The Story Girl

ily and the Story Girl, with pale, gray-eyed little Sara Ray, we were boon companions. We went to school, of course; and certain home chores were assigned to each o

pite of some minor differences of opinion. As for the gr

pt ourselves tolerably clean, and refrained from quarrelling or talking slang, Aunt Olivia did not worry us. Aunt Janet, on the contrary, gave us so much

uncomfortable feeling that the meaning of his remarks was not always that which met the ear. Sometime

iend at court in Uncle Alec, no matter what we did or left undone. And

ned to a teacher who made our lessons so interesting that we no longer regarded Sunday School attendance as a disagreeable weekly duty; but instead looked forward to it

the Story Girl to do a little home missionary work on her own account. The only

rove of the design,

d then you'll feel ashamed and wish you'd never asked him to go, and we'll all be disgraced. It's all right to have our mite boxes for the heathen,

an easy matter. Peter did not come of a churchgoing stock; and besides, he alle

hich you are," pleaded the Stor

ll be one kind," argued Peter. "I want to find the easiest way. And I'

still?" asked F

" said Peter rebukingly. "Do people go o

n-not Methodists or anything, but just

went to the

t this point. She turned her back on

ned to the main poin

know you'd like him. And even if you are going to be a Methodist it won't hurt you to go to the Presbyterian church. The nearest Methodist chu

ng Presbyterian and couldn't chang

t; but she persevered; and one day she came to

with us to-morrow,"

ith violets and dandelions thick in its corners. Below us was the Carlisle valley, with its orchard-embowered homesteads, and fertile meadow

pretty and capable of making such turnovers. If she were only more interesting! Felicity had not a particle of the nameless charm and allurement which hung about every motion of the

have done so. Her mother did not approve of snacks between meals, or of jam turnovers a

mething ma hasn't forbid,"

going to church, except Felicity. She wa

cily severely. "You ought to be glad that poor

h on his best pair of tro

Story Girl, addressing herself daintily to

thought was far more important. "And I don't believe that Peter has got a decent stocking to his name. What w

the Story Girl staunchly. "

he'll wash behind his ears

ked Cecily, by way of c

led it stone dead. Then I took it in to Paddy. Will you believe it? He wouldn't even look at it. I'm so worried. Uncle Roger says he needs a dose of physic. But how is he to be made take it, that

-if anything happened to

e a jolly funeral,

uch horror that Dan h

e'd have to give him the right kind of a funeral," he pr

g at the sky. She was bare headed, as usual, and her scarlet ribbon was bound filletwise about her head. She had twined fr

loud up there," she said. "What

veil," sa

oated away on the summer air like wind-blown rose petals-"there was a princess who was the most beautiful princess in the world, and kings from all lands came to woo her for a bride.

a moment we saw the proud princess of th

she

all kings. Then I shall be the wife of the king of t

d princess laughed and sang, and she and her maidens worked at a wonderful lace veil which she meant to wear when the king of all kings ca

ride was so great that she would not yield, even though everybody except the kings who wanted to marry her, hated her for the suffering she had caused. One day a horn was blown at the palace gate; and there was

ng who conquers a

t she trembled and turned pale, for there was something in his voice that

now, and you and I and your father and all your court will ride straightway to my kingdom; and if you are not satisfie

er maidens dressed her, and put on the long lace veil that had been so many years a-making. Then they were married at once, but the bridegroom never lifted his visor and no one saw his face. The proud princes

is court mounted, too, and rode after them. On and on they rode, and the skies grew darker and the wind blew and wailed,

me here?' cried the p

are the tombs of the kings I have conquered

l saw his awful face. Th

ried. 'I have won you fairly. I am

om sight. Very sadly the old king and courtiers rode home, and never, never again did human eye behold the proud princess. But when those long, w

d finished. We had walked with her in the place of death and grown cold with the

ity," he remarked, giving her a poke. "You'd