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Chapter Ten - Pon, the Gardener's Boy
It was Button-Bright who first discovered, lying on his face beneath a broad
spreading tree near the pathway, a young man whose body shook with the
force of his sobs. He was dressed in a long brown smock and had sandals on
his feet, betokening one in humble life. His head was bare and showed a
shock of brown, curly hair. Button-Bright looked down on the young man and
said:
"
Who cares, anyhow?"
"
I do!" cried the young man, interrupting his sobs to roll over, face upward,
that he might see who had spoken. "I care, for my heart is broken!"
"
"
Can't you get another one?" asked the little boy.
I don't want another!" wailed the young man.
By this time Trot and Cap'n Bill arrived at the spot and the girl leaned over
and said in a sympathetic voice:
"
Tell us your troubles and perhaps we may help you."
The youth sat up, then, and bowed politely. Afterward he got upon his feet,
but still kept wringing his hands as he tried to choke down his sobs. Trot
thought he was very brave to control such awful agony so well.
"
"
"
"
My name is Pon," he began. "I'm the gardener's boy."
Then the gardener of the King is your father, I suppose," said Trot.
Not my father, but my master," was the reply
I do the work and the gardener gives the orders. And it was not my fault, in
the least, that the Princess Gloria fell in love with me."
"
"
"
"
Did she, really?" asked the little girl.
I don't see why," remarked Button-Bright, staring at the youth.
And who may the Princess Gloria be?" inquired Cap'n Bill.
She is the niece of King Krewl, who is her guardian. The Princess lives in the
castle and is the loveliest and sweetest maiden in all Jinxland. She is fond of
flowers and used to walk in the gardens with her attendants. At such times, if
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