The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1902-03-18
THERE STOOD THE TWO MEN.

can look the world boldly in the face.
When the third night came. he was
sullen from hunger and pitifuIiy weary
from endless walking and the cruel
anxiety of one who hears danger in
every sound. He crawled into way
side barn and slept exhaustedly. It
was late In the morning when he
awoke and he then became aware that
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 child of perhaps
seven years in 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 hum
ger" read the voice, came at last to
large barn. He slept all night with
nothing to eat, and nobody knows just
what would have become of him If he
had not found an egg, which he de-
vour-ed eagerly"
AS Harden listened a whimsical de-
termination moved him, and. leaning
little farther down, he said gently:
"All that is very true, except that l
have not found the egg"
His musical tones glided so easily
into the story that the little reader
looked up without even a start. In the
restless and handsome dark eyes gag
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
ut him seriously, dropping her chin on
supporting hand.
why have you shaved off your
pointed beardf' she asked gravely and
with feminine irrelevance.
7 am too young yet to have it." said
King Charles as gravely in return.
THAT was later on. you know"
"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 word to any one, on
account Of the Roundheads, you
known
Il know" said the reader confident
n. 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
bught not to choke so. Your eyes are
almost sticking out"
"Get me some waterr' gasped the
king. THAT last egg is sticking half
way down my throat and refuses to
20 any farther"
She brought the water hurriedly, re-
morseful that she had no raw eggs to
offer Instead, but the king was not diff
fcult 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 Q
iew timidity in her air.
Il do so want to ask you something"
she murmured, .'but 1 don't know If
ought to do it"
ASK away" said the monarch cheer
fully. 'I'll answer"
TITS about long word In his book
I thought you could explain it,
Bring 1t up here on the hay YoI
did not tell anybody that l am here?"
Course mott 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 heI
mothers right quick, cause Sammy
that's her smallest brother-had done
scalded hisself- himself, l mean
dreadful. So now there's nobody here
but just me and Towser.'
She scrambled up on the hay as she
spoke, while the king promptly resoly.
ed that he would rummage the house
for suitable clothes. Meanwhile their
two heads bent together over the page,
and the reader delivered her words
with a labored air, troubled by their
undue length:
King Charles might have succeed
ed in after life In making good king,
for he had many talents, but he was
always Of facilitating disposition
Now, what does that mean9'
TT MEANS" began the king bitterly,
and then a sudden intuition made him
look over the edge of the hay. There
stood the two men whose presence on
bis track he had most dreaded and who
met his startled gaze with cynical
'Come DOWN. said the nearest
surtly. eve don't want no nonsense"
The reader saw the color die away
trom the kings face, leaving dull
ashen gray, and she wondered II SO
many eggs had disagreed with him.
She also peered over the edge.