The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1915-01-30
Bed T ime Stories
For theLittle Folks
TRUSTY JAM ES.

had been with the family SO long and
served them so faithfully.
81 leave to you," said the king, the
happiness Of my daughter, the Prin-
cess: she will have many lovers and
some day marry one of them; that her
own heart must direct.
But there is one thing from which
you must protect her. In the east
bower of the castle is room which
II she enters will not only make her
unhappy, but perhaps cause her death.
IN this room is a picture OF man,
and whoever OF my family looks upon
it before he wed, l mean the women OF
the family. will become blind or per
haps die the instant they behold 1t.
THE key to the door was thrown
away years ago. after my sister had
stolen to the room on her Wedding
night and looked at the forbidden pic
ture.
I'VE found her blind an ter she
died without telling whs L. had
seen. The Princess will u alone in
the world when l am gone and this
castle and all my wealth will be hers,
but to you entrust the secret OF the
room in the east tower"
Trusty James listened to all the king
said and when he finished promised to
guard the Princess as he would his
own daughter If he had one, and the
king was content to die.
But Trusty James had reckoned
without reckoning on the willfu
Princess, for willful she was.
Her father had been dead only
short time when she called Trusty
James to her one day and asked for
the keys to the castle.
She opened one door after another
until she came to the door Of the room
in the east tower, and after trying all
the keys and not being able to open
the door she called Trusty James.
where is the key to this door," she
asked.
There is no key to that door, your
highness," said Trusty James.
Call a locksmith at once and have
one made" said the Princess. 81 wish
to see the inside of that room tomor-
row."
Trusty James did not know how to
answer at first, but at last he decided
the truth would be best.
"You must not open that door" he
told her; the ladies of your family
are nfEt to see what that room
holds s<'sso,fter they are wed; it will
bring 1nnappiness upon you If you
open that door,"
That is foolish replied the Prin
cess" and as have no lover, and am
not likely to have, l wish to open that
door; obey me and have key made
at once"
But Trusty James had promised the
king he would guard the Princess, ant
he did not obey her.
The Princess was very angry wher
she found she was not obeyed, but as
Trusty James was such an old ant
faithful servant she decided to say NJ
more about it, but open the door il
some way without letting him know
about 1t.
She got up very early one morning
before anyone was awake, even befor,
the sun rose, and went to the room il
the east tower
, She had with her screw-driver an
! hammer, and soon the lock was re
) moved and the door swung on it
, hinges with creaking sound.
= The room was dark except for
? faint streak of light, and even tina
was very faint for it was not yet SUI
rise, you remember.
But the Princess made her wa
across the room and found the ligh
} came through the window; this sh
} opened
: Then she looked around the roor
and the first thing that her eyes fe
upon was the huge picture of ma
! in gilt frame.
The Princess went close to it an
} looked. 1t was very handsome maj
whose eyes looked out from the pi,
! ture, and the Princess smiled.
81 think you are very handsome,
she said as she courtesied to the pi,
ture. 81 wish you were alive" sh
aid at last.