Evening star., 1908-12-12

asked
Here? Oh, I have been here often.
Sometimes, when 1 was Robin Hood,
gathered my men here-Little John, Friar
Tuck and all the rest of them. I always
sat on that stone, where you are, and we
talked Of our adventures"
Something in his manner recalled the
woman in Miss Seymour. II suppose you
are like your father" she said.
The boy hesitated.
''But mamma thinks am like her, too
She says will make a great actor some
day. He died, you know. in California,
before can remember" He was thought
full for a moment, then he added, II
wouldn't be afraid to die. knights never
are you know; and mamma and Dick
said I looked IKE a real knight when I
rode away"
pressed hard against her bosom. The pic
ture Of the tall, happy-hearted fellow who
had won her love, standing by the pretty.
frivolous woman-the gifted actress who
seemed to attract all men-the heartless
coquette. in whose life the one true spot
seemed her fondness for this little lad
who was fading out of It, had made the
innocent words as an arrow in her heart.
Yet the bitterness was gone. In her eyes
were tears ready to brim over.
"Oh," she said, "you are indeed knight.
A chevalier without fear and without re-
proach But think you are Parsifal,
rather than Galahad, for Parsifal was
without knowledge Of wrong
The boy hesitated for a moment.
1--WE saw Parsifal at Bayreuth last
year." he said. IT did not like it when he
killed the swan"
''But he killed it innocently. He was
unconscious of cruelty-as unconscious as
you would be-
"And are you Kundry? When you sit
as you do now. on that stone, with the
moss and vines on 1t, and all the vines
around you, you are like Kundry in her
car-in the second part. you know. And
she was beautiful like you"
Involuntarily she caught him to her
bosom.
mo. oh no. am not Kundry. Oh, my
little lad!'
He rested upon her shoulder. He was
not a robust knight.
But you are acting her part. Kundry
put her arms around Parsifal and kissed
him. What makes you cry?'
She laid her cheek to the little knights
and smoothed his shining hair. Always
herself lonely child. dweller in BOOKS
and fantasies. high-strung and emotional.
she had an impulse now to hold fast to
the thin little hand that lay in hers and
follow with him across the purple hills ito
the island valley Of Avalon, where falls
not hail. or rain, or any snow"
What makes you cry?" he asked again
She laid her face on his shoulder that
he made firm and manly for her sake
Perhaps it is because I am happy" she
faltered, "in finding so pure a knight.
You shall be my champion and do battle
for me. There is something that besets
me-something I am afraid Of. It Is
demon-a monster with green eyes. 1t
was here Just before you came. You have
driven him away. but he may come back
You shall be my knight. my Galahad, to
slay him. You shall wear my color upon
your sleeve as you ride through the en-
chanted wood" She drew a gay ribbon
from her neck and tied it about his arm.
The lad regarded it proudly and caught
up the fallen lance
Don't you think l ought to wait for
him here?' he asked.
mo. but you may come again If you
don't find him. You must ride now. A
canter on such beautiful day will make
you strong for conquest. 1t is only a
little way through to the road"
The boys eyes. shone with happiness.
Miss Seymour. remembering her own
strange childhood. wondered how much of
this play was real to the i'll. Imaginative
lad.
Il have two errands now," he said,
proudly-'two things to do before l can
win the Holy Grail; one for you and one
for Dick
You have one for-Mr Calverly?"
The little knight had leaned his lance