Page:Foggerty.djvu/287

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The Wicked World.
283

His cousin, Prince Snob, was a handsome, boastful, courageous, reckless, unscrupulous young scamp. He was in the habit of boasting of his successful love affairs, which were, in truth, very numerous. One day, in the presence of Prince Paragon, Prince Snob told a long story how for a wager he had undertaken to break the heart of a young, beautiful, and innocent girl, and how he had succeeded in doing so—for she died of her love for him. Prince Paragon, who made love quite as successfully as Prince Snob, but who never broke hearts intentionally, was very indignant with Prince Snob, and challenged him to fight. The challenge was accepted; and it was as Prince Paragon was on his way to the meeting that the cloud enveloped him, and took him up into the skies. It will be easily understood that Prince Paragon was furious at this occurrence, for he felt sure that his disappearance would be attributed by his enemy to rank cowardice. When he arrived in Fairyland he was extremely sulky.

"Oh, what an ugly pout!" said Queen Mary. "I hope our society does not displease you?"

"I don't know who you are, ma'am," said the Prince, "or how I came here; but I have an important engagement which I am now quite unable to keep."

"Business?" said Fairy Kate—sober, thoughtful Kate.

"Um—m—m!" said the Prince considering.

"Pleasure?" said Fairy Bessie—light-hearted little

"Um—m—m!" said the Prince. "Both."

"Well," said Queen Mary, "we are fairies." The