Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-06-25
WHO'S GUILTY?
9TH Story, Truth Crushed 10 Earth
Ly Mrs. Wilson Woodrow
author OF .The silver Dutte.ny., "The

author or "Thc silver Butfcrny.' "rhc
ia ack Pearl" "Suliy Salt" Etc.
lNoHclizeJ from the srrics OF photo
nh!s OF the sumo name rclcIned by
tor Thcntcr.)
CopEriEht. 1919. SIr>. Wilson woodrow
Tho champion. sword In hand, was
defending his lady lovo from the muir
derous attack OF the dragon
The group OF nurses IounEinE on tho
park bench saw only iive-y car-old
Tommy Blake aud four-ycar-old Mar
Jorie Iampson playing with very
big and friendly collie. But Tommy.
the champion. knew better. He know
tho dragon would surely swallow Mar
toric or drag her away to his lair un-
less her defender could brighten away
the monster with his sword.
So while Marjorie sunealcd with do
liHht. Tommy welded the wooden
sword right doughty. shaking |, In
front Of the barking colIics nose and
assuring his little playmate he would
save her.
! II was Il wonderful game But pres
/ entity the collie tired OF il and
trotted away. Tommy (thriIlcd ut the
triumphant thought that he had van
quishcd the dragon) gave chase He
had not run three steps before his foot
slipped and he tumblcd face downward
III Il very larEc and very sloppy mud
puddle
At once even before the scream of
MS Mortified nurse reached his oars
h" ceased 10 he 4 victorious warrior
and became a very badly scared little
boy
II" realized that his now silk suit
was ruined by the mud-,hat his
mother had warned him 70 be careful
10 keep out of the dirt--and that he
was probably I'm for n whipping
Wherefore, he howlcd dismally.
Tho nurse swoopcd down upon him.
snatched him up from his miry rest
ing place shook him. and, amid loud
volleys OF threats rs TO what Mrs
Blake would do when she should SEQ
his spoiled new suit dragged the
sGuallnE child homcward
/ Mrs. Blake WAS a thoroughly we'll
meaning woman. In fact. she meant
So Well that she did not confine her
wclI-mcaning 20 her own home. bu,
tried to disseminate it among less
lucky families.
! That was why. ut this moment. she
was engaged in preparing an address
which she expected to read two nights
later before the Parents Club IN her
/ DIG library she sat plhcidly Scribblinr
/ the preamble Of her speech:
! i did not come prepared 10 speak
this evening" she wrote laboriously,
but m" training of children is a sub
jcct to which l have given"
| shutting door. a sound of wcep-
| ing. the hurry of footsteps checked
h"r flow Of inspiration. She laid down
her pen and turned with n frown to-
/ ward the library doorway.
on the threshold appeared tho nurse.
. half-lcadinE. half-draEging the tear
I ful and muddy child. At sight OF the
havoc wrough, on Toms new suit. Mrs.
Blake cried in sudden loss Of temper:
You bad bad boy. Sec what you've
done. You ought TO be whipped and
sent 10 bed. How dtd this happcn?"
Why you see. ma'am," began the
nurse. "hc was"
II asked Master Tommy. not you,
nurse" interrupted the vcxcd mother
/ Tommy, tell me how this happened.
Tell me the truth. mind you. or III"
lit was this way faltered
Tommy, manfully choking back his
s"hs. II was playing Saint George and
the Dragon. And Marjrie was being
! the Maiden In Distress--llke-lil<c the
way YOU read 10 me. And I.nddic was
WV 'i'-'h' 'iiu Tldue nun run
| away And chased him. And fell
down and got all muddicd up. And
I'm awful sorry, mamma. didn't
mean TO fall down. And"
so you disoheycd me and got dirty
after warned YOU not tot" broke in
his mother. You wicked boy! l."
But" stammerch Tommy, I'll told
the truth. The way you said I al
ways must. And"
Mrs. Blake Interrupted his pitifui
defense by catching his shoulder In
her strong hand and jerking him along
In her wake as she marched across
10 the library book closet and flung
open its door
Tommy understood now the terrible
punishment that was to he his Like
many nervous and high strung chill
dren. he had an unreasonlng horror of
the dark. For only his very worst Of
lenses was ne ever locked In this black
closet. Such Imprisonment was an
Eutsh to him II was a torture as
acute as for n historical "srnwn-up"
to be locked for the night in a burial
vault.
please. mamma" he walled. cling