The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-06-05
THE RIVAL DINNERS.

| There had always been the keenest ri
valry between the Brook King and the
| I'cni Hln-. and VIXEN the former heard
| that the latter was about 70 give din
| her on the very same night as that for
which he had already sent out invitations
he was so excited and angry that the very
brook in which he had made his home
sweIled with rage. so thar the people liv-
/ ing along its banks Tnarveied and sad.
one to another. that there must have been
! 4 terrible storm in the mountains the
night before. the brook was so swollen
The Brook King. having sent out his in
vitations first, felt justly that his dinner
party should have the precedence, but
/ alas, the home of the Pond King was SO
much more spacious and the subjects
/ whose duty il was 10 fulfill his orders so
much more numerous that all the appoint
ments of his banquet could not fail 10
! be as they should be. while as for the
! quarters of the BrOk King. cramped as
/ they were between two banks, decorate
and beautify. as he might it could not
be denied that they were small. And then
1 most important OF ali. he was giving the
! dinner principally in the hope Of pleas
/ ing a particularly lovely little naiad who
had long since wen his. heart by her
beauty and grace, and Row he could not
doubt that she would go to the dinner
which promised to be the finer OF the TWO.
The poor little Brook King thought it all
| over until even the cooling waters Of the
brook could not keep his head from ach-
ing. and ne finally wrote a note to the
Pond King telling him how matters stood
and begging him to defer his dinner This
missive he sent by a minnow, who was TO
wait for an answer He was not kept
waiting long, for the Pond King at once
wrote a note in which he declared that he
was truly sorry things had happened as
they had, but as by the greatest eXer-
tons he had made the pond lilies. which
were TO be his sole decoration. promise to
be in bloom during the dinner, he could
not possibly change his date.
The Brook King was in despair. He was
positive that if the two dinners were given
on the same night his would be a complete
failure. And suddenly as he was brooding
over his troubles. a wicked thought came
into his head-if his dinner was not to be
a success, why could he not do something
to prevent the one given by the Pond
King from being a success? This idea
was no sooner thought OF than he took
the first steps to put il into execution.
He remembered that lilies were TO be the
only decorations for the other dinner. and
he made up his mind that these lilies
should be spoiled. 1t would be an easy
thing to do and there was little danger
that he would be SUSPECTED. Calling 10
two turtles who were swimming past, he
crevice among the stones which lined the
bottom OF the brook. pick out from among
his collection of drugs a certain phial
which contained a peculiarly disagreeable
odor. and then on the day OF the dinners
proceed to the home of the Pond King
and sprinkle some Of its contents on each
of the lilies thus making them smell so
badly that no one could bear TO remain
near them
The turtles did as the Brook King babe
them. but. unfortunately for his plan.
they somehow managed to take the wrong
bottle, one containing a most delicious
perfume, which they sprinlxled lavishly
upon the pond lilies. thereby making them
more attractive than ever.
AS the hour for the diner drew nigh the
Brook King began 10 tremble with ner-
vousness and excitement. He expected
his guests TO be late. for he was sure that
they would one and all repair at the APP
pointed hour to the home OF the Pond
King. but he had never a doubt that the
disagreeable odor would drive them away
and that they would shortly appear at
his table, so he got all ready and sat
down to wait for his guests
Half an hour and then an hour passed
and still 10 one came; some part of his
plan had gone wrong, and he made up his
mind that he would see what 1t was. eau
tiously he crept up the brook and into the
pond a whose entrance never a sentinel
was left TO ask his errand. for one and
all of the pond inhabitants were busy
feasting to their hearts content. And
what was this delicious odor which, as he
advanced into the pond, came TO the
Brook Kings nostrils? He recognized II
as one of the rarest and most costly
scents which he had had among his col
lection of drugs, and at once he realized
the mistake which had been made. and he
arf1iN
vowed vengeance, when he should again
come across them, upon the two turtles
who had so carelesly filed his orders.
While he stood there. filed with rage at
the thought that his attempt 20 spoil his
rivals diner had ended in making it all
the more attractive the Pond King, hap
pening to glance around and catch sight
Of him. came toward him with outstretch-
ed hands OF welcome. and after him troop
ed his guests. gathering around the Devil
dered Brook King and telling him how
they had enjoyed the splendid surprise
which he had prepared for them.
Il caught your servants. the turtles
while they We're busy pertaining the lilies,
and made them tell me all about il" said
the Pond King And now You must
come and sit down with ls for. although
you're very late, we've not half finished
dinner yet
And as they all sat down to dinner once
more the astonished Brook King found
himself next the lovely little naiad- and
under the table cloth she gently squeezed
his hand and whispered that she knew he
had done II all TO give her pleasure.
On the way home. whittier he escorted
her much later In the evening. the little
naiad a last gave her promise to marry
the Brook King. for he had long since de-
clared his passion for her; and at their
wedding which took place year or 80
later. the happy Brook Kings Whoie pal
ace was fragra ut with pond lilies for ever
after the famous dinner given by the Pond
King those flowers retained the delicious
fragrance which we still find in them
todav.-Fforence A. Evans in y. I. Her
aid.
Modern Conveniences.