Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, March 28, 1909, Page 22

NLY a few more days before we three months, or for the spring. not sent In their votes, please elect the king and queen for the next Any of the Busy Bees who have nd them in by next Tuesday, The winter contcst between .ae Blue side and the Red side bas been the closest that we have ever had, and the stories have been sent in splendid form, for not a story has found the waste paper basket for several weoks. are a large number of stories which There we have recolved and which will be printed as soon as there is room on The Busy Bees' Own Page. The prizes this week were awarded to Nellle Wood of Omaha, on the Red side, and to Fred Borghoff of Omaha, on the Red side. Honorable mention was given to Beulah Keithley of Superior, Neb,, on the Blue side. The Illustrated rebus, “It s time for the birds to come in the trees and the flowers to grow in the field,” was answered by Catherine Conrad, 1112 North Fortieth street, Omaha, Neb. Beveral new names have been added to the Postcard Exenange this week. Any of the Busy Bees may send caras to any one whose name I8 on the Postcard Exchange, which mow includes: Jean De un; Ainsworth Neb, Irene McC on, N Lllllln )"r'l lh er Cll Mabel Witt, Bennl | ton, ; Anna Gottsth, Be ngton, Neb. Minnle Gottsch, Eennington, Nub. Agnes Dahmike, Benson, Marle Gallagher, Benkelman, Ida May, Central City, Nel Yera (.lunoy Lrol(htm\, Nnb. Louls Habn, David City, Neb, Ehea Froldsil, Eunice Bode, Falls L“K ‘Neb, Ethel Reed, Fremont, Neb. Hulda Lundburg, Fremont, Neb. Marion Capps, Marguerite Lydia Roth, @ibson, Neb. trlhnlomnw. Gothenburg, Neb. 6 West Koenig street, Grand 41 West Charles btreet, Grand Righth street, rand Island, Neb. Jenslo Crawford, 405 West Charles stroet, Grand 1sland, Neb, Pauline Schulte, 412 West Fourth street, Grand Island, 'Neb. Martha )lurphy. 92 East Ninth street, Grand Island, Neb. Leshara, Neb, U5 West aska City, Neb. Harry Crawford, Nobrukn Cl!y. Noh Harvey Crawford, N @& City, Neb. Luclle’ Hasen, Norfolk, Neb. Letha Larkin, So. Sixth St., Norfolk, Neb, Emma Marquardt, Fifth street and Madi- son avenug, N , Neb. Mildred F. orl. orth Loup, Neb. Gerevieve %‘. North Loup, Neb. H.len Goodrich, Nicholas street, Omahe Mildred Erickeon, Howard street, Omaha, Oscar Erickson, %100 Howard street, Omahe. mahe. Louls Raabe, 2000 North Nineteenth ave- rue, Omaha. Bsther Newman, 2014 North Twenty-fifth street, Omaha. Mary Brown, 322 Boulevard, Omaha. Eva Hendee, 402 Dodge street, Oma Juunita Innes, 769 Fort streel, Omaha. Lillian. Wirt, Emile Brown, Meyer Cobn, 86 Georgla avenue, Omaha. Ada Morrls, 424 Franklin street, Omaha. Myrile Jensen, 2000 Izard aetreet, Omaha. Gatl Howard, 4122 Capitol avenue, Omaha. Helen Houck, 162 Lothrop street, Omaha. Bigerson Goodrioh, 4010 Nicholas, Omaha. Maurice Johnson, 1027 Locust St., Omah Leon Carson, 1124 North Fortieth, Omaha. Wilma Howard, 1723 Capitol A Omaha. Hilah Fisher, 1210 South Elevent 8mnm. Mildred Jonsen, 2707 Leavenworth, mah 4914 North Twenty-fifth etreet, Walter 2406 North Twentieth street, Edna 1010 North Twenty-ninth street, " Emma Carruthers, 8211 North Twenty-fift} street, Omaha. Lecnora Denison, The Albion, Tenth and Pacific streets, Omaha, Mae Hammond, O'Neill, Neb. Macge L. Daniels, Ord, Neb. Zola Beddeo, Orleans, Neb. Agnes Richmond, Orleans, Neb. Marle Flemin 6ueuu. Neb. Lotta oo City, Neb. 0od: Earl Perkins, Reddington, Neb. Emma_Kostal, 1616 O street, South Omaha BEdra Enis, Btanton, Neb. Ethel Enis, Stanton, Neb. Ina c-mny. Button, Clay county, Neb. Glara Mille Utica, Neb. Grunks st Point, Neb. Eivte Stastay, wubn, Neb. Alta Wilken, ‘'Waco, Neb, Paulina Parks, York, Neb. Edna Behling,’ York, Neb. Mary Frederick, York, Neb. Carrle B. Bartlett, Fontanelle, Ia. Trene Reynolds, Little Sloux, Ia. Fthel Mulholland, Box 71, Maivern, Ta. Eleanor Mellor, Malvern, Ia. Kethryne Mellor, Malvern, Ia. Ruth Robertson, Manilla, Ta. Iildred Robertscn, )‘lnllll. Ta. Margaret B. tham. Thurman, Ia. Fred Borry, Monarch, . John Barron, Monarch, %o‘ Edith Amend, Sheridan, Wyo. rrce‘d s&ou-y. 20 Troup street, Kansas ty, Henry L. Workinger, care Sterling Remedy company, Attica, Ind. Girlie, the Witch and the Fairy By Helena Davis. IRLIE was not the right name of the little mald of whom this story is written; but as some of you might know her, should I write her correct name—for she figures in very anclent history, 80 I have been told—I merely