance at her delicate profile through
the broad opening.
'.Princess Dreams - Dick Holmes.
what are you talking about|
Nothing. Blanche, nothing; I was
just thinking
"-'Eilse Eilse' thought I, could she