Read Ebook: Castle of Terror by Liston E J

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Ebook has 135 lines and 9770 words, and 3 pages

"I don't know," answered Alaric, doubtfully. "I'd like to well enough; but I don't know just how to begin. You see, I'm too old to learn from the little boys, and the big fellows won't have anything to do with such a duffer as I am. They've all heard too much about my weak heart."

"Then I'd go away to some place where nobody knows you and make a fresh start. You might go out on one of your father's ranches and learn to be a cowboy, or up into those great endless forests that I saw on Puget Sound the other day, and live in a logging camp. It is such a glorious splendid life, and there is so much to be done up in that country. Oh dear! if I were only a boy, and going to be a man, wouldn't I get there just as quickly as I could, and learn how to do things, so that when I grew up I could go right ahead and do them?"

"All that sounds well," said Alaric, dubiously, "but I know father will never let me go to any such places. He thinks such a life would kill me. Besides, he says that as I shall never have to work, there is no need for me to learn how."

"But you must work," responded Esther, stoutly. "Every one must, or else be very unhappy. Papa says that the happiest people in the world are those who work the hardest when it is time for work, and play the hardest in play-time. But where are you driving to? This isn't the way home."

"I am going to get a new hat and gloves," answered the boy, "for I don't want anyone at the house to know of our runaway. They'd never let me drive the ponies again if they found it out."

"It would be a shame if they didn't, after the way you handled them just now," exclaimed Esther, indignantly.

Just then they stopped before a fashionable hat-store on Kearney Street, and while Alaric was debating whether he ought to leave the ponies long enough to step inside he was recognized, and a clerk hastened to receive his order.

"Hats and gloves," said Alaric; "you know the sizes."

The clerk answered, "Certainly, Mr. Todd," bowed, and disappeared in the store.

"See those lovely gray 'Tams' in the window, Cousin Rick," said Esther. "Why don't you get one of them? It would be just the thing to wear in the woods."

"All right," replied the boy. "I will."

So when the clerk reappeared with a stylish derby-hat and a dozen pair of gloves Alaric put the former on, said he would keep the gloves, and at the same time requested that one of the gray Tams might be done up for him.

As this order was filled, and the ponies were headed towards home, Esther said; "Why, Cousin Rick, you didn't pay for your things?"

"No," repeated the boy, "I never do."

"You didn't even ask the prices, either."

"Of course not!" laughed the other. "Why should I? They were things that I had to have anyway, and so what would be the use of asking the prices? Besides, I don't think I ever did such a thing in my life."

"Well," sighed the girl, "it must be lovely to shop in that way. Now I never bought anything without first finding out if I could afford it; and as for gloves, I know I never bought more than one pair at a time."

"Really?" said Alaric, with genuine surprise, "I didn't know they sold less than a dozen pair at a time. I wish I had known it, for I only wanted one pair. I've got so many at home now that they are a bother."

That very evening the lad spoke to his father about going on a ranch and learning to be a cowboy. Unfortunately his brother John overheard him, and greeted the proposition with shouts of laughter. Even Amos Todd, while mildly rebuking his eldest son, could not help smiling at the absurdity of the request. Then, turning to the mortified lad, he said kindly but decidedly:

"You don't know what you are asking, Allie, my boy, and I wouldn't think for a moment of allowing you to attempt such a thing. The excitement of that kind of life would kill you in less than no time. Ask anything in reason, and I shall be only too happy to gratify you; but don't make foolish requests."

When Alaric reported this failure to Esther a little later, she said, very gravely: "Then, Cousin Rick, there is only one thing left for you to do. You must run away."

FAMILIAR QUOTATIONS.

BY PATTY PEMBERTON BERMANN.

COSTUMES FOR THE PLAY.

PREFACE.--A dress of white muslin or paper cambric. A small muslin apron entirely covered, except the hem, with printed words. A white ribbon, with "Preface" in black capitals, extending from the right shoulder diagonally to the waist, where it ends under a bow of red ribbon. On the right shoulder a red bow. The flowing hair is crowned by a dainty muslin cap trimmed with a knot of red ribbon.

