The Monmouth inquirer., 1925-04-23
The
Princess Bee

pee was IOu0ly d SOOu Pot u -
time. But the fact is that since she
made friends with the pretty lady up
stairs in the big apartment house she
had spent many happy hours in the
lovely rooms of that sunny apartment
or perhaps walking about with her
friend. Now, however. the lovely
lady had gone to Bermuda and the
Princess Bee was left entirely to her
own companionship. For the Queen
Mother was always busy. either back
in the dark kitchen or bending over
her endless sewing.
Trudie's blue eyes slowly filled
with big tears. OF course, she didn't
know it, but those tears. made her
eyes look three times as big as usual.
! and also made them shine like sap
phires. Her golden curls clustered in
confusion about the little flower face.
and she clasped her knee with two
thin little white arms.
A young man in a big ulster, with
his head buried down In his collar.
came suddenly striding around the
corner. If you looked close at his
+, face he had a good deal the same
| expression as the Princess Bee-a
( sort of longing usefulness. AS he
| came to the sidewalk in front of the
. apartment house where Trudie lived.
ne looked up and saw the quaint
| small figure Ierched in its favorite
: spot on the sill of the half window
looking into the janitor's apartment.
my ~Zehnsuchtl" he exclaimed.
He looked as If he had found some
thing, and Trudie was a little fright
ened. for he was looking right at her.
However, the young mans face was
much too mild and gentle to. scare
anyone, even so fragile a little girl
as the Princess Bee. In a minute he
said gently:
"Hello-Princess in disguise. |
feel quite sure you are that, now,
aren't you?"
"No-Fm only Trudie Gray" the
little girl said. But the Queen
Mother mean my mamma, calls me
the Princess Bee"
II knew it," exclaimed the young
man. And some good fairy enchant-
ed you and made you into a real little
girl with a curious expression. |
know all about it, because I've been
looking for your expression for a long
time. So / think my good fairy put
you right there where you are"
Trudie, to be quite candid, did not
know what he was talking about So
she looked at him, blankly, the quaint,
wistful look entirely gone from her
wide blue eyes.
Nov you've gone and lost it," the
young man said, half impatiently."
Just when I'd found you. Now tell
me, of what were you thinking when
l spoke to you just now?"
81 was wishing l had a friend"
said Trudie.
Exactly. And why, pray, haven't
you a friend? / suppose you havn't
been a real little girl long enough to
make many friends-that must be the
reason"
NO, it isn't" said Trudie, eagerly.
"You see, I'm the janitor's little girl
and the boys and girls don't want to
play with me-"
How unfortunate-for the other
boys and girls. 1t seems to me I'd
rather likeN to play with you"
That's what the Duchess says
Trudie informed him, quantity. "She
says she likes to play with me a>lot.'
Il 1.-THE Duchess?" asked the young
man.
awhy. that's my friend-Mrs
Tompkins, upstairs on the second
floor. Only / call her the Duchess
just in a game"
cit is a nice game, I'm sure. ! won
der If you'll let me have an audience
with the queen mother"
"I1l see," smiled Trudie, shyly. and
disappeared down the steps to cal
her mother.
Mrs. Gray came out with her ging
ham apron tied around her waist and
a bit Of mending in her hand-she
was always mending.
What do you wish?" asked Mrs
Gray, for the young man, stood with
his hat in his hand. as If he didn'
know just what to say.
Il wanted to e you he began
lamely, because / want to borrow
your little girl sometime"
Mrs. Gray smiled wanly.
she's borrowed most of the time
now she explained. "One of tbs
people in the house has taken a fancy
to Trudie and has her a good deal
Why do you want to borrow Trudie?'
We'll, you see. I'm an artists
f, portrait painter, and | have been
hunting all over for a good subjeci
for a longing | want to paint. Just
as ! came along the street your little
girl seemed to have the exact ex
preston / want-wistful, longing
lonely. If you would bring her to my
studio a few times | think you VIII
not be sorry"
"You want to paint Trudie?" ask
ed Mrs. Gray in surprise. Why on
earth do you select Trudie.