The Washington herald., 1916-06-18
SEVENTH STORY.

The champion. sword in hand. was de-
Tending his lady love from the murderous
attack OF the dragon.
The group Of nurses lounging on the
park bench saw only 5-year-old Tommy
Blake and 4-year-old Marjorie Lampson.
playing with very big and very friend
ly collie. But Tommy, the champion,
knew better. He knew the dragon would
surely swallow Marjorie or drag her away
to its lair. unless her defender could
frighten away the monster with his
sword
So while Marjorie squealed with delight.
Tommy welded the wooden sword right
doughtily, shaking 1t in front Of the bark
Ing collie's nose and assuring his littis
playmate he would save her.
1t was a wonderful game. But present.
y the collie tired Of It and trotted away.
Tommy (thrilled at the triumphant
Gragon) gave chase He had not run
three steps before his foot slipped and hs
tUmbled face downward IN a very large
and very sloppy uudpuddle.
At onc-even before the scream Of his
horrifed nurse reached his ears-ne
ceased 70 be victorious warrior and be-
came a very badly scared little boy.
TO be a victorious warrior and became a
very badly scared little boy.
He realized that his new silk suit was
ruined by the mud-that his mother had
warned him to be careful TO keep out OF
the dirt-and that he was probably in for
a whipping Wherefore, he howled dis
raIy.
The nurse swooped down upon him,
snatched him up from his n1iry resting
place, shook him, and, amid loud volleys
Of threats as to waht Mrs. Blake would
do when she should see his spoiled now
suit, dragged the squalling child home
ward
Mrs. Blake was a thoroughly we'll
nearing woman. In fact, she meant so
well that she did not confne her we'll
meaning to her own home, but tried to
disseminate 1t among less lucky families
That was why, at this moment, she
was engaged in preparing an address
which she expected to read two nights
later before the Parents Club. In her
big library she sat placidly scribbling
the preamble Of her speech:
I did not come prepared TO speak
this evening" she wrote, Iaborously,
but the training Of children Is a sub
tect TO which I have gwen
A shutting door, a sound OF weeping.
the hurry Of footsteps checked her flow
Of Inspiration She laid down her pen
and turned with a frown toward the
library doorway.
On the threshold appeared the nurse
half leading, half dragging the fearful
and muddy child. At sight Of the havoc
wrought on Toms new suit Mrs. Blake
cried in sudden loss Of temper:
You bad, bad boy! She what you've
done, You ought to be whipped and sent
to bed! How did this happen?'
Why, you see. ma'am," began the
nurse, The was
7 asked Master Tommy, not you,
nurse" interrupted the vexed mother
Tommy, tell me how this happened!
Tell me the truth, mind you. or MI"
Tit was this way" faltered Tommy
nnanfully choking back his sobs. 'T was
playing Saint George and the Dragon.
And Marjorie was-being the Maiden in
Distress-lke-like the way you read to
me. And Laddie was the dragon. And I
made him run away. And I chased him.
And I fell down and got all nuddied
up. And I'm awful sorry. Mamma I
didn't mean to fail down. And"
50 you disobeyed ms and got dirty
after warned you not to-" broke in his
mother You wicked boy L"
But" stammered Tommy, IL told
the truth The way you said always
must. And
Mrs. Blake interrupted his pitltul de-
fense by catching his shoulder In her
strong hand and jerking him along IN
her wake as she marched across to the
library book closet and flung open its
door
Tommy understood now the terrible
punishment that was to be his. Like
many nervous and high-strunE children
no h&o an unreasoning horror Of the
dark. For only bis very worst orrenses
was he ever locked in this black closet
Such Imprisonment was anguish to him
II was torture as acute as for a hys-
tertcal 'growuup' to be locked for the
night in a burial vault
Please. Mamma he walled clinEfnz
70 the hand that pinched his tender little
arm so cruelty. please! Please don't
put me there. II told the TRUTH
The slam Of the door and the thrush
OF ghost-li<e darkness broke in on his
plea for mercy. He was a prisoner, in
the most awful prison ever devised by
mantle prison Of fear. Mrs. Blake re-
turned to her desk and began work once
more on her speech for the Parents
Club.
Tom Blake had reached the mature age
Of eleven. Marjorie Lampson and her
brother, Harry, had come one afternoon
10 the Blake house to talk over a matter
OF tremendous import to all three Of them
no less an event than Toms birthday
party which was to take place on the
following week. the most thrilling social
event Of the year to all three of them
"say!' Tom greeted them Tn going
70 have bicycle for my birthday! Hon
est amP'
'.No!'' exclaimed Harry Lampson in
open-eyed envy.
"Yes. am. too. Papa says I am. Isn't
that grand?"
Maybe he's only fooling you," sug-
gested the envious Harry
NO he isn't either, "stoutly denied Tom.
He told me so himself And grown folks
always tell the truth. Ny papa does,
anyhow he added, as Harry grinned.
skeptically.
Isn't It wonderful that you're going
TO have a bicycle?'' laughed Marjorie in
delight. I'm going to ask papa to get
me one, too. Then we can take rides to-
gethsr"
HUH grunted Harry IN derision.
You're too much OF a cry-baby to ride
bicycle. Marge. You'd snivel every
time you fell or"