The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1902-03-07
THERE STOOD THE TWO MEN.

can look the world boldly in the face.
When the third night came, he was
Hullen from hunger and pitifully weary
from endless walking and the cruel
anxiety of one who hears danger i'll
every sound. He crawled into a way
side barn and slept exhaustedly 1t
was late i'll the morning when he
awoke, and he then became aware that
q Shrill but sweet voice was reading
aloud. steadily and surely, on the floor
beneath him.
Parting the waves of hay, Jack look
ed down to see a child of perhaps
seven years in a white frock which
admirably suited her unusual beau
ty. Now and then the long golden
locks on her shoulders fell on the page,
but she tossed them aside and read on
with breathless interest.
"And so King Charles, who was
quite worn out with travel and hun
ger" read the voice, 'came ut last to
q large barn. He slept all night with
nothing to eat. and nobody knows just
W nat hOuIh ia Z DtNOlllN VI MN IL hC
had not found an egg, which he de-
vour-ed eagerly
As Harden listened whimsical de-
termination moved him, and, leaning
a little farther down, he said gently:
"All that is very true, except that
have not found the egg"
His musical tones glided so easily
into the story that the little reader
looked up without even start. In the
restless and handsome dark eyes gaz-
ing down on hers and in the lines of
the face she saw only the countenance
of the tired Charles. That the story
had come to life was nothing wonder
full. All stories were alive if one only
recognized it properly. She looked up
at him seriously, dropping her chin on
a supporting hand.
'Why have you shaved off your
pointed beard?" she asked gravely and
with feminine irrelevance.
81 am too young yet to have it," said
King Charles as gravely in return.
"That was later on, you know"
1.-THE egg couldn't be there" observ-
ed the reader thoughtfully, because
we have no hens, but there's a dozen
bought from the store. They are in
the house, only they are boiled hard,
ready for the picnic this afternoon"
"They will do" returned the king
hastily, Bring all Of them. and mind
you don't say a word to any one, on
account of the Roundheads, you
know!
Il know" said the reader confident
ly She hurried away, leaving the book
of historical tales forgotten on the
floor Had not the king himself step
ped out of the leaves? 1t seemed to
the hungry man an age before she re-
turned. holding up her skirts, in which
lay the promised eggs. He began to
eat them with starving haste, the
reader watching him critically.
"You de-vour them eagerly, just as
you should" she observed, but you
ought not to choke so. Your eyes are
almost sticking out"
Get me some waterw gasped the
Mis- hol iuSl SSS 10 SblNhihS
way down my throat and refuses to
go any farther"
She brought the water hurriedly, re-
morseful that she had no raw eggs to
offer instead, but the king was not diff
ficult to please. The last one disap-
peared, and he sighed as though he
might have eaten more. However, he
felt greatly refreshed and told the
reader so. She looked at him with
new timidity in her air.
81 do so want to ask you something"
she murmured, but 1 don't know II 1
ought to do it."
TASK away" said the monarch cheer
fully. 'I'll answer"
ITS about long word in his book.
thought you could explain it."
Bring it up here on the hay. You
did not tell anybody that am here?"
course not" said the reader very
reproachfully. "'Sides, there's no one
to tell. They left me in charge of
Susan while they went to town, but
Susan had message to come to her
mothers right quick, cause Sammy
that's her smallest brother-had done
scalded hisself-himself, l mean