[Illustration: (see king001. Png)] THE UNCROWNED KING BYHAROLD BELL WRIGHT AUTHOR OF"THE SHEPHERD OF THE HILLS"ETC. , ETC. ILLUSTRATIONSBY JOHN REA NEILL 1910 ToMR. ELSBERY W. REYNOLDSMyPublisher and Friend, Whose belief in my work has made mywork possible, I gratefullydedicate this taleofThe Uncrowned King Redlands, California. May fourth, 1910 "Eyes blinded by the fog of Things cannot see Truth. Ears deafened by the din of Things cannot hear Truth. Brains bewildered by the whirl of Things cannot think Truth. Hearts deadened by the weight of Things cannot feel Truth. Throats choked by the dust of Things cannot speak Truth. " CONTENTS The Pilgrim and His PilgrimageThe Voice of the WavesThe Voice of the Evening WindThe Voice of the NightThe Voice of the New Day ILLUSTRATIONSDrawn byJohn Rea Neill * * * * * THE PILGRIM AND HIS PILGRIMAGE [Illustration: The Pilgrim and His Pilgrimage (see king002. Png)] For many, many, weary months the Pilgrim journeyed in the wide andpathless Desert of Facts. So many indeed were the months that thewayworn Pilgrim, himself, came at last to forget their number. And always, for the Pilgrim, the sky by day was a sky of brass, softenednot by so much as a wreath of cloud mist. Always, for him, the hot airwas stirred not by so much as the lift of a wild bird's wing. Never, forhim, was the awful stillness of the night broken by voice of his kind, by foot-fall of beast, or by rustle of creeping thing. For the toilingPilgrim in the vast and pathless Desert of Facts there was no kindlyface, no friendly fire. Only the stars were many--many and very near. Day after day, as the Pilgrim labored onward, through the torturingheat, under the sky of brass, he saw on either hand lakes of livingwaters and groves of many palms. And the waters called him to theirhealing coolness: the palms beckoned him to their restful shade andshelter. Night after night, in the dreadful solitude, frightful Shapescame on silent feet out of the silent darkness to stare at him withdoubtful, questioning, threatening eyes; drawing back at last, if hestood still, as silently as they had come, or, if he advanced, vanishingquickly, only to reappear as silently in another place. But the Pilgrim knew that the enchanting scenes that lured him by daywere but pictures in the heated air. He knew that the fearful Shapesthat haunted him by night were but creatures of his own overwroughtfancy. And so he journeyed on and ever on, in the staggering heat, underthe sky of brass, in the awful stillness of the night: on and ever on, through the wide and pathless waste, until he came at last to theOuter-Edge-Of-Things--came to the place that is between the Desert ofFacts and the Beautiful Sea, even as it is written in the Law of thePilgrimage. The tired feet of the Traveler left now the rough, hot floor of thedesert for a soft, cool carpet of velvet grass all inwrought withblossoms that filled the air with fragrance. Over his head, tall treesgently shook their glistening, shadowy leaves, while sweet voiced birdsof rare and wondrous plumage flitted from bough to bough. Across a skyof deepest blue, fleets of fairy cloud ships, light as feathery down, floated--floated--drifting lazily, as though, piloted only by the wind, their pilot slept. All about him, as he walked, multitudes of sunlightand shadow fairies danced gaily hand in hand. And over the shimmeringsurface of the Sea a thousand thousand fairy waves ran joyously, oneafter the other, from the sky line to the pebbly beach, making liquidmusic clearer and softer than the softest of clear toned bells. And there it was, in that wondrously beautiful place, theOuter-Edge-Of-Things, that the Pilgrim found, fashioned of sheerestwhite, with lofty dome, towering spires, and piercing minarets liftingout of the living green, the Temple of Truth. [Illustration: (see king003. Png)] In reverent awe the Pilgrim stood before the sacred object of hisPilgrimage. At last, with earnest step, the worshiper approached the holy edifice. But when he would have passed through the high arched door, his way wasbarred by one whose garments were white even as the whiteness of theTemple, whose eyes were clear even as the skies, and whose face shoneeven as the shining Beautiful Sea. The Pilgrim, hesitating, spoke: "You are?" The other