St. Landry democrat., 1881-12-03

The nearest neighbors and most intl-
mate friends of the Verneys were the I
Green's The children of this family
had no idea who their Green great
grandfather was Their father was not {
living, and their mother really did not
know anything about her husbands l
grandfather. She believed that he had ,
lived somewhere out West, but she was
not positive even about this. She knew
who her own grandfather was, but this
did not matter. as she herself did not
actually belong to the Green family.
But in spite of this want of ancestry.
the Green children could run as fast,
and jump as high. and were just as
clever at their lessons. and had as good
manners, as the Verney boys and girls
with their family line.
Leopold and Edgarda Verney, who
| were about fifteen and sixteen years
old. were very proud of their high de-
scent, and sometimes looked down rath-
err grandlv upon the Green's; whereas
the children of the latter family, es-
pecially Tom Green, tall boy OF sew
enleen, were quite fond of making fun
of the Verneys' family pride.
/ One afternoon. Tom Green called to
II
1 they were not at home, he resolved to
wait little while for them, and sat
I down in the library. While there, it
struck him it would be good idea to
'itry on the coat of mail which stood IN
1.-THE ROOM. He, had often wished to do
this, for he desired very much to know
II how an ancient knight had felt when
clad in his heavy suit Of mail; but he
q had never cared to ask permission, for
The knew the Verneys would not like it.
Il But now he thought it would be no
harm Just to try on the things, and so,
a hastily removing the cuirass and the
1 other pieces Of mail, and their props
and supports, he put them, as we'll as
4 he could, upon himself. He tried to
walk about. but they were so heavy he
d could scarcely move.
4 IF I wanted to fight anybody he
said to himself, Il should take these
q things off before l began"
He was Just about to remove the
! awkward and heavy mail, when he
1 heard footsteps approaching the library
. door, "Here come Leopold and Ed
. earda, The said to himself, land | will
give them a little scare"
: So saying, he took his stand upon the
9 pedestal, and put himself as nearly as
! possible in the position in which the
: figure had been placed. But instead
OF the older brother and sister, there
j came into the room two small children,
q Fitz Eustace and Rowena Verney,
with their little dog Tip. Fitz, as ne
+ was generally called wore a paper
. soldier-cap, and carried a drum and a
y toy sword.
. "Hello!n he cried, when he came in
q to the room, 'shere is somebody l can
!, FIGHT with nv new sword. Nurse say
: | must n t fight YOU or Tip, but | can
!, hurt our old 'cestor, so am going te
d fight him. -,
i "You ought to say ancestor. . sac
- Rowena, and you ought ito hSh
q him either, for guess he was very
M good man" :.
N Il don't believe he was good, sale
l. Fitz, drawing a chair near to the inquire
w land am going to stand on TINS chai
,e and whack his head
os why was MT he good: ashe'
le RoNena.
er "Because he was coward SAT-
Of Fitz.
Il. "Why was he coward?'' aske'
lie Rowena, who always had ''why' TO
"a everything.
to .Because." answered Fitz, trying t
r reach the hemlet with his tin sword
lie he wore these iron clothes, which nc
il, BODY could stick him through, and I'll
We MT only fight other fellows with lro
as clothes, but he cut and jabbed the poo
De soldiers, who had only common clothe
lis on. which any spear or sword could
through, knowing all the time, to-
ry that thew could Mt cut and jab hi
in hack. Tom Green told me all this.
W, Il don't believe he was coward
ad all.n said Rowena. "Edgarda M
tut often read me stories about these o.
his KNIGHTS. and they were always just
eey kind to poor ladies and little chiare
IN as ever they could De. lhat Ism o
III. ing coward. !"
lat ..But he didn't have to put on b
IL iron clothes to be kind. y said fitz: :,
ter was only when he had them on that
tai was a coward And the boy made a
sh- other crack at the figures head.
Il don't believe he was ever an
SET thing OF the kind" said Rowena, ia
lch mo the great mailed hand affectionat
lth " in her own, while the dog Tipsnilf'
mo around the knight s feet in way he hi
lau never done before.
MI ..This glove feels exactly as it it HI
- fingers in it" said Rowena.
!, IN At this moment the figure spoke.
dld ..If am coward, young man"
lad said. II should like to know what y
are''
ads At these words Fitz Eustace dropp
MS into the chair as if he had been sh'
ave while Rowena stood as if petrified
~ fear.
axis nere - ooy, "a str;las a ners