call her Girlie, and let it go at that, for the story will fit one little mald's name as well as another. Girlle lived in the long, long, long ago, In a country whose name I shall not give for the same reason that I do not give the name of our little heroine. Indeed, it 1s quite necessary to keep the where- abouts of the litle malden a secret. Other- Wise the story would not be so interesting. Girlle was an orphan living with a dear old gramdmother In the outskirts of @ mountain village. The dear old grand- mother was & weaver of cloth, supplying the richest families of the village with their linens. In this way the old lady earned a meager lving for Girlle and her- self, but they had never & luxury. Only the barest necessities were theirs. As there were no schools In the those days for girls (and few for boys, except for the sons of the rich) Girlie had nothing to take her from home, save to go to the ghapel pn Sunday morning nelghbors on errands through the wi or down to the market place in the vi lage to buy food for their table. Bo she and the grandmother were very close com- panions, Girlle sometimes assisting at the great loom which almost filled the small weaving room. Ouly one other room had the cottage, and the hom room was the llving room and kitehen and bed room also. The second room served as kitchen, dining Toom and store room. One day poor old grandmother was ill, too {Il to get out of bed, and there wi an order for a plece of linen from one of the rich ladles of the village the old lady was very loath to lle idle. “I must get out of bed, granddaughter,” declared the old lady, trying tp rise from her cot. But from sheer weakness she fell back on her plllow, groaning with the pain the exertion had caused her. Girlle, seeing the feeble condition of her grandmother, felt & heavy heart and begged her to Me stlll, saying that she—Girlie— would do what she could at the loom that day. ‘No, Do, granddaughter, you cannot weave well enough to work on the plece of linen that Is ordered by Dame Golden. 8he pays well and expects the finest work. You so often get little knots in the thread, dear, and that makes a rough place in the cloth. No, my las the cloth must wait il T am on my feet again. Oh, this pain in my back is very trying..” And the poor 0ld lady groaned In her agony. Girlle sat beside her, rubbing the at- flicted part till at last the old Grand- mother slept. Then, stealing tiptoe to the door, the Mttle mald looked out at the setting sun. All day long she had waited 4t the bedside of old Grandmother, and she was surprised to see that the day was already gone. As she stood looking afar off toward the great mountains that loomed like a wall about the village her fancles set to work. “I wonder If the fairies are about in the mountains now,” #he whispered to herself. “It 1s sald that in the early springtime the fairies come ‘from thé clouds to the trees, where they stay during the summer. Ah, I wish T night visit the mountains and see a fairy, for T would tell her of poor old Granny's lllness and sho would heal her and make her strong again." Then, seeing that old Grandmother slept soundly, Girlie decided to walk a little way down the street leading to the village, for she felt the need of some exercise in the open, having been housed so closely all day. But as she walked along her mind became so busy with thoughts of fairies that involuntarily her steps turned towards the mountain, fnstead of following the vil- lage street, and within & few minutes she bad passed the last hut on the border of the town and was in the mildst of a deep and beautiful wood. Now, some children are afraid of the dark, especlally when alone, and in a deep wood, but Girlle was not afraid of any- thing, for she knew the night was made by the Great God as well as the day, and that there was nothing to fear from one more than from the other. 