answered in a voice that was even as the soft wind thatstirred the leaves of the forest: "I am Thyself. " Then the Pilgrim--"And your office?" "I am the appointed Keeper of the Temple of Truth; save by my permissionnone may enter here. " Cried the Pilgrim eagerly: "But I? I may enter? Surely I have fulfilledThe Law! Surely I have paid The Price!" "What law have you fulfilled? What price have you paid?" gently asked hein the garments of white. Proudly now the other answered: "I have accomplished alone the longjourney through the Desert of Facts. Alone I have endured the days underthe sky of brass; alone I have borne the awful solitude of the nights. Iwas not drawn aside by the lovely scenes that tempted me. I was notturned back by the dreadful Shapes that threatened me. And so I haveattained the Outer-Edge-Of-Things. " "You have indeed fulfilled The Law, " said he of the shining face. "AndThe Price?" The Pilgrim answered sadly: "I left behind all things dearest to theheart of man--Wealth of Traditions inherited from the Long Ago, HolyPrejudices painfully gathered through the ages of the past, SacredOpinions, Customs, Favors and Honors of the World that is, in the timesthat are. " "You have indeed paid The Price, " said the soft voice of the other, "butstill, still there is one thing more. " "And the one thing more?" asked the Pilgrim, "I knew not that therecould be one thing more. " The Keeper of the Temple was silent for a little, then said very gently:"Is there nothing, O Hadji, that you would ask Thyself?" Then all at once the Pilgrim understood. Said he slowly: "There is stillone thing more. Tell me, tell me--Why? Why The Law of the Pilgrimage?Why the journey so long? Why the way so hard? Why is the Temple of Truthhere on the Outer-Edge-Of-Things?" And Thyself answered clearly: "He who lives always within Things cannever worship in Truth. Eyes blinded by the fog of Things cannot seeTruth. Ears deafened by the din of Things cannot hear Truth. Brainsbewildered by the whirl of Things cannot think Truth. Hearts deadened bythe weight of Things cannot feel Truth. Throats choked by the dust ofThings cannot speak Truth. Therefore, O Hadji, is the Temple of Truthhere on the Outer-Edge-Of-Things; therefore is The Law of thePilgrimage. " "And The Price?" asked the Pilgrim; "It was so great a price. Why?" Thyself answered: "Found you no bones in the Desert? Found you no gravesby the way?" The other replied: "I saw the Desert white with bones--I found the wayset among many graves. " "And the hands of the dead?"--asked Thyself, in that voice so like thewind that stirred the leaves of the forest--"And the hands of the dead?" And the Pilgrim answered now with understanding: "The hands of the deadheld fast to their treasures--held fast to their Wealth of Traditions, to their Holy Prejudices, to the Sacred Opinions, Customs, Favors andHonors of Men. " Then Thyself, the appointed Keeper of the Temple of Truth, went quietlyaside from the path. With slow and reverent step, with bowed uncoveredhead, the Pilgrim crossed the threshold and through the high archeddoorway entered the sacred corridors. But within the Temple, before approaching the altar with his offering, the Pilgrim was constrained to retire to The Quiet Room, there to spendthe hours until a new day in prayerful meditation. It was there thatthis Tale of The Uncrowned King came to him--came to him at the end ofhis long pilgrimage across the Desert of Facts--came to him after he hadpaid The Price, after he had fulfilled The Law, after he had asked ofThyself, the Keeper of the Temple, "Why?" There, in The Quiet Room in the Temple of Truth on theOuter-Edge-Of-Things, the Voices to the Pilgrim told this Tale of TheUncrowned King. * * * * * AND THE FIRST VOICE WAS THE VOICE OF THE WAVES [Illustration: And the First Voice was the Voice of the Waves (seeking004. Png)] It was nearing the fall of day when first the Pilgrim laid himself tomeditate upon his couch in The Quiet Room. Without the Temple, the tall trees rustled softly their glossy leavesand over the flower-figured carpet of green the sunlight and shadowfairies danced along the lanes of gold. High in the blue above, thefairy cloud-fleets were drifting--drifting--idly floating. Over theBeautiful Sea, the glad wave fairies ran one after the