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Show © The man who by R. E. Gurvitz HE EYEGLASSES, the letter, and the ultiTeron lay on the general’s table. He picked up the letter and tried to read the finely written lines, but they danced and swam before his eyes. Ruefully, he reached for the glasses and put them on. They were new andslipped slightly to the bridge of his nose. He would have to memorize any parts of the letter he wished OLN MO] 10) IS) mmanee NEW! Lomon Flavor plusVitamin C Most delicious way ever to soothe that rough and raspy throat . . . ease that-nagging throat tickle . . . each package contains twice the minimum daily requirement of Vitamin C . . . refreshes dry smokers’ thiroats, too! ' aea) SeeetneS THE KNOX PROTEIN DRINK HELPS ANY SOUND REDUCING PLAN Hereis a simple, safe way to curb mealtime appetite, a help in any sound reducing pian. Between or before mealsdrink an envelope of Knox Unflavored Gelatine (costs about 5¢)in fruit or vegetable juice, bouillon or water. Simple directions on each ®=~ Knox envelope. See how it eases between-meal hunger pangs without piling up calories, fe = eA <— tell him that the officers were assembled. He rose slowly and gathered his notes from the table. He looked at the words he had scribbled and prayed that they were the right ones. to read to his officers. It wouldn’t do for HE TROOPS were a black field in front them to see him wearing glasses. He smiled at his vanity and began reading. _ His friends urged patience. They knew that the army was restless—that two years had passed since their last victory had neutralized the enemy and that a peace treaty had not yet been signed, ‘They realized that the army had not been paid and of him, and they shouted greetings as he walked through their ranks. “There goes our first king!” a grizzled corporal shouted. A cheer went up. Theofficers rose as he entered the hall. He walked to the lectern and stood there silently surveying them. A single word from him would.start- them _marching— that families of men who hadfallen were , a march which wouldn’t end until he was destitute. They were trying, they wrote, crowned king! He began to talk, clenching and unbut he must give them more time> He thought, “Time, my friends, is no clenching his hand. “Do not lessen the dignity and sully the glory you have longer mine to give.” His officers’ ultiti: matum lay before him. He picked it up hitherto maintained,” he said. They knew he was turning them down, and examined it again. “Be our king” was its sum and substance. It urged him to and an angry murmur swept through the lead them away to another country or to crowd. Someof the youngofficers jumped to their feet. let them march on the capitol and give Heraised his voice. “You will,” he said, him the throne at bayonet point. “by the dignity of your conductafford ocHe had argued with them—hadpointed casion for posterity to say, when speakout that they had sworn to defend their governmentand that they couldn’t desert ing of the glorious example you have exhibited to mankind, ‘Had this day been it in times of crisis. When hefelt his arguwanting, the world had neverseen the last ments failing, he had used the love and respect_they had for him to gain extra stage of perfection to which human nature timeto plead their case before the govern- is capable of attaining’.” ment. This was the answer. He had summed uphis entire appeal in He rose and walked to the tent flap. the last statement, and ‘the angry voices Peering through it, he could see the carhadstill not quieted. Perhaps, he thought, penters putting the final touches on the if he read them someofthe letters he had meeting hall he had ordered built. received. He reached into his pocket and The momentit was finished,his officers brought forth the latest. His eyes blurred would gather and wait for his decision. and he duginto the pocket for his glasses There would be no moretimeleft. and put them on. His eyes took in the tents scattered over The murmuring stopped. In all parts of the neighboringhills, and a thrill of pride the hall, men were suddenly strucksilent. shot through him. His rag-tail, pick-up They realized, quite suddenly, that the army, he thought. How they had fought! man they had thought of as granite and It was unthinkable that men:like these iron was flesh and blood. The suffering, . should ask to be ruled. His ownanger the privations of the last cruel years had rose at the governmentdelays that had re- left their stamp on him. The long service duced them to this state. Deep within him showed suddenly in lines they had never he struggled against the nagging temptanoticed, in the slight bend to the proud tion to accept the crown they offered. back, in the veined hands. “Yd rule them wisely,” he thought. Hepointed apologetically to the glasses. Startled at the turn of his thoughts, he “Gentlemen,” he ‘said, “I have grown gray spoke the next words aloud. “It would be in your service and now find myself growa betrayal—a betrayal of everything.” ing blind.” : He could see the carpenters picking up He put away the letters, stepped down their tools. The building was finished. from the dais, and started for the exit. His From all parts of the encampment men officers formed a solid rank behind him— began to drift toward the clearing. Harda rank which would not falter again. bitten bearded veterans, untried recruits, And as he crossed the threshold, Genwounded men oncrutches, gunners, cooks, eral George Washington hadstill another vengineers—each of the skills and trades meeting—this time with history—as Presithat keep an army functioning was repredent, not king, of the United States. KNOX UNFLAVORED GELATINE A low-calorie protein supplement sented ‘outside that fateful meeting hall. There was a holiday air about the gathering, and they cheered the officers as they arrived and entered the building. The youngest of his lieutenants came to Family Weekly, February 22, 1959 |