The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1909-06-24
her shoes and stockings for him 70

EtE.
On one side the sentry could hear
the hoof beats growing louder, and
through the shrubbery be caught q
glimpse Of a pony cart driven hard.
On the other side he heard the splash
Of water and the happy shout Of the
l~od2ekeeper's children. The lips OF
the lonely little princess were begin
ming 10 CULVER again when the seLtry's
saber flashed a defiant CLEAN as IL rose
IN salute.
Pass" said the sentry shortly.
The Princess SuSette. barelegged, ran
down the road and shyly made heI
way into the bakery business with the
lodgekeeper's children. The sentry
glanced out Of the corner Of his eye Il
the right OF him. to the left Of him.
No one was nigh.
Then he called cautiously after the
Princess Susetre: Build a dam across
the creek. That's more fun than max
ing mud pies"
When the pony cart came dashlng
up In hot haste, with a groom and q
frightened nurse, the sentry, without
a trace OF expression in his face. was
staring at the gatepOst opposite.
Where is the Princess Susette?'
gasped the white faced nurse.
The sentry sat in stern silence. II
was against his orders TO talk.
where is the Princess Susette?' de.
manded the nurse in sudden terror.
The sentry stared on at the gatepos,
opposite, but beyond the gate came q
childish treble that the nurse knew
The Princess Susette was shriekine
with delight owe her first mud pie.
The nurse grabbed the lines from the
groom and urged the pony forward by
jerking the lines backward after the
Of women. The sentry's horse
moved majestically out from the gate.
post and blocked the way.
Get out Of the way" ordered the
nurse furiously.
You cannot pass" said the sentry
coldly.
81 want the Princess Susette."' cried
the nurse wildly.
She jerked the pony's head and tried
to turn by the sentry, but a great
gauntlet caught the pony's bride aud
held it in a wise. The pony, be.
wildered by the whip behind, began tc
plunge, and the groom had to run tc
his head.
The distracted nurse scrambled from
the cart and ran with flying skirts to.
ward the gate, but the gray troor
horse felt the dig Of sharp spurs and
plunged desperately out to head hel
off. Crowded into a corner by the pal.
ace gate. the nurse called to the groom
to drive on and get the Princess Su
settle.
The troop horse wheeled, and the
sentry whipped out a cleaning pistol
from his saddle holster.
Halt" he Numbered, and the order
rang in the ears of the groom like g
pistol shot. The pistol looked big and
black. and the gaunt soldier by the
gate with his bearskin hussar cap and
the scarlet dolman over his shoulder
was terrible to look upon.
The groom skunk back, and the nurse
wept in despair.
1t was the best time the Princess
Susette ever had in her whole life.
When she came back the hair had
struggled down into her highness' face
and there was a smudge of blue black
mud across the tip Of her highness'
little snub los Her highness' stock.
ings, wet as a dish rag, were slung
around her highness' neck in a lovely
way that the lodgekeepers children
had shown her. The princess carried
one shoe in her hand; the other had
lOated off down the stream after q
tempestuOus career as an ocean liner,
plying across the creek and carrying
pebbles. The princess shifted with a
cold in her head, but the heart Of the
princess was glad.
The nurse, on the verge Of Mysteries,
waited on the other side Of the sentry
line, like a football player ready to
tackle.
But the Princess Susette turned back
to the sentry.
"Mr. Soldier" she said.
The sentry was staring fixedly at the
gatepost.
"Mr. Soldier" she said, Juggling at
his boot-"Mr. Soldier, l fink 1 would
like to kiss you"
The sentry looked down out of the
corner of his owe at tha Swppt LITTLE
flushed face. The sentry sheathed his
drawn saber with a clang. The sentry
reached down his two big gauntlets to
the Princess Susette.
The nurse and the groom were horri-
fed at the spectacle.