other from beyondthe far horizon to the sandy shore. In The Quiet Room where the Pilgrim lay, it was very, very, still. Onlythe liquid music of the waves came through the open window--came to thePilgrim clearer and sweeter than the sweetest notes from clear tonedbells. And after a little there was in the music of the waves a Voice. Said the Voice: "To thee, O Hadji, I come from the Beautiful Sea; theinterminable, unfathomable sea, that begins at the Outer-Edge-Of-Thingsand stretches away into Neverness. I speak from out the Deeps Beneath. Itell of the Great That Is. I am a Voice of Life, O Hadji, and mine it isto begin for you The Tale of The Uncrowned King. " And this is the beginning of the Tale that the Voice of the Waves began. Very great and very wonderful, O Hadji, is the Land of Allthetime. Verygreat and very wonderful is the Royal City Daybyday. Beautiful inAllthetime are the lakes and rivers, the mountains, plains and streams. Beautiful in Daybyday are the groves and gardens, the drives and parks, the harbors and canals. Countless, in this Royal City, are the palaces. Without number are the people--without number and of many races, languages, and names. But amid the countless palaces in this marvelous city Daybyday, there isone Temple only--only one. For the numberless people of the many races, languages, and names, there is but one God--only one. About this RoyalCity there is no Wall. For the King of Allthetime, who dwells inDaybyday, there is no Crown. But the days that were were not as the days that are, O Hadji, andtherefore is this Tale. In the long ago olden days, when King What-Soever-Youthink ruled overthe Land of Allthetime, there were, in this Royal City Daybyday, religions many--as many quite as the races, languages and names of thepeople. Many then were the temples built by the many followers of themany religions to their many gods. For you must know that KingWhat-Soever-You-think was, of all wise kings that ever were or will be, the very wisest and, therefore, permitted his subjects to worship whomthey would. Always in the city streets there were vast throngs of people passing toand fro among the temples, bearing offerings and singing praises to thegods of their choice; for the chiefest occupation of the dwellers inDaybyday was then, as it is now, the old, old, occupation of worship. Some of the temples, it is true, were at times quite deserted, while inothers there was not room for the multitudes; but even in the nearlyempty temples the priests and beggars always remained, for, in that age, the people of Daybyday changed often their gods nor followed any veryfar. And you must know, too, O Hadji, that in those long ago olden days--thedays of the reign of What-Soever-Youthink there was for the Ruler ofAllthetime a Crown; and that of all the wonders in that wonderful landthis Crown was the most wonderful. More dear to the people of Daybydaythan their city itself, more precious than their splendid temples, moresacred even than their many gods, was this--the Crown of their King. It was so, first, because the Crown was extremely old. From thebeginning of the reign of the Royal Family Everyone, no one knows howmany thousands of ages ago, it had passed from king to king, even untilthat day. It was so, second, because the Crown was exceedingly valuable. From thevery beginning of the beginning each ruler had in turn added a jewel tothe golden, gem encrusted emblem of his rank. It was so, third, because the Crown was a Magic Crown, though no onethen knew its magic--they knew only that its magic was. Therefore, again, O Hadji, is this Tale. Also, in those days, there was about this Royal City a Wall--a wallbuilt, so they said, on the very foundations of the world; so strongthat no force could breach it, and so high that the clouds often hid itstowers and battlements. Only from the topmost cupola of the Royal Palacecould one see over this mighty barrier. Only by the Two Great Gatescould one pass through. And so the good people of Allthetime could all quite clearly see that inthe Royal City Daybyday the precious Magic Crown was as safe as evercrown could be. And it was so, O Hadji--it was so. The Crown was as safeas ever crown could be--as safe indeed as ever a crown can be. And this too is truth, O Hadji; that in Daybyday, even