Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1904-01-30
The Scarlet Runner.


He was a restless little fellow in y
scarlet suit Il peaked scarlet cap, scarlet
stockings and pointed scarlet shoes. As
for running, a lightning fash couldn't
overtake him, and he was messenger t.
the Queen Of Carribbee
II love the dear queen he said. II
Wouldm't leave the court for anything"'
The Carribbeans didn't believe him.
NJ least. they only believed the second
part.
You see, ii was law OF Carribbee
that the reigning soyereigns chose their
successors. Sometimes they chose THEN
children or relations, Sometimes not
But the choice was always theirs. And
they made IT when they had reigned for
a year, By writing the name of the next
sovereign on sheet of parchment. which
they shut mp in Il box. The box was
kept locked in a castle ON distant moun-
tain till their death. So the name was IA
very great secret. Now, the Queen of
Carribbce hadn't a single relation ana
the Carrihbeans said that the Scarlet
Runner was making himself Il favorit,
with her, that she might choose him for
the next ruler Of Carribbce. As it was,
she told him all the state secrcts-cXcgpt
the one which he most wanted to know.
The Queen made her choice in Iue
time and appeared one morning carry
ing a sealed iron box.
shall take that 10 the castle for
Your majesty asked the Scarlet Run
ncr eagerly.
No. Nermihus." said the Queen. ~
special guard of honor shall carry it,"
And by evening the box was lodged
in the castle.
The Scarlet Runner was very mhar.
py. He tried his neN; 10 discover the
Queens choice, but all to no purpose.
You shall take a f., er "a the Queen
of Carrbhoo for me ,opjght, Ncrmlius,
she said.
Cgrnbboo was quite naar the mountain
castle. The Scarlet Runners face sud
denly frightened
And when he set ont that evening his
mind was made up. He would steal into
the castle and open that box somehow
because. whatever happened, he must
know whether he was to be King of
Curribbee.
He left his letter at Caribboo and sped
along his feet scarcely touching the
gromd-to the mountain castle In the
mountain he ran. rs if he had been n
flight of steps, and erept around the
castle to find a bit of wall that he could
climb. 1t was hard Wort, hut bit by bit
his pointed shoes carried him over the
turrets and terraces till no reached the
highest part Of the roof
Actually, one tiny skylght was open.
The Scarlet Runner peered Through 1t,
but he nearly tumbled off the roof with
excitement when he saw the iron box ly-
ing on a table in an empty room beneath.
He let himself quickly down to the ia
bile and began trying to force the box open
with his thin hands.
II wouldn't do that If were Won"
The Scarlet Runner gave one jump and
rolled ON TO the floor. When he got there
he would have tllmbled down again il he
admit been fiat. For a little old woman
stood with her back against the door. gaz-
ing M him through her gold-trimmed spec
tacles.
You weren't there before 2" he gaspcd.
Wasn't /, y said the old woman. so
YOU want to be King Of Carribbce? And
you couldn't wait to- learn the Qlneu's
,-baicef'
And before he could answer she nipped
him up as if he had been baby, and
carried him through the strongroom of the
castle and down the mountain. Struggle
and fight as he might he couldn't get
fIee. Al the foot Of the mountain the ed
woman paused and opened little garden
gate.
You didn't know lived here. Mr.. Gu
rosity?" she said.
''N-no. faltered the Scarlet Runner
Il won't hurt you.' continued the Oil
N"lidh. bHt must put YOU Wllcfc you
cant do any more mischief"
And she pu, him down upon Il nice.
elem space of soil.
The Scarlet Runner made ono wild at
tempt ia run. but 1t was too late
He was changing into IA fl0wer'
Little 10y little his figure dwindlcd into
pale green stems and leaves. while his
scarlet clothe. nodded themselves into soft
little winged blossoms
The old woman watched him for few
minutes, then she gave q nod, and. picking
one OF the scarlet flowers, hobbled up the
mountain again.
f0u can see him today in many gar
den the poor little Scarlet Rnnnrr!- run
ming up and away over the sticks which
people put for him To climb. az though he
mere fancying himself back in the long
ago.
Would he have beeen King Of the Car
rbbees, you want to know! Why, you