Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1901-05-18
YOUNG FOLKS COLUMN.


the one which he most wanted to know.
The Queen made her choice in dnn
time. and appeared one morning carryino
a sealed iron box '''7
Shall take that to the castle for voYr
majesty: asked the Scarlet Runner en-.
erly.
NO. Vermilius." said the Queen. .,
Special Guard of Honor shall carry il
And by evening the box was lodged in
the castle.
The Scarlet Runner was very unhan-
Ply. He tried his best to discover ria
Queens choice. but all to no purpose.
You shall take a letter to the Queen
Of Carribbo0 for me tonight Nermiiu>."
she said.
Carribboo was quite near the mountain
castle. The Scarlet Runners face sud
denly frightened.
And when he set ont that evening hi>
mind was made up. He would steal into
the castle and open that box ,mehow.
Because, whatever happened, he must
know whether he was to be King If Car,
ribbee.
He left his letter at Carribbco and sped
al0ng-hiS feet scarcely touching The
ground-to the mountain castle. Up the
mountain he ran, as If it had been
| flight of steps. and crept around the raS-
tie to find a bit Of wall thar he could
| climb. 1t was hard work. bur bit by Bit
his pointed shoes carried him over tar
retS and terraces till he reached rle
highest part Of the roof.
Actually, one tiny skylight was open
| The Scarlet Runner peered through it,
| but he nearly tumbled off the roof with
| excitement when he saw the iron box ~
! ing on a table in an empty room beneath
He let himself quickly down to the III
| Bile and began trying to force the box
open with his thin hands
] Il wouldn't do that if | were YOU
| The Scarlet Runner gave one jump and
rolled on to the floor. When he got there
he would have tumbled down again if ne
! hadn't been fiat. For Il little Old Woman
stood with her back against the door.
gazing at him through her goldrlmmei
| Spectacles.
You weren't there before. he gl,lmL
Wasn't r. said the Old Woman. 50
you want to be King of Carbide: AND
! you couldn't wait 10 learn the Queen
! choice?'
And before he could answer She uiMel
i him up as if he had been Il baby. ana
| cir"ied him through the strong room oi
| the castle and down the mountain. SUu@
| gle and fight as he might. he c"Hidi
get free. Al the foot of the mountain
| the Old Woman paused and opened
little garden gate. u,
You didn't know | lived here. MI
Curiosity" she said.
Mo" faltered the Scarle, itunHnrlf;
II won't hurt YOU. continued the O.H
| Woman. but | must pul you where you
| can't do any more mischief.
And she put him down upon nee
| clear space Of soil.
The Scarlet Runner made one wild at
| tempt to run. but it was too late:
| He was changing into a flower. 1919.
| Little by little his figure dwindled me
! pale green stems and leaves, while A'>
| scarlet clothes nodded themselves me
| soft little winged blossoms.
| The old woman watched him for ~"
! minutes, then she gave a nod. and. ll'n-
| ing one Of the scarlet flowers. hobhl" P
! the mountain again.
| You can see him today in many a -,'-
! den-the poor little Scarlet Runner
running up and away over thr >''N>
| which people put for him 10 rlW". T.
though he were fancying himself aa'h h
! the long ago, ..
! Would he have been King Of the ~.
! rihhees, you want to know: WY
4 are Just as curious as he was. f''.'.'
1 Nogei in Little Folks.