now, you may findruins of the many temples, and here and there a little of the many gods. Even now you may see where the Great Wall was. But of the Crown, inthese days, there is nothing--nothing. And this is how it happened--this is the way it came to be. King What-Soever-Youthink was the father of two sons; twins they were, and their names--Really-Is and Seemsto-Be. No one in all the kingdomcould tell them one from the other, though the princes themselves knewthat Really-Is was first born, and that when the wise king, theirfather, died, it would be for him to occupy the throne, to wear theCrown, and rule the Land of Allthetime. One day when the young princes were playing in the palace yard theydiscovered, by chance, an old door that led to the stairway in a tower. Of course they climbed up, up, up, until they stood at last in thecupola at the very top. Far beneath their feet they saw the roofs of theRoyal Palace, and the gardens, fields, and orchards, like spots andsplashes of color. The walks and courts appeared as lines and squares ofwhite, while the soldiers and servants moved about like tiny animateddots. Reaching away from the palace grounds on every side was thewonderful city Daybyday, so far below that no sound could reach theirears. To their delight, the princes found that they could even look downupon the Great Wall; and, because there were that day no clouds to shutout the view, they could see far, far away over the Land of Allthetime. [Illustration: (see king005. Png)] "Look, brother, " cried Seemsto-Be, catching Really-Is by the arm inquick excitement, "Look! what is that flashing and gleaming in the sun?" As he spoke, he pointed afar off to the land beyond the river that marksthe end of Allthetime. "I'm sure I cannot tell;" answered Really-Is, shading his eyes with hisopen hand and gazing long and earnestly in the direction his brotherindicated; "It looks--it looks like a city. " "It is, it is, " cried Seemsto-Be. "It is the City Sometime in the Landof Yettocome. I remember hearing once the Chief Gardener telling theChief Coachman about it, and he said that the Chief Cook said that heheard the Captain of the Guard say that it is far more wonderful thanour own city Daybyday; and it must be so, Really-Is, for see, brother, how the walls shine like polished silver, and look! Is not that a palaceor a temple blazing so like a ruby flame?" Often after that did the twin princes, Really-Is and Seemsto-Be, climbthe winding stairs in the palace tower and look away over the Great Wallof Daybyday to the City Sometime in the Land of Yettocome. Many were thehours they spent talking of the marvelous place that so filled thedistance with dazzling splendor. And at last, when the princes werequite grown, they went before their royal father and asked permission tovisit the city they had seen. Now King What-Soever-Youthink was very sad when his sons made theirrequest, but nevertheless, because he was a wise king, he gave his royalconsent, and, that the brothers might make their journey in comfort, presented to each a priceless horse from the palace stables. ToReally-Is he gave Reality; to Seemsto-Be he gave Appearance; and bothwere steeds of noble breeding, swift and strong, beautiful and proud--aslike even as the royal twins, their masters. So it came that the two princes bade farewell to their father, the King, and rode bravely out of the city Daybyday, through the Land ofAllthetime, and along the way that leads to the City Sometime in theLand of Yettocome. "And this, O Hadji, " said the Voice of the Waves, "is all of The Tale ofThe Uncrowned King that is given me to tell. " The liquid music of the waves came no longer through the openwindow--the voice that was in the music came no more to the Pilgrim inThe Quiet Room. Without the Temple the tall trees were still-still andsilent were the sweet-voiced birds. The sunlight and shadow fairies haddanced to the ends of the lanes of gold--danced to the very ends andwere gone. The feathery cloud ships in the blue above seemed to lie atanchor, and over the surface of the Beautiful Sea no laughing ripplesran to play on the pebbly beach. The Pilgrim arose from his couch, and, going to the open window, looked, and there, in the still, fathomless, depth of the clear water, he saw asin a crystal