TOLD BY READERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 15, 18 January 1930, Page 2 (Supplement)

TOLD BY READERS.

gHM RESULT OF FORTNIGHTLY SHORT STORY || | H n COMPETITION. H I I

To-day there Was an extremely heavy batch of short stories, the prize being awarded to Haydn George, Rora Street, Te Kuiti, age 15, for And a Little Child Shall Lead Them." The work* of Jean Small, Grace McCallum, James Boyle, lan Hansen* Jdan Anderson, Nance Jones, Sheila Quinn, and Anstice James wete highly commended.

"AND A LITTLE CHILD SHALL LEAD THEM—" {Winning entry by Haydn George, Rora Street, Te Kuitii-age 15.) The Battle of Marston Moor was over. The King's army was utterly routed and for three weeks Sir Hugh .Carstairs had lain hidden in the woods which surrounded his castle, while Roundhead soldiery searched for iiim. ~ Three people only knew of his hidingplafie—his wife, his little daughter and David, the old manservanti These three had ventured forth with the food which had kept him alive. In this little Margery had been' most successful, for who would suspect a little maid with a ■basket 1 of woodland flowers, attended by an elderly manservant? , ' But at last several days had passed without sign of the troops and Sir Hugh had crept forth and entered his castle,, hoping for a good night's rest, a good meal and a good mount) and then, hey! pnee more for the King's Standard. He had had food and a long rest and ■wafe preparing to ride away, when old DaVid entered the small oak chamber overlooking the courtyard, hot and out of breath. \ -"Sir! Master!" he exclaimed, "there are troops without the gate! 1 ' Sir Hugh sprang, to his feet. "What are they ? Who rides with them 7" ®'Lord Carnavon and Captain Exmoor, eir." "Captain Exmoor !!" repeated the lady gladly. "Then thou art safe! He is thy friend, Hugh! !" • "My sweet one," replied her husband. "He hath gone over to the Roundhea'ds, and. doubtless hath been compelled to come because he knoweth this house and every yard of the country as well as myself." "Then they will take thee!" Lady Diana looked round in terror as the spurs and swords clanked. "Hugh, hide thyself! The monk's chamber!" She sprang to the will and pressed a spring. The panelling shot hack, showing a tiny room. But he shook his head. " 'Tis useless, sweet wife, 'Twould be but to. be caught as a rat in a trap." Little Margery,, born and brought up in troublous times, had listened to her parents with an understanding far beyond her years. Now, springing up, she left the chamber and flew down 'the staircase. "Captain Exmoor," she cried, running out into the sunshine and grasping his hand. "Captain Exmoor,, hast thou come to see my father ? He sorely needs a friend." Lady Diana, through the open window above, heard the high childish voice and gave one sob. "Hugh! the child! She hath not understood!" But Margery's voice continued: "Dost know that for three weeks he hath lain, in the forest, and," proudly, "I have carried him food! I can guide thee to the ■place." "Hush! hush! child!" exclaimed the captain hoarsely, " 'tis not for a child to betray her father's--" A stfirn voice checked him. "What is this ? Methmks Captain Exmoor is. a traitor to- the cause." With a suppressed groan Exmoor turned away, while. Lord,. Carnavon, in the gentlest tone he could summon,, said: "Lead on,'child.. We—ah—we will take thy father to a safer, place." Aga,in Margery's hand slipped into the captain's, holding with an unusually tight clasp, and he was bound to ' 'How her lead.

] "01i, it hath been a terrible time!" she said.. "We have been sorely anxious. But now all will'be well. Dear father will he quite Safe now." The soldier inade no reply and at last the little' girl dropped his hand and sprang' forward. "See, here it is! Is it not a good hiding place? For three weeks he hath Min here." She parted the bushes and showed the opening, to a small underground cave. Lord Carnavon pushed her aside roughly and entered With .drawn sword,, while the men closed around, bub except for some straw which still bore the impression of a man's figure,, there was nothing to be seen.. "Gone!" he exclaimed. "He escaped!" Then suddenly his suspicion aroused and he turned his furious face toward the child, who shrank against ■her father's friend.' "Thou hast deceived me! Thou hast lied! Thou saidst thou wouldst guide me to thy father!"' The Wood of a noble race ran in Margery's veins, and though Sorely frightened, she answered: "I said not I Would guide thee to my father!" The angry face terrified her, but she kept on bravely. "I said I would show thee the hiding place where he hath lain for .three weeks, and—and 'tis here." ( "Then where is 'he now?" he de? manded in a terrifying voice. "I think," she hegan tremulously, "I think he is on the- hack of fleet Brown Bess on- the way to the King.'*

For a minute Lord Carnavon looked as if he would strike her to the ground with his sword, but,_ man of iron though he was, he did not war on children. Ho dashed it into its scabbard. "Outwitted!:—and by a child—a babe!" Captain Exmoor turned to Margery. "See, child,-I will take thee home. It is not. safe for thee to be abroad. Hasten!" I The two sped back to the castle. Lady Diana was looking forth in telrrible anxiety/ ' Captain Exmoor sprang for.ward, and, dropping on his knee, caught, her hand. ; • "Forgive me, Lady Diana! A soldier's 'first duty is to obey—but—thank God thy husband hath escaped'!'" He pressed his- lips to her kissed little Margery, 'and hastened' after Lord Carnavon. •Safe ml her mother's arms, Margery burst into a flood of tears. "Hush, hush, sweetheart!" said the lady, holding her. closely. "There is no need for tears now. Thou hast saved thy father and he hath left thee a message, 'Tell my little Margeiy I have the sweetest and bravest little daughter in all the land-'"