Evening star., 1903-12-26
The Scarlet Runner.


He was restless littie, fellow in a scarlet
suit. a peaked scarlet cap, scarlet stockings
and pointed scarlet shoes As for running. a
lightning flash couldn't 1vertake him. and
he was messenger to the, Queen of Carrib-
bee. tn
II love the dear queen," he said. az
wouldn't leave the court for anything.
The Carribbeans didi,sf believe him. AT
least, they only believed the second part
You see, it was Law rof Carribbee that
the relgning soyereigns chose their success
ors. Sometimes they chose their children
or relations. Sometimes not But the choice
they had reigned for a year, by writing the
name OF the next sovereign on a sheet of
parchment, which they shut up In a box.
The box was kept locked in a castle on q
distant mountain till their death. So the
name was very great secret. Now, the
Queen Of Carribbee hadn't a single rela-
ton, and the Carribbeans said that the
Scarlet Runner was making himself a ia
vorite with her. that she might choose him
for the next ruler of Carribbee. AS 1t was,
she told him all the state secrets-except
the one which he most wanted to know.
The queen made her choice in due time,
and appeared one morning carrying seal
ed iron box.
"shall 1 take that to the castle for your
majesty?' asked the Scarlet Runner,
eagerly.
"No, vermilius," said the queen. "A
special guard of honor shall carry it,
And by evening the box was lodged in the
castle.
The Scarlet Runner was very unhappy.
He tried his best to discover the queen 8
choice, but all to no purpose.
You shall take letter to the Queen of
Carribboo for me tonight, Vermilius," she
said
Carribboo was quite near the mountain
castle. The Scarlet Runners face sud
denly frightened.
And when he set out that evening his
mind was made up He would steal into the
cause, whatever happened, he must know
whether he was to be King Of Carribbee.
He left his letter at Caribboo and sped
a1ong-his feet scarcely touching the ground
to the mountain castle Up the mountain
he ran, as If he had been fight of steps.
and crept around the castle to find a bit of
wall that he could climb. 1t was hard work,
but bit by bit his pointed shoes carried him
over the turrets and terraces till he reached
the highest part of the roof.
Actually. one tiny skylight was open. The
Scarlet Runner peered through 1t, but he
nearly tumbled off the roof with excitement
when he saw the iron box lying on table
in an empty room beneath.
He let himself quickly down to the table
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
WOuIQ nave tumDieQ DOWN again II he hadn
been fiat. For little old woman stood
with her back against the door, gazing at
him through her gold-trimmed spectacles.
You weren't there before!' he gasped.
Wasn't T., said the old woman. so you
want to be King of Carribee? And you
couldn't wait to learn the queens choice?"
And before he could answer she nipped
him UP as If he had been a baby. and car
ried him through the strong room of the
castle and down the mountain Struggle
and fight as he might, he couldn't get free.
At the foot of the mountain the old woman
paused and opened little garden gate
''You didn't know lived here, Mr. Curl
osity?' she said.
Mo-" faltered the Scarlet Runner.
II won't hurt you." continued the old
woman, but I must put you where you
can't do any more mischief"
And she put him down upon a nice, clean
space of SOIL Gss;s-
The Scarlet Runner made one wild at
tempt to run. but it was too late.
He was changing into flower!
Little by little his figure dwindled into
pale green stems and leaves while his scar
let clothes nodded themselves into soft little
winged blossoms. ---y T.
The old woman watched him for a few
minutes. then she gave nod, and picking
one of the scarlet flowers, hobbled up the
mountain again. .
You can him today inD many garden
the poor little Scarlet Runner!-running
up and away over the sticks which people
put for him to climb, as though he were
fancying himself back in the long ago.
Would he have been King of the Carrib-
bees you want to know! Why you are
just as curious as he WaSlA