glass the wonderful city Daybyday with its canals andharbors, its parks and drives, its groves and gardens, its palaces andtemples. Then, even as the Pilgrim looked, quickly the Evening Wind sprang up. Again the tall trees rustled their leaves, the cloud ships lifted theiranchors, the waves of the Beautiful Sea ran joyously; the Vision in theDeeps Beneath was gone. * * * * * AND THE SECOND VOICE WAS THE VOICE OF THE EVENING WIND [Illustration: And the Second Voice wasThe Voice of the Evening Wind (see king006. Png)] It was early twilight when the Pilgrim in The Quiet Room returned to hiscouch and to his meditations. Without the Temple, the last of the day was stealing over the rim of theworld into the mysterious realm of the yesterdays. The feathery cloudships no longer floated white in the depth of blue, but with wide flungsails of rose and crimson swept over an ocean of amethyst and gold. Theripples that ran on the Beautiful Sea were edged with yellow and scarletflame, while leaf, and blade, and flower, and bird, and all of theirkind and kin, were singing their evensong. Sweetly, softly, the choralanthem stole through the open window into The Quiet Room. And after a little the Pilgrim heard, whispering low, in the twilighthymn, the Voice of the Evening Wind. Said the Voice: "To thee, O Hadji, I come from the Boundless Ocean Abovethat begins wherever you are and extends farther away than the farthestpoint your thought can reach. I speak from out the Deeps Beyond. I tellof the Great That May Be. I too am a Voice of Life and mine it is tocontinue for you The Tale of The Uncrowned King. " And this is the part of the Tale that was told by the Voice of theEvening Wind. The twin princes Really-Is and Seemsto-Be, on their good horses Realityand Appearance, journeyed very pleasantly through the Land of Allthetimetoward the City Sometime in the Land of Yettocome. Ever as they went theRoyal travelers saw before them the walls of the city gleaming likepolished silver in the sun, and high above the shining walls the greatpalace or temple that flamed like a ruby flame. Always as they rode thetwo talked gaily, in glad anticipation of the marvels they wouldcertainly see, of the pleasures they would surely find, and of thedelightful adventures that without doubt awaited them. So at last theyarrived at the city gate, which was a gate all scrolled and patternedwith precious gems. [Illustration: (see king007. Png)] Fairer than the dreams of angels, O Hadji, is the City Sometime in theLand of Yettocome. Of such radiant splendors, such dazzling brilliancy, such transcending glory there are yet no words fashioned to tell. It isa city, in the form and manner of its building, of exquisite loveliness, of fairy grace, of towering grandeur. It is a city in the beauty andrichness of its color, all emerald, rose, and purple, all ruby, crimsonand gold. As the twin princes of Allthetime rode slowly through the wide jeweledgate and along the noble streets and stately avenues, they exclaimedaloud with delight and wonder at the enchanting beauty of the scene. More than they had heard at home was true. The poorest of the buildingsin Sometime far exceeded in splendor the richest of the palaces inDaybyday; while before the palaces of Sometime, Really-Is and Seemsto-Bestood speechless and amazed. They were fairly drunken with the flashing, flaming, blazing, blinding glory of the sight. The people of Sometime, too, were exceeding fair and very charming intheir manner, and they welcomed the princes from Daybyday with a joyouswelcome, answering their questions gladly and escorting them to thepalace of their king. For you must know, O Hadji, that the CitySometime, too, is a Royal City, the home of Lookingahead, who rules overthe Land of Yettocome. And King Lookingahead received his noble visitorswith gladness and had great pleasure, he said, in presenting them to histwo daughters, the princesses of Yettocome, Fancy and Imagination, whowere fairer than any women the princes of Daybyday had ever seen, evenin the loveliest of their dreams. For a long happy, happy time Really-Is and Seemsto-Be remained in theCity Sometime. Every day, and every day, with the royal princesses Fancyand Imagination for their guides, they rode or drove through the widestreets and broad avenues, walked