The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1918-05-31
On that day, however, things

On that day, however, things
changed.
First Of all, he met the American
lad in the hallway, and was pleased
to see him dor his bit Of 6 can. Not
many, nowadays, uncovered q head t.
him. The American lad was gOine
down Adelbert was climbing, one steI
at a time, and carrying q small basket
of provisions.
The American boy, having passed
turned, h~esitated, went back, "To
like to carry that for you, II You don't
mind"
Garry it,"
II am very strong" said tho Ameri-
a boy stOutly.
So Adelbert gave up his basket, and
the two went up. Four long flights
Of stone stairs led to Adelbert's room.
The ascent took time and patience.
At the door Adelbert paused. Then.
loneliness overcoming prejudice,
"COme in" he said.
The bare little room appealed to the
wy AIS tCIJ AlNC, AoA ~ AC
said. There's nothing to fall over"
"And but little to sit on" old Adel-
bert added dryly. However, two peo-
pie require but two chairs. Here IL
One."
But the boy would not sit down.
He ranged the room, frankly curious,
exclaimed at the pair Of ring doves
who lived in a box tied to the window
sill, and asked for crumbs for them.
Adelbert brought bread from his small
store.
The boy cheered him. His interest
in the old saber, the ~intentness with
which he listened to its history, the
p%Oliteness with which he ignored his
hosts infirmity, all won the old mans
heart.
These Americans downstairs were
not all bad, then. They were too rich,
of. course. No one should have meat
three times a day, as the meat seller
reported they did. And they were pay
ing double rent for the apartment be-
low. But that. Of course. they could
not avoid, not knowing the real charge.
The boy vas frankly delighted. And
when old Adelbert brought forth from
his basket a sausage AID, boiling 1t
lightly, served him a slice between two
was begun that was to have unfOre-
seen consequences. They had broken
bread together.
Gradually, over the meal. and the
unburdened his heart. He told of his
years at the opera, where he had kept
his glasses clean and listened to the
music until he knew by heart even the
most difficult passages. He told Of the
crown prince, who always wished
opera glasses, not because he needed
them, but because he liked to turn
them wrong end before, and thus make
the audience appear at q great dis
tance. And then he told Of the loss
of his position.
The American lad listened politely,
but his mind was on the crow prince.
docs he wear q crownf" he de-
Eanded. ri saw him once In q ear
rage, but I think he had a hat. When
will he be a king"
when the old king dies. he Is
very old. now. l was in q hospital
once, after q battle. And he came in.
He put his hand IN my shoulder, like
this"-he illustrated it on the child's
small One-"and said" Consider
ing that old Adelbert no longer loved
his king, it is strange to record that
his voice broke. I
Twill he die soonY' Bobby put in.
He found kings as much of a novelty
as to Prince Ferdinand William Otto
they were the usual thing. :
"Who knows? But when he dies,
the city will learn at once. The great
bell Of the cathedral, which never
save at such times, will toll.
They say 1t is a sound never to be
forgotten. I, Of course, have never
heard it. When it tolls, all in the city
will fall on their knees and pray. II
Is the CUSTOM"
Bobby, reared to strict Presbyterian
ism and accustomed to kneeling but
once a day, and that at night beside
his bed, in the strict privacy Of his
own apartment, looked rather startled.
What will they pray fort" he said.
And old Adelbert, with a new bitter
ness, replied that the sons of kings
needed much prayer. Sometimes they
we're hard and did cruel things.
And then the crown prince will be
/ king" Bobby reflected. IF I were q
LIN