80, finding herself in the wood, she sat down on a flat rock to rest a bit and to look up through the treetops at the stars that were just coming out. “Granny will sleep a long time,” she said to herself, “for all last night she wa wakeful, and all this day she has mot closed her eyes till now, so she'll get a good THE OMAHA SUNDAY ALIDA BENNETT, Eigin, Neb. (First Prize) Kathleen's Lesson By, Nellle Wood, Aged 14 Years, 311 South ‘hirty-second Avenue, Omana. Red Side. Kathleen O'Callahan lived In a remote corner of Ireland, nevertheless a very beau- titul corner. She was of true Irish charac- ter; hot-tempered, but at tha same time, kind-hearted and jolly. In her red hair, which gleamed almost golden in the sun- light and her large, blue eyes, you would scarcely belleve she was anything but sun- ny-tempered. Kathleen was very fond of walking and spent a good deal of her time with her brother, who wi taking botany. It was a lovely, spring day in March. The grass was just beginnlug to come up and the brown earth was belng covered with a blanket of soft, bright green, Dennis and Kathleen were out walking as usual. All at once Kathleen stopped and then bending down crie Oh, here is a shamrick, the first I have seen this year. I am sure it will bring me good luck: S0 saying she thrust it into the bosom of her dress. Dennis had wandered off into another path and Kathleen was left alone. She took out her shamrock and looked at it again. Some way it didn’t seem quite real. The green was brighter the velns more transparent. In small letters on noe leaflet she read these words, ‘Three wishes.” Kathleen hardly believed she was awake. She called, “Dennie! Dennle! but he was too far away to hear so she decided to make her wishes alone. “Well, first,” Kathleen began, “I want a new dress for the celebration of St. Patrick’s day. There now, how selfish I am,” she thought. So she said, “Wish mother did not have to work so hard making lace.” She paused to think of a last wish and a beautiful falry stood before her and sald, “I am the fairy queen, now choose which you like best, it shall be your last and when Kathleen turned around there was a bower of every different flower imaginable in the Emerald Isle from the stateliest to the lowliest. She saw a tiny, wee, vellow-bearted dalsy hid in the leaves of & finer flower. “I take this." *“Well chosen," sald the queen, “for that will give you purity and humbleness.” All at once someone called ‘Kathleen! Kathleen! 'tis time for our walk, com and then she realized that she had dreamed it, but she never forgot the flower's lesson, (Second Prize.) What Robbie Did By Fred Borghotf, Aged 13 Years, 417 Burt Street, Omaha. Red Side. One bright morning Robble Dale sat quietly on the doorstep. He was planning how to help his mother, who was poor and needed money very muech. Baby Ruth had been sick and there were many bills to pay. “‘Oh, dear! I wish I could do something," sighed Robble. He sat thinking a while longer. Suddenlly & bright idea came to him. “I'l ask mamma!" he exclalmed. His mother was ironing in the kitohen. She looked greatly surprised when Robbie told her about his plan. His plan was to have a small stand BEE: MARCH 2 at the falr which was to be opened next week. He thought he could sell lemonade and candy. Perhaps, too, his sister Alico would make some of her nice doughnuts and sandwiches for him. After a while Robble obtained his moth- er's consent to try this plan. He easily ob- tained permission to have a stand on the fair grounds. Bverybody in the village who knew Robble liked him very much. The fair was to last only one day. Rob- bie could hardly walt for the time. But the day came at last, a bright sunshiny morn- Ing. Robble was at the fair grounds at an early hour. He carefully arranged his stand, doughnuts and sandwiches on one slde and candy, glasses and lemonade on the gther. Bobble prided himselet on the lemonade. It must have been good, for his fittle stand was soon quite surrounded. It kept him very busy. Among the group around Robbie's stand was old Jacob Green, who kept the village store. He had’ known Robbie's father and was a great friend of the family. He saw how busy the little boy was and he decided to help him. Robble was glad of his assist- ance. Before night everything was sold. Robble counted his money, finding he had made nearly $10. With a joyful heart he hurried home to his mother. “Will this help you, mamma, dear?’ he cried, passing her the money. “Yes, very much,” answered mamma; “but it helps me more to know that I have such a good, thoughtful son. She clasped him to her heart, kissing him and Robbie was quite contented. Many times after that he found ways of helping his mother. He grew to be a good and useful man. (Honorable Mention.) Ned’s Boat Ride By Beulah Keithley, Aged 10 Years, perior, Neb. Blue Side Ned was a boy of about 12 years of age and lived in a largo farm house, only a short distance from a lake, on which Ned: father had often taken him boat riding. Ned's father did not allow him