in the beautiful gardens, explored theshadowy groves or visited the many palaces. And in this way it was thatthe charming princesses showed to their noble guests all the wonders ofthe Royal City of the Realm of Yettocome, pointing out for them everyday new beauties, finding for them always new pleasures, leading themever to fresh scenes of enchanting loveliness. And in turn the princestold their fair guides many things of their own city, Daybyday, in theLand of Allthetime; of the people with their many temples and their manygods; of their father What-Soever-Youthink and his wise reign. But mostof all did they tell of the wonderful Crown, so very old, so veryvaluable, and how it was a Magic Crown, though no one then knew itsmagic, but knew only that its magic was. Thus Really-Is and Seemsto-Be learned that the dwellers in Sometime wereunlike the people of Daybyday in many ways, but in no way more thanthis, that they worshiped one god only, only one. The temple sacred tothis god stood in the very heart of the city, which is the very heart ofthe land, and it was this temple, blazing like a ruby flame high abovethe shining city walls, the princes had seen from the tower of theirpalace home. Often, very often did the four young people visit this shrine inSometime with rich offerings to the god, Itmightbe. But there came a time at last when, returning from a long ramble throughthe city, Really-Is and Seemsto-Be were met at the palace door by aroyal messenger from home with the word that King What-Soever-Youthinkwas dead, and that the princes must hasten back to Daybyday, whereReally-Is would be crowned with the Magic Crown and become the Ruler ofAllthetime. All was hurry and confusion in the palace of Lookingahead as the guestsmade swift preparations for their journey. Quickly the word wentthroughout the city and many charming people came to express regret, tosympathize and to bid the young men good-speed and safe going on theirhomeward way. The princesses, Fancy and Imagination, were very sad atlosing their pleasant companions; and the Chief High Priest of theTemple commanded services and offerings extraordinary to the godItmightbe. "And this, O Hadji, " whispered the Voice of the Evening Wind, "is all ofThe Tale of The Uncrowned King that is given me to tell. " The evening song of leaf and blade, and flower and bird, and all theirkind and kin, ceased to come through the open window into The QuietRoom. The low Voice of the Evening Wind no longer whispered to thePilgrim as he lay upon his couch. Without the Temple the eventide waspassing from over the silent land and over the silent sea. For a little the Pilgrim waited; then rising from his couch, again hewent to the open window, and lo! in the evening sky he saw the CitySometime in the Land of Yettocome. All the wondrous castles and palaceswere there, marvelous in their beauty, glorious in their splendor, dazzling in their colors of emerald, rose and purple, of ruby, crimsonand gold. From spire and dome, cupola and turret, tower and battlementthe lights flashed and gleamed, while the Pilgrim looked in wonder andin awe. And high above the city walls, that shone as burnished silver inthe sun, rose the temple flaming like a ruby flame--the temple sacred tothe god Itmightbe. Slowly, slowly, the last of the twilight passed. Slowly, the gracefullines, the proud forms, the majestic piles of the city melted--melted, blurred and were lost even as are lost the form and loveliness of a snowflake on the sleeve. Slowly, slowly, the glorious colors faded as fadethe flowers at the touch of frost. The lights went out. The darknesscame. The city that is fairer than an angel's dream was gone. * * * * * AND THE THIRD VOICE WAS THE VOICE OF THE NIGHT [Illustration: And the Third Voice wasThe Voice of the Night (see king008. Png)] It was full night when the Pilgrim turned again to seek his couch. Without the Temple it was very still--dark and still. Very still was itwithin The Quiet Room, and the darkness that came stealing through theopen window was a thick and heavy darkness. The Pilgrim lay upon hiscouch staring with blank, unseeing eyes into a blackness wherein therewas not even a spot of gray to show where the window was. And after a little there came out of the heavy darkness the sad, sadVoice