VIOLET.--A dress of fluffy material--pale lavender, with violets of deeper shade falling in a fringe around a low neck.

DAFFODIL.--Same in yellow.

LILY-OF-THE-VALLEY.--A white tulle with delicate green over-dress. Puffed white sleeves with ruffles of green. A bunch of lilies-of-the-valley on one shoulder.

LOCKSMITH.--Ragged trousers, shirt, and large brown holland apron. Bunches of keys hanging from his waist.

CUPID.--Flesh-colored tights and pink trunks, quiver, and arrows.

FIRST AND SECOND PITCHERS.--Baseball rig. Asses' ears of gray canton flannel, wired to keep them in shape.

COLORED LAUNDRESS.--Dress of gaudy chintz, large check apron, and bandanna head handkerchief.

Other costumes to suit the fancy of wearers.

If the play is to take place in a parlor, be sure there is a doorway at one end connecting it with another room. A stage one foot from the floor is built right across the door, which should be right or left of the centre background. The framework for a book through which each individual or group must pass to front of stage is thus made--two uprights 5 ft. 6 in. high are placed 3 ft 4 in. apart, and fastened to the stage floor; 1 ft. 6 in. behind these uprights, and exactly opposite them, fix two others of the same height. Nail three cross-pieces at the top to hold the frame together. This skeleton book must stand at such an angle that while one inner corner almost touches the stage entrance door, the other inner corner will be 2 ft. beyond the door. Tack a strip of asbestos down the side that represents the closed leaves of a book. A similar strip, only somewhat wider, is put on for the curved back. The side presented to the spectators is the cover of your book. It is to close and unclose like a door, so that the characters may appear to step out when the volume is opened. This cover may be of asbestos, but it should hang on hinges that move very freely. Draw across the book cover, so that each word will fill a line

"FAMILIAR QUOTATIONS."

Paint the letters in gold and some bright color. Attach a bit of twine inside the cover, midway, on the hinge side, to enable the person who engineers the book to close it without being seen.

A large table with lamp and books, and one or two chairs, will suffice for stage furniture.

The book slowly opens, revealing Preface. She steps forward, closely followed by Index, who remains right of and a little behind her.

The Preface always is allowed First to address the expectant crowd; Whether my task's a pleasant one I shall know better--when 'tis done.

From out these covers, blithely tripping, Familiar friends will soon be slipping; They're tired of hiding in a book, Where you must go for them to look.

To-night they mean to play before you Some trifles that we hope won't bore you; Indeed, we ask for each quotation Only its meed of approbation.

As she is first, so last am I, The Index that can tell you why And when and wherefore this was writ, And who the author is of it; When a quotation doth appear I'll do my best to make it clear.

CURTAIN.

At the head were the three dwarfs Jenkins had first met upon recovering consciousness. Behind them streamed a host of other dwarfs. And from what was evidently another path into the forest came another procession. Although this group was not as large in number, in size the men were gigantic. The two processions saw Jenkins at the same time, and both groups started toward him. Had it not been for the three little men, Jenkins couldn't imagine what fate might have befallen him.

"She permitted one of our giant brethren to be killed by one of her men. And now we go to bowl against her champions. See, Mikas carries our ball."

Jenkins looked at the one to whom Loti had gestured, and saw that in truth the little man was carrying a bowling ball, a ball which was in no way different from those Jenkins had himself used in his world.

"Aye," Loti continued. "Now we have again the chance to rid ourselves of her shackles."

The leaders of the giants had joined them while they were talking. One of them interrupted: "Aye. Loti is right. We sent the boulders down against them from the heights. Now we go to bowl."

Jenkins grinned as he started back for that castle of terror which he'd just quitted. He blinked in surprise when he saw that the drawbridge had been lowered. The dwarfs and the giants were apparently expected, but they would certainly be amazed to see him.

"You!" Lucretia exclaimed when she saw him. "How did you escape?"

He shrugged his shoulders and stared coldly into her beautiful eyes. She frowned back at him, then turned and motioned for her men to follow. Their way was lit by torchbearers, and led up a winding path which ended on a level bit of highland directly behind the castle. Here was grass land smooth as velvet; here were the grounds of combat, bloodless but just as decisive.

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