Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-26
SIR PETER.
Written ios The Star BY
CLEMENT CHAPMAN YOUNG.
Copyright. 1900. by O. O. Yoang.3
CHAPTER VII.
The Making of a Knight.

NY "<<at< Al u6t pafu But the question
remained unanswered. for Lucy was alone
in the kitchen.
He's been goin' round a-mutt'rin' to
hissef like he studyin' some lesson: but
he amt" she declared confidently. "Oh.
no; Tom don't wuk ober lessons like dat
But he sut'leny Is tryin' ter member
som thin, fer he's mumblin. most all de
time"
She pondered over this awhile until
further cause for suspicion gave a new
direction to her thoughts. "An' de kitesr'
sne exclaimed, AN de wood'n swords !
Lordy! Dem kites most big as de boys
an no tails to EN-. never see sich queer
iookin Kites. But dis Amt de season fer
Kites. she suddenly remembered
something unusual was going on-Lucy
was sure of that-but failed to discover
just what 1t was. Her suspicious were not
unfounded, for the past few days had
peen BUSY ones for Tom and his friends
and full of excitement. Every boy con-
cerned had entered into the spirit of the
affair with a degree of enthusiasm that
stamped Toms idea with cordial approval
ana so diligently had they worked that
everything was ready for the ceremony to
be held In the early hours of the coming
morning.
From the very first Tom had been i'm
pressed with the part that royalty took
In comforting the honor of knighthood and
had elected to personate a king feeling
sure that had Pete lived In those olden
days he would not have specially cared
Tor the distinction, unless a king had con-
ferred 1t. Tom was not familiar with
kings or their ways, but he knew they
were supposed to sit on thrones wear
crowns and robes of state and hold IN
their hands queer looking implements called
scepters-that is, when not astride fiery
looking steeds fighting other kings or
knights in tournament or battle.
Having decided upon his part he gave
70
act and be attired that the dignity of the
office might not suffer at his hands BY
spending several hours each day In the
library consulting old records and studying
Illustrations, he came to have rather an
intimate acquaintance with a number of
kings, some of whom were very amiable
In appearance, while others were exceed
ingly fierce looking and ather forbidding
AT first he was impartial in his liking for
them ALL but gradually came to fancy
most those of fierce and naughty MEN, and
took them as his models, copying their
stern expressions, to the wonderment of
Mrs. Velton, who caught him practicing
before the glass.
All preparations having been completed
for the knighting of Pete, Tom was up
stairs trying on his costume for Bob's in
spection. .Strutting around, stopping &C.
casionally to glance in the mirror, his face
wore a very dissatisfied look.
Il need something else to go with this
rig. L think I'll wear a battle-ax."
What do you want with a battle-ax?' %
asked Bob. who ever saw a king wear
| one with that kind of outft?'
You knights have got two-handed
swords and big shields. A king ought to
wear something besides a small sword.
might leave off the robe
You can't" said Bob. decidedly. IF
you do, how will anybody know you're a
| king?"
TN wear a crown, won't II"
That's SO; 1 forgot the crown. But you
must stick to the way the kings are
dressed in the pictures. I tell you what
you might do
What's that?'
Leave out the thing that looks like a
drumstick."
Yes; the rod with the knob on top
here, this is IT."
why, that's a-scepter
'I don't know what you call II, but I've
| seen fellows in bands beating base drums
| with sticks like that You couldn't tell EN-
apart
II ought to carry one-all kings did-but
| really, I don't see how I caa-with the
sword and battle-ax."
You don't need to. All these kings are
| sitting down. You'll be standing up"
THAT makes a difference, of course"
But Toms thoughts We're too much occu-
pied with the robe and battIe-ax to dwell
| long upon a small thing like scepters
Somehow this robe don't look like the
| ones in the pictures, he said regretfully.
Now does it?''
mo, it don't" replied Bob, frankly.
when you come to study it, there is a
| difference. Maybe It's the ermine.
1T can't be the ermine; there's not
enough of It.
well perhaps it's shade too full in the
back. 1 guess you'd better wear it..
| though"
And the battIe-ax?"
''Oh, throw in the battle-ax. What's the
you must admit I'll look more like a
king that way" And Tom strobe about
with a fierce expression.
What on earth do you want to look like
that for?"
I'm only looking stern
you can do as you like. but If it was
me. would try to look pleasant"
I'D just like to know If these kings don't
look stern7" said Tom, hotly. Look at
them, pointing to the pictures before
him.
Bob regarded them critically. They do,
that's a fact. l don't know, though"
doubtfully, whether it's stern they look,
or stiff; maybe they weren't happy"
why shouldn't they be happy?" replied
Tom, resentfully. They had most every
thing, and plenty of spending money just
for the asking"
This argument appealed strongly to Bob.
We'll" he said, they might have been
worrying about their jobs when these pic
lures were taken
"Jobsm Tom replied scornfully why,
they didn't have to worry about jobs
well, l guess some of them did. Mrs.
NeIton said So She told me they often
had to clear out in hurry, and had
everything taken from Them
They would be kings just the same. If
they did lose everything" insisted Fom.
Maybe they would; but If somebody took
away their robes and crowns and scep-
scepters, they'd seem just like everyday
people. What's the use being a king,
anyway. If you've got to lose your things
and hide yourself and look ordinary"
Tom knew that kings did sometimes lose
their thrones-and OF course the robes, and
crowns, and all the rest went with the
thrones-but he hated to admit 1t, for hay-
ing decided to be a king. he did not wish
to seem reereant. So he tried very hard
to think of some excuse for the royal per-
sons whose appearance Bob was treating
so lightly.
II tell you what's the matter with these
kings" he said. Frightening up. Look at
this one. You see that CROWN"
"Of course l see it
Notice any fastenings?'
ANY what?"
"Fastenings. Can you see how It's held
on7"
mo; but 1t don't seem to be fastened on"
That's just the trouble declared Tom
in triumph. THAT explains the kings
looks
1T don't see what 1t has to do with their