of the Night. Said the Voice: "To thee, O Hadji, I come from the Limitless Realm ofthe Past that begins this moment and reaches back even beyond the day ofall beginnings. I speak from the Deeps Above. I tell of the Great ThatWas. I also am a Voice of Life, and mine it is to tell you yet more ofThe Tale of The Uncrowned King. " And this is the part of the Tale that was told by the Voice of theNight. Now it happened, as things sometime so happen, that Really-Is lingeredover long, saying good-bye to his friends in the City Sometime in theLand of Yettocome; and that when he had lingered long with his friendshe stayed yet longer with the beautiful princess, Imagination. So it was that, while the prince was promising many promises andreceiving in turn promises as many, his brother, Seemsto-Be, mounted andwas well started on his journey before the heir to the throne ofAllthetime was in the saddle. With the last good-bye spoken to his royalfriends, the last promise promised to the fair princess, and the lastfarewell waved to the charming people, Really-Is urged his horse fastand faster, thinking thus to overtake his brother. But very soonReally-Is found that, fast as he rode his good horse Reality, Seemsto-Beon Appearance rode faster. Greater and greater grew the distance betweenthe two princes--farther and farther ahead rode Seemsto-Be; until atlast, when the distance between them was such that he could, no longersee his brother, Really-Is, the rightful heir to the throne ofAllthetime, understood that Seemsto-Be was riding to win the Crown. "For you must not forget, O Hadji, " said the sad Voice of the Night, "that no one in Daybyday could tell the twins, Really-Is and Seemsto-Be, one from the other, and therefore, you see, the prince who first reachedthe Royal City would surely be proclaimed king. " Hard and fast, fast and hard, rode the two who raced for the Crown ofAllthetime. But always Appearance the horse of Seemsto-Be, proved fasterthan Reality, the horse of Really-Is, and so the prince who was firstborn rode far behind. Now just this side of the river that marks the end of the Land ofAllthetime the road divides, the way to the left leading to the BrazenGate called Chance, and the other, to the right, going straight to theGolden Gate, Opportunity. And just here it is, at the parting of theways, that Wisdom lives in his little house beside the road. When Really-Is in turn arrived at this place, he dismounted from histired horse, and approaching the little house, asked of Wisdom if he hadseen one pass that way riding in great haste. "Aye, that I have, " replied Wisdom with a smile, "that I have, youngsir, and many would say that it was yourself who rode so hard. " "It was my brother, good sir, " replied the prince. "May I ask which wayhe went and how far he rides ahead?" The old man, pointing, answered: "He took the road to the left there andhe rides so far ahead that you cannot now overtake him this side thecity walls. " "At least I must try to overtake him, " answered the prince, and, thanking the old man, he turned quickly to mount his horse again. But Wisdom cried, "Why so fast? Why so fast? Is not your brother's nameSeemsto-Be? And are not you, Really-Is, the rightful heir to the throneof Allthetime?" "It is indeed so, sir, " replied the young man sadly. "I am Really-Is. Iwas born before my brother, Seemsto-Be, and am, therefore, the rightfulheir to the Crown. Our father, King What-Soever-Youthink, is dead, and Imust hasten or my brother will be crowned king, for as you see, thepeople cannot tell us one from the other. " Then said Wisdom: "But you will gain nothing by haste, ohReally-Is, --nothing but time, and there is much of greater value thantime to a King of Allthetime. Even now is Seemsto-Be entering the city. Even now is he by the people being hailed King. Therefore, tarry a whilebefore you act and listen to my words. " So it was that Really-Is paused on his journey to sit awhile with Wisdomin the little house by the side of the road. Then did Wisdom take from his shelves many a ponderous, time worn volumeand read to the prince History, Prophecy and Law, revealing to him thusthe Secret of the Magic of the Crown of Allthetime. And from the last volume, that which Wisdom read to Really-Is was this:"Be it known, O whosoever