Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-07
THEKING'SRUBIES
A STORY FOR BOYS AND GIRLS.
By Adelaide Fuller Bell
Copyright by Henry T. Coates & Coz

| J" Is it not enough? he asked, as Jacques
hestated
| Far too much. sire. I wished only to
tell you that my happiness is more than
I complete-my little son has twin sister,
! The king smiled. Then she, too, shall
have token" he said, and in few weeks,
| from Paris came the mate to the ring-the
one 1 have. while that which adorned the
Kings hand is somewhere in the wide
world.
| Il must hasten with my tale. It was in
| 1897 that my twin children were born, and
three years later the King was forced from
| the throne Of France. Louis Philippe then
| became ruler and reigned for eighteen
years. Those were the happiest years that
my husband and I ever spent. With our
| two children at our side the time giided by
| like dream. and before we knew it. we
| mad young man and woman in the house
| instead of boy and girl"
Tell US what they did when they were
young, grandmama." as the old lady
paused.
One story at a time" Cover again set
tied himself to listen and Madame Dupre
continued:
There was much dissatisfaction among
the people while Louis Philippe was on the
throne, especially in Paris, but We, away
from the great city, knew little Of it, until
| man whose well-known socialistic prIn-
ciples had made Paris an uncomfortable
place for him came to the village near
which we lived. and then began terrible
troubles for US.
This man was a fascinating person, but
as dangerous as pleasing. He became ac-
quainted with our son, won him to his way
of thinking, and obtained complete control
over him. Before long We perceived that
we must part with our boy, for he had be-
come restless and unhappy at home. declar-
ing that 1t was no life we were living-d
mere existence. Duty to his country, to
the French people. called him to Paris.
The people needed a leader since their old
one had been expelled from the city, and he
was called to go.
In vain we protested that he was too
young; knew nothing Of the working of the
principles that he professed to follow and
how could he teach others. All was useless.
That wicked man had bewitched him, and
go he would. 1t was sorrowful day when
he left us, but 1 little thought when he
turned to me those black eyes. sparkling
with enthusiasm, that 1 should never look
into their depths again! AS he leaned from
his horse to bid me a last farewell his
father came out from the house, bearing
Jewel case. Taking from it the ring that
the King had given him for his son, he
said:
"'Take this It may be that the presen.
king will not regard the token Of Charles,
yet it may win you favor if you ever need
"I want no kings favorr my SON cried,
dashing the ring to the ground
Then cried my husband in terrible
voice. that never had heard him use be-
fore, never call me father again! There
are no traitors to the king among the
Dupres;' and he turned and went within.
II picked up the ring. Take it, my son,
for your mothers sake. Take 1t, and prom
Use never to part with 1t as long you live.
1t will be bond between you and your
sister,
He then took it, promising to keep 1t
always-and I know he kept his word. for
deceit and broken promises We're unknown
to my boy, in spite of all his other faults
But could not persuade him to go in and
make peace with his father, and he rode
away with bitterness in his heart. Then
came the overthrow Of the king and the
troublous times that followed. We heard
but little of him, and that little filled US
with apprehension
"At last word came that having been one
Of the leaders in an attempt to usurp the
government IN June, 1S48, and having been
captured in the bloody battle in Paris. that
followed, he was sentenced to transporta-
ton. Long months passed, when 1 received
a letter from him from England. He haS
escaped from his captors and fled to that
country in disguise. There he married the
peasant girl who had helped to conceal him
II wrote him, telling him that the insur-
rectionists were pardoned and for him to
return to us. But his father refused to
send his forgiveness in the letter, and he
never came. nor did we ever hear from him
again directly
my health began to fail from anxiety,
and when we heard that he had gone to
America with his wife and the child that
had been born to him, my husband yielded
to my entreaties, and We came to this
country"
How did you happen to come to Eas-
ton?" asked Cover.
ITO search for our son, who had been
seen here. His father had forgiven him and
was quite as anxious to find him as was.
We determined to stay here for awhile, hop
ing that he would return. We have never
heard of him since. and although I can
scarcely believe that he is alive. some day
I hope to find his descendants by means Of
the ring; and that, boys. Is why 1t is so
precious to me. AS you're boy to be
trusted, I'll show 1t to you, Phil" and the
old lady arose and walked toward the
panel.
Antoinette had come into the room and
she perceived with establishment that when
her grandmother arose. Phil at once looked
toward the hiding place. and that when he
saw her expression of surprise he flushed
painfully.
Madame Dupre pressed the panel: 1t fell
forward. She took out the drawer-it was
empty!