50 FOREST FANCIES 



Dick took the hand of Dotty May and led 

 her thoughtfully through the forest. They 

 reached at last the maple grove, grown lovely 

 now with bursting buds. Some trees, most im- 

 patient for May, wore a hint of tan-tinted 

 leaves and a fringe of fairy bells. Dick gazed 

 up at the shining treetops against the azure 

 sky; the sunlight on them was like the 

 shimmer of Nani's hair — no, it was more like 

 Nani's smile. His face brightened; he did not 

 really know, he could not say for sure, yet he 

 was almost certain that Nani was with them 

 in the maple wood. He smiled as he clasped 

 tighter the dimpled hand of Dotty May: for 

 did not love lead him nearer to his desire? 

 And he knew that at the end of a sunbeam 

 path, Nani would wait for him. 