to go for a ride himself and so after asking his father several times that day to take him andhad been refused he decided he would sneak away to the lake and try his luck with the boat. After unlocking it he jumped In and pushing it from the stake felt sure he would have a nice ride by himself. Then reaching down for the oars she found he had forgotten to put them in and so the boat gradually kept floating and floating down the lake. Ned had begun to feel frightened and thinking all the time how he had ai obeyed his father, wished he had stayed at home. At last he drifted up against some shrubbery and lodged. A fisherman not far away saw him and rowed to him, bringing him safely to the shore, Ned about never, Su- ran home and told his father all his boat ride and sald he would never try it again. The Wise 0Old Mouse BE,""""’ Ohman, Aged 9 Years. 1042 uth Twenty-eighth Street, Omaha. Red A wlu old mouse went on tiptoe into the kitchen to see if Jarie the cook had swept up all the crumbs. There, to his surprise, he met Bugz the cat. “Oho!" cried the cat, “this s lucky. Now I shall have a fine din- ner.” The mouse saw that he was caught, o0 he sald. “Thank you, Mr. Buzz, but it I am to dine with you I should like first to put on my red Sunday coat. My old gray jacket Is not nice enougl This amused the cat. He had never seen the mouse with his red Sunday coat. ‘Per- haps he would taste better,” thought he. “Very well, Mr. Mouse,” he sald, “do not be long, for I am hungry. I will wait for you here.” The mouse lost no time, but at once popped Into his hole The cat waited all day, softly singing to himself, but the wise old mouse did not come back again. Since then there is a new proverb In cat- land. Itis this: “A mouse in a gray jacket 1s sweeter than a mouse in a red Sunday coat.” Two Unselfish Girls By Hel m Cross, Age 11 Years, 212 Front Street, North Platte. Neb. Red Side. Rose Barclay was 10 years old. Her father was a banker, so Rose had everything she could wish for. But she was a good child and helped everybody that was poor all she could. It would soon be her birthday— only twelve more days. As It was, not very long before her birthday, and as she ‘was to have a party, she began to send In- vitations. There was one poor girl that Rose invited. Her name was Mary Larsen, It happened that Mary was the last one to get there the night of the party and all the girls snickered when she came into the room because she did not have on as nice clothes as they did. Bach one was to have a game, and the one that was the best got a necklace. Rose got the necklace, but she sald she was going to give it to someone that was at her party. Rose noticed that all of them began to whisper to each other about something, all but Mary. She didn't, but she guessed. 8o she gave it to Mary. The rest of them didn't say anything, but they were very mad. The next morning Rose found another necklace like the one she had glven Mary to the night before lying on her dresser, and a note with it which sald: “From your father for your unselfishness.” “I don't think I was the only one that was unselfish last night,” thought Rose, and 1 think you can guess who the other unselfish girl was. My Pet BL Ruth Konigmacher, Age 11 Years, R. F. . No. 2, Council Bluffs, la. Blue Side. My pets are two dogs; one of them has five puppies, but one of the pupples froze to death. They play with their mother all @ay. When they hear anyone coming they run and hide, but it is not hard to et them. They like to play wtih me. I dress them in my dolls' clothes and play school with them. 1 have two bantam chickens that will come to me when I call them. My bantam hen lays eggs. A Story of Benjamin Franklin By John Barron, Aged 11 Years. Monarch, Vyo. Red Side. There was once a littie poy whose name was Benjamin Franklin. One day It was his birthday and his father gave him some pennies. As he was walking along the street he saw a boy with a whistle. He ked the boy where he got his whistle. The boy sald right over there across the street. Kranklin went over to the store. The man asked him what he wanted. He sald, "I want a whistle.” The man sad, “How much money have you got?" Frank- lin put all of his pennies on the counter. The man took the pennies and gave him a whistle. When . he got home his mother ked him how much money he pald for the whistle. He sald, “All of my pennies.” His mother sald that was too much. He sald he wanted the whistle, and his