Sandmans Rainy Day Stories | Page 2

the silk, making it look very soft and pretty in the lamplight.
On the table beside her bed, which held her lamp, Cantilla saw a big gold-and-glass bottle. She reached for it and took out the gold stopper, then she tipped the bottle and bathed her face and hands with the delicious perfume it held.
Cantilla put her little feet out of bed and slipped them into the slippers and walked over to the gold-and-white dressing-table at the other side of the room.
Everything was so beautiful she just looked at first, then she picked up a gold brush and smoothed her hair. She took up each of the gold toilet articles and saw that on each was the letter "C."
"They must belong to me," said Cantilla. "But, of course, it is all a dream," as she opened a drawer of a big gold-and-white chest.
What she saw made Cantilla gasp with wonder, for the drawer was filled with beautiful clothes, and as she opened the others she found they all were filled with silk and lace-trimmed clothes.
Cantilla forgot all about her dream and ran, just as though she were awake, to a closet door that was open. She swung it back and looked; there hung before her astonished gaze pink silk dresses and blue silk dresses and white and dainty green and yellow silk dresses.
Now, I did not tell you that Cantilla had black hair which hung in long curls about her pretty face and over her pretty white shoulders, and her eyes were as deep blue as the deepest blue of a violet, and when she put on one of the pink silk dresses and stepped in front of a long mirror she forgot all else for a moment. Then suddenly she heard her name called softly. "Cantilla, Cantilla," the voice said.
Cantilla looked up, and on the top of the mirror stood a little fairy dressed in pink gauze.
"Oh! you have a pretty pink dress, too," said Cantilla, forgetting to be surprised at seeing a fairy in her room.
"Yes, but it is the only dress I own," said the little creature, with a smile, "while you have a closet full; but then mine never wear out, and yours will."
"You mean I will wake up in a minute, I suppose," said Cantilla, "Yes, I know it is a dream, but I am having a good time. I wish I could have a dream like this every night. I wouldn't mind being poor through the day."
"Ah! but you are not dreaming at all, Princess Cantilla," said the fairy, "and if you will follow me I will show you more of your beautiful home. Come along."
Cantilla did not answer, but walked after the fairy, who skimmed along before Cantilla like a little pink bird.
The fairy touched a door with her wand and it flew open. Cantilla looked about her in wonder, for the hall, which had been hung with tatters of faded tapestry, now looked like the hall of a king.
The tapestry hung whole and rich-looking upon the walls, which were of deep blue and gold. The old armor that had been broken and covered with dust and mold was erect as though its former wearer was inside it.
The fairy touched the door of the room where the old King was sleeping, and again Cantilla looked in wonder, for her father slept beneath a canopy of red and gold upon a bed of gold, and all the furnishings of his room were such as a king would have.
Cantilla looked at her father. He was smiling in his sleep, and the care-worn look had gone from his face.
The fairy beckoned to her and Cantilla, with one backward glance at her sleeping father, followed.
Next the old dining-hall was opened for Cantilla to see. The once faded and torn draperies were whole, and bats and owls were gone from the corners of the room where they had often made their nests.
The beautiful table of onyx and silver was covered with dishes of silver, and dainty lace napkins lay beside each place as though ready for the coming guests. But the fairy led her away, and next Cantilla saw the beautiful halls where the old King held his grand balls and kings and queens and princes and princesses had danced.
The lights burned in the gold-and-glass fixtures fastened to the walls and made the place look like fairyland.
The blue damask curtains with their edge of priceless lace hung from the windows, whole and shimmering with richness, and chairs of gold stood upright and bright against the walls, and the floor shone with polish.
And so through the whole castle the fairy led the wondering little Princess to look at her old ruined home, now beautiful and whole.
Then the fairy took Cantilla to the gardens. The once dry fountains were playing in