96 THROUGH LIBRARY WINDOWS 



ever clapped hands and plead for more. 



List! there's a gentle rustling of wistaria 

 leaves that overarch their arbor, it is the signal 

 of their coming. With the speed of Cupids on 

 love's intensest mission, they glide in as if on 

 moonbeams, perching on chair and table and 

 bookcase, resting on head and shoulders, fold- 

 ing and opening their wings as a lady toys with 

 her fan, so close to us we can see their dainty 

 and radiant forms, hear their whisperings and 

 gigglings, and feel their touch as one feels the 

 sweet breath of the clover field. O so real and 

 enchanting, would the children were all here to 

 see and sense, and exhilarate nerve and spirit! 

 Their royal Queen rises in mid-air with inex- 

 pressible sweetness of face and manner, and 

 waves her jeweled hand for silence. Instantly 

 they are poised and attent. She speaks: 



"My liege Ladies and Lords, I congratulate 

 you all gathered in this grotto dedicated to our 

 Fairy Race. The time and place of our meet- 

 ing is most auspicious and opportune. No ordi- 

 nary occasion would have convened so many of 

 our elect. The sight is rare and the privilege 

 of greeting you is one of exquisite pleasure. 

 We come to honor the precious memory of our 

 beloved Mabel, one of the sweetest of earth. 

 You well remember how she watched for our 