mother sald he could keep it. This happened when Franklin was 7 years old. Franklin was the man who discovered electricity. The Wonderful Cradle By Alice Viola Porterfield, age 12 years, 1120 South Thirty-second street, Omaha, Neb. Blue Side. As 1 was walking in the garden one morning I saw a caterplliar slowly creep- ing over the leaves of our grape-vine. The next morning I found that he had eaten a great many leaves during the night. He kept on eating leaves until I thought there would be none left. One day after a big dinner I saw him fasten a silken thiread (which seemed to come frcm his mouth) to the grape-vine. Then he slowly twisted his head around and around until he had wrapped himself in a sliken blanket. Summer dwindled into fall, and then came winter with its snow and fcy winds. The Old Year went and the New Year came; but the silken eradle fn which my caterpillar was was hidden did not open, but simply swayed in the wind. At last the warm spring sunshine came and one day in May I heard rustlng like that of leaves, and turning I w the era- dle slowly open. I waited to see the cater- pillar come out, but in its place there ap- peared a beautiful butterfly that siowiy crept out and unfolded its velvety wings. “Oh! Oh!" erioed all the children, as the butterfly soared out Into the h«-uuuful May sunshine. And I did not regret tlie leaves he had eaten. (This is simply & story we had to repro- duce. My teacher read it to us about a week ago and I thought I would send it to you.) A Visit to Boston By Elsie Hamilton, Aged 14 Years, 202 L Streat, Lincoln, Neb, Blue Side. Helen Sumners, & girl of 14 years, was sitting at her pleasant home in Long Is- land, when her uncle brought in the mail. They always ate breakfast before they opened the bag, and today they were mak- ing plans for a summer vacation. Helen had been studying United States history in school that term and was greatly interested in it. “I know where I would like to go," sald she. “I would like to visit some of the places of historical Interest such as Boston and Philadelphla.” “That would be very mice,” agreed her mother, “and it would help you in your lessons, but I fear it is impossible, as I must stay here with your sick grand- mother." “Yes," agreed Helen, “and I will try to be good and be contented.” After breakfast the mall was distributed There were several letters and Helen re- celved one from her Aunt Irene. When sho had read it for a lMttle ways she turned and sald to her mother with a crey of delight, “Oh, mother, did you ever hear of any- thing so delightful?’ It turned out that her aunt was making a visit to Boston and invited her to go with her, and would come for her as it was on the way. Of course, Helen was allowed to §0, and when they arrived in Boston she had a grand time. They visited all the historical scenes and Helen was particu- Dance of the Nymphs L Under the big oak tree, The little !nlrlel g To dance and to sin il the stars thelr light do show. They dance and (hoyyflny. And gally sing, They hoid on the branches And gently swing. 1. They come there each e When the moon shines bHght, o, dauce and to play Till the sun glves light. ~Aleda Bennett. larly delighted with the Bunker HIIl visit. When she returned home she had much to tell her friends and was enabled to enter- tain them many afternoons in history time at school with an account of her visit and the places she had seen, The Little Hero By Harry Brodkey, Age 10 Years, Omaha. Red ‘Side. Little George was 6 years old. He lived with his mother and father on the farm. One day little George went out to play, Suddenly he heard a scream. He ran very fast and he saw that his mother had fallen down Into the well) He ran quickly and told the farmers who were near the house. The farmers came and took his mother out of the well. When his mother was out she threw her arms around George, for she thought she would never George agaln, ‘When George's tather came home he said: “You are a hero, my son, fast for help. called him * for running so After that all his playmates he little hero." Better Than a Bit of Bread By Mart#e Flinge, age 13 years, 1021 West Third street, Grand Lsland,” Neb. Red de. There was a little girl about the age of 9 years by the name of Sally Groves. Sally’s father bought her a pair of red shoes with red strings in them, but she thought it would look nice- to have yellow strings. She put the yellow strings in them and thought they looked real nice. Sally had been taught to obey, motlfer thought they looked she took them out. Just then the doorbell rang and an old man was there and said, "My dear little miss, will you please give me a plece of bread? 