readeth, that if any prince of the royalfamily Everyone enter the city Daybyday through the Brazen Gate calledChance, he shall be forever held unworthy of the throne and crown. Inthe sacred Law of All the Ages it is written that a King of Allthetimemay enter the Royal City only through the Golden Gate Opportunity. " [Illustration: (see king009. Png)] Wisdom closed the book and returned this volume also to its place. Really-Is arose to go. "And what now is your mind, young sir?" asked Wisdom kindly. Then Really-Is answered royally: "This you have taught me, OWisdom--this is my mind: _The Crown is not the kingdom, nor is one Kingbecause he wears a crown_. " Then did Wisdom with bowed head salute the True King. "And your will, Sire; may I know your Majesty's will?" King Really-Is replied: "My will is this: that I myself obey the sacredLaw of The Ages. " "And your brother, Sire, your brother, Seemsto-Be?" "I will pity Seemsto-Be, " replied The King in sorrow, "I will have muchpity for that poor, foolish one. " "And peace will dwell in thy heart, O King of Allthetime, " said Wisdom, "true peace and understanding. " Then Really-Is, alone and unattended, rode slowly on his way. And Seemsto-Be, who rode so fast and so far ahead of Really-Is, and whopaused not at the house of Wisdom, entered the city Daybyday through theBrazen Gate called Chance, and was received by the people of many races, languages, names and religions as their king. With great tumult and shouting, with grand processions and ceremonies, the false prince ascended the throne of Allthetime and was crowned withthe Magic Crown--the Crown of which no one then knew its magic, but knewonly that its magic was. Then began such times as were never before nor since seen in Daybyday;with holiday after holiday for the people, with festivals and parades, with carnivals and games, with feasting and dancing; until the chiefoccupation of the people was forgotten--until their many temples wereempty, their many gods neglected; until with a fete extraordinary, Seemsto-Be decreed that there should be from henceforth and forever, inDaybyday, one temple only--one temple sacred to one god, the godThings-Are-Good-Enough. "And this, O Hadji, " said the sad Voice of the Night, "is all The Taleof The Uncrowned King that is given me to tell. " The Voice in the darkness ceased. The Pilgrim, rising, groped his way tothe window. Without, all was dark with a thick darkness--all was still with a heavystillness. Only the stars were in the Deeps Above. The stars so old, soever new--only the stars. Lifting his face, the Pilgrim looked at thestars, and lo! as he looked, those whirling worlds of light shapedthemselves into mighty letters, and the letters shaped themselves intowords, until in the heavens the Pilgrim read the truth that Wisdom hadgiven to Really-Is in the little house beside the road. "_The Crown isnot the kingdom, nor is one King because he wears a crown. _" Then even as he stood the Pilgrim saw the sad Night preparing to depart. Far away beyond the stars the first faint light of the morning touchedthe sky. Slowly the world began to awake. Slowly the message in thestars was lost in the dawning greater light of A New Day. * * * * * AND THE FOURTH VOICE WAS THE VOICE OF THE NEW DAY. [Illustration: And the Fourth Voice Was the Voiceof the New Day (see king010. Png)] It was gray dawn when the Pilgrim turned once more to his couch in TheQuiet Room. Without the Temple, tree and bush and plant and grass were beginning tostir with fresh and joyous strength, while the clean air was rich withthe smell of the earth life and filled with murmuring, twittering, whispering, morning calls. Through the open window, into The Quiet Roomwhere the Pilgrim lay, the Bright Morning entered, and out of theMorning came the glad, glad Voice of the New Day. Said this Voice to the Pilgrim: "To thee, O Hadji, I come from theInfinite Future. The interminable, eternal times that are to come, thatbegin but never end. I cry from the Deeps Within. I call from the GreatThat Will Be. I, too, am a Voice of Life, and mine it is to complete foryou The Tale of The Uncrowned King. " And this is the part of the Tale that the Voice of the New Daycompleted. Really-Is, the true King of Allthetime, after leaving Wisdom in hislittle house beