Evening star., 1901-11-16

time in his capital. in a brick palace at the
end of the great park. He Kept this park
open to all, and allowed no one TO build
In It. But the richest citizens, who were
so fond of their ruler that they could not
live out of his sight. had their houses just
beyond the park. In the rear of the palace,
on a piece of ground which they called
Palace Gardens. The name was a little
misleading, for the true gardens lay IN
front of the palace, where children OF all
classes played among the trees and flower
beds and artificial ponds, and the king sat
and watched them, because he took delight
in children and because the sight of them
cheered his only daughter. who had fallen
into a deep melancholy. But the rich citi-
zens clung to 1t, for 1t gave a pleasant,
neighborly air to their roadway, and
showed what friendliness there was be-
tween the monarch of Illyria and his peo-
pie
At either end you entered the roadway
Oh you were alloWed) by an iron gate. And
each gate had a sentry box beside it and
a tall beadle, and a noticeboard to save him
the trouble Of explanation. The notice ran:
Private. The beadle has orders to refuse
admittance to all wagons, tradesmen's
carts. hackney coaches, donkeys, beggars.
dtsorderly characters or persons carrying
burdens" sedentary life had told so
severely upon one of the two beadIes that
he could no longer enter his box with dig
nifty, or to read his newspaper there with
any comfort He resigned, and John OBJ
tained the post by his brothers interest, IN
spite OF his cork leg
He had now a bright green suit with
scarlet pipings, gold-laced hat, a fashion,
able address and very little to do. But the
army had taught him to be active, and for
lack Of anything better he fell into deep
thinking This came near to bring him In
TO trouble. One evening he looked out OF
his sentry box and saw mild and some
what sad-featured old gentleman approach
ing the gate
No admittance." said John.
Tut. tut" said the old gentleman, I'm
the king"
John looked at the face on his medal,
and. sure enough, there was a resemblance
But all the same your ma ajesty carries a
burden''-here he pointed to the notice
board-"and the folks along this road are
mighty particular"
The king smiled and then sighed heavily.
It's about the princess, my daughter"
said he; she has not smiled for whole
year"
IN warrant I'd make her." said John.
I'm warrant you could not" said the
king. She will never smile again until
she is married"
Then" answered John. speaking in a
humble way as becomes me, why the dick
ems alive don't you marry her up and get
done with it?'
The king shook his head There's a con-
dition attached said he. Maybe you
have heard OF the famous hauated house in
Punsinby square?"
I've always gone by the spelling and
pronounced 1t Ponsonby." said John.
We'll. the condition Is that every Suitor
for my daughters hand must spend a night
alone in that house; and If he survives and
ts ready to persevere with his wooing he
must return a year later with his bride
and spend the night of his marriage there
And very handy" said John, for there's
a wedding cake shop at the corner"
The king sighed again. "UnhappiIy none
survive. One hundred and ffty-five have
undertaken the adventure and not a man
OF them but has either lost his wits or run
for it,"
Well said John. I've been afraid of a
great many men,
That's a poor confession for a soldier"
put In the king
when they all happened to come at
me together But I've never vet met the
ghost that could frighten me- and If YOUR
majesty will give me the latchkey Iii Inv
my luck this very night"
1t could not be done in this free-and-
easy way; but at o'clock. after John had
. visited the palace and taken an oath in the
princess presence (Which was his first sight
of herr he was driven down to the house
beside the lord chamberlain, who admitted
him to the black front hall. and. slamming
the door upon him, scuttled out of the porch
as quickly as possible and into his brough-
am
John struc-- a match and. as he did So
heard the carriage roll away. The walls
were bare, and the floor and great staircase
ahead of him carpetless. As the match
hickered out he caught a glimpse of a pair
Of feet moving up the stairs; that was all
only feet III catch UP with the calves ON