Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1911-06-20

without embitterment. the General,
now dressed In nightclothes. tiptoed
softly into the room.
"They sent me to bed again. he
whispered. triumphant at his evasion.
while he cuddled against the mans cx.
tended arm. II want 10 know the end
of that story. Tell me-"
Kirby strove to assume his wonted
gayety of manner. How long ago 10
seemed since in the closed carriage he
had prompted that light hearted laugh
ter!
so you made another halrbrcadth
escape. General" he commented light
ly "And you want 10 hear the end Of
the story-about the bad prince who
was half good? IL don't know If
can tell you the end"
why? Hasn't the end happened
yet?"
"Yes; it's come"
But 1t ended all right. didn't III"
persisted the General. with all youths
confident optimism.
"Yes," said the man; ut ended all
right"
But want to know If he's still a
mixed prince-a mixed good and bad
prince
Kirby pressed a weary hand over his
throbbing forehead. II guess he's pref
ty much Mixed" he confessed. still
smiling bravely.
The child pondered over this state
ment until at length he began to nod.
"Did-did he go away?" he murmured
drowsily. inquisitiveness battling no
bly, against outraged nature.
"Yes-he went away" whispered the
man. his arm Tightening about the
small form. you're sleepy. General"
I'm not" protested the child. with
great earnestness. opening wide his
eyes only to promptly close them after
an Intellectual struggle. "I-want-to-
know-the-end." He gave vexeh.
protesting sigh: then his breathing
grew deep and regular
"Your sister will tell you the end In
the morning." said the man.
Rising. he gently laid the now sleep
ing child on the sofa and with clumsy
tenderness covered him with rug.
For long time Kirby stood looking
down upon the faithful little General,
who Of them all had from the first
given his full measure Of unSwcrving
loyalty and devotion without question
and without price. and this despite the
influence of family pressure. the ven
ON Of lying tongues or the Specous ev
idence Of circumstance. He knew only
that he loved: that was faith aud trust
sufficient. AS yet he was only very
small juvenile member in life's boys
brigade. but still he had his own dim
notions Of standing true to the colors.
When at length Kirby turned away
it was to find himself face to face with
Adele How long she had been stand
ing there he did not know. The fugi-
tive sunbeam had long since vanished.
as If heartily ashamed Of taxing prece-
dence over its majestic progGnitor. and
the room was now suffused by dull.
rosy glow. For space girl and man
eyed each other in silence. both wait
ing for the other to speak. Finally she
whispered:
"Am l to tell him the end Of the
story?" nodding to the sleeping Cen
eral. But he'll want you to-
"I'm afraid it won't be fixed so that
I can. Miss Randall. lou see. was
only waiting to say gocdby to you"
"He'll-he'll be disappointed" she
ventured. with a pitiful attempt at
composure. "And-you~are only wait
ing to say goodbye"
He nodded. smiling wanly.
"You remember that story told you
Of the rosebush and the playing
cards?'
"Are you and l like that?"
"Just like that" be said.
"But some time She broke OF.
making u hopeless. pleading gesture.
Tell him when he awakes," said
Kirby. taking a great breath and hold
ing high his head. 1.-The end Is that for
one great day. from sunrise to sun
rise. the mixed prince was with some
body so good that he went away to
try to make himself all over Aud II
he cam He faltered and stopped;
then. taking courage from her eyes.
began again. "And II he can
"And IL he can" she prompted.
great wave Of color surgng to cheek
and neck. "And If l should wait for
that-that wouldn't be the epd?"
mo. That would be-