1 have walked a long way this morning and have had no breakfast.' “Oh! I'm so sorry for she sald, and she gave the yellow shoe strings to him. The man took them and went off. He met a lady on the street and her rub- ber was coming off. He got on his knees and tled it on with the yellow shoe strings, and for his kindness he received a hearty breakf The lady gave him constant work about the house and garden. You may be sure and her too gay, so he didn't forget to call and ftell Sally Groves of his good fortune, Ned and May By Emma Petersen, Aged 12 Years, 221 Locust Street, Fast Omaha, Neb. Red Sde Ned and May were twins and Ned was stronger than May was, but May was brighter than Ned. One day they wera playing in the hall and Ned was sliding down the banister, when May told him to be careful not to fall. Ned daid not listen, but he got tired of sliding down the banister, so he started to fump the steps. He sald when T was 4 years cld I jumped four steps, and now I am five years old I will jump five steps. He started to jump, but he did not jump on his feet, but on his nose. May helped him up and his nose started to bleed. His mother washed his nose, which was as red as a strawberry, but it taught him a lesson “Live not to brag, live not to hoast, grief comes to those who brag the inost.” The Mischievous Monkey By, Ethel Cressey, Aged 12 Years. §26 North ‘wentleth Street, South Omana. Red Side, Mr. Hagan had a very mischievous mon- key. They called him Jocko, which Is a very good name for him. One day Jocko sat watching the cook kill a chicken. After dinner be went out in the storeroom and got & pan of wheat and then went out and threw it in the not very long coming pen and the chickens were But Jocko ecaught one and while attempting to chop off its head chopped off a leg instead He soon got disgusted and threw the one- legged chicken on the ground. The chicken set up & terrible squawking and cackling The cook came running out to find out the trouble. She soon chopped off the chicken's head and took It in the house to pick it with an expression on her face that boded 1ll for Jocko, All that night Jocko was tled up and was not allowed any nuls for dessert at mealtime. sleep and will wake, after many hours, re- freshed. So I am In no hurry to return to the cottage, for the night is lovely and 1 will wander about here on the mountain side and enjoy the cool breeze and the tragrance of the pine trees. And—and—T wonder If & fairy will chance this way. I *YOU WILL GROW UP TO BE A FINE WITCH, AND WHILE YOU ARE YOUNG YOUR POWER WILL BE UNLIMITED." should be so happy. Let me see—what was it my old Aunt Susan used to say would bring the fairles? Oh, yes, I remember. I'll try to repeat it."” Then upon her knees little Girlle dropped, and holding her hands clasped high over her head, her eyes bent on the ground, she repeated in a solemn volc Fairles rich and fairies poor, won't you ear me, I implore? Come this night and visit me and listen to my entreaty.” Then, after a moment's pause, Girlle repeated the rhyme, and, sitting very still, raised her eyes to the sky, hoping to see a band of falries coming, full wing, toward her. But nothing Intervened between her and the stars above. Just as she was about to Tepeat for the third time her little plea to the fairies she heard a slight stir in the bushes behind her, and turning about be- held a white-clad figure approaching her. Girlie immediately thought the form that of a fairy, and, bowing low, sald: “Ah, g00d fairy, you have responded to my call I am in sore trouble. My dear old Granny is very ill, and I beg of you to come up to our cottage and make her well. Will you do this for & peor little girl, good falry ?"* “Ah, yes, my child, I shall get my wand and go wtlh you. But where do yo live?”" Thus replied the figure in white. Girlie gave the information asked for, and the white-clad figure sald: “Well, it is quite & walk from this spot to the vjllage, but from my cave there is a shorter route. Will you accompany me to my place, where 1 shall get my wand? Then we will go on to your grandmother's home." “You speak of living in & cave,” sald Girlle, a feeling of fear coming over her. She had heard that only wizards and witches lived In caves and that fairies never dwelt In such places, inhabiting the clouds and mountain tops only. “Ah, yes, my child,” replied the white- robed figure,” keeping her face covered by & white vell. “Sometimes we fairies go into caves for a little secret study. Even faliles must have privacy at times. I am stutying the stars and must steal away trom the other fairies of my band." Girlle, half afrald, decided to follow the white-robed figure to the cave and thence to her own cottage, where she hoped to have her grandmother restored to health. They walked rapidly up the mountain- side and after going & econsiderable dls- tance the white-clad figure—still keeping her face velled—turned suddenly Into a great shadowy clump of trees. Then above Girlie's head appeared a huge ledge of rock, in the side of which yawned a small black hole. The white-draped figure started to climb up some rude stone steps toward the black hole, which Girlle knew to be the entrance to s cave. Girlle followed, for she was now too much afraid to refuse to obey her strange leader, and the command had been, “Follow me, my child."” Once inside the cave Girlie could see nothing, for total darkness relgned. “‘Be not afrald,” sald the voice that had been conversing with her, but it had suddenly grown barsh and grated on Girlle's ears. Then there flashed a dun light in the fur- ther corner of the cave, and Girlle sa: that her companion had struck fire from a plece of fiint, catching it in some bits of dried grass, after which a plece of rotten wood was ignited and smouldered gloomily. Then to Girlie's horror she beheld for the first time the white-clad figure's face. It was aged, wrinkled, hideous, cruel! Girlle sank Into a corner of the cave, hiding her face In her hands. She was in the cave of a wicked old witch. She realized her danger and trembled with fear, not daring to take a second look at the horrible face which was turned toward her, and which was plainly visible in the firelight. “Ha, ha, ha! Do you kmow me, little lamb?" asked the now harsh and cracking volce of the witch. “I have a nice home here in this cave, my dear. All I needed was & young companion, and you shall be that desired person. You will grow up to be a fine witch and while you are young your power will be unlimited. It is only after one has grown old and ugly like I am that one has to keep one's face cov- ered by a vell when golng about in the disguise of a fairy. Ah, ha, bha! Didn't I trap you nicely, my child? “But—but—but you will not keey me here? pleaded Girlie in trembling tones, “Let me go to my dear old granny, who is fll and needs me. Please let me go at once!" “No, no, no!" declared the old witch, grinning terribly. “I have waited long for a young companion. 1 must keep you now that T have you safe and sound. I'll teach you all my tricks and you'll soon be @& fine young witch. Ah, the mischief we two can do in the world!" And the old witch smacked her thin lips and gurgled in ec- stacy. “Ah, you are & pretty little onel After a few years of confinement in this cave you will #lad of the chance to practice the black art, if for no other r #on than to get out into the fresh air.” “But I must go to my granny!" cried Girlie. “I cannot—I will not-become & wicked witch! Let me go, I implore you!" And, running to the cavi entrance, Girlle attompted to pass out, but she came against a solid stone cover to the opening. The witch had rolled a huge flat stone there and barred the exit. Beating her hands agalnst the stone, Girlle began to cry out with all her might: “Pairies rich and falfles poor; won't you hear me, I im- plore? She got mo further, for the witch had her by the throat and was choking the very breath out of her body, when of @ sudden the great stone rolled from the en- trance and a beautiful fairy stood in the cave. With a wave of her wand the fairy cried out: “Perish, wicked witch!" And before Girlle could understand what was taking place the old witch lay dead at her feet. “I saw that old witch lead you to this cave,” explained the good fairy and I fol- lowed as fast as I could. I have been watching for her for years and tonight is the first time I have found her. Bhe ls the last witch in this country, and now the human beings as well as the fairies may sleep without fear." And the good falry went home with Girlie and by her magic made old grand- mother well and strong, and also made her and Girlle rich, and soon thercafter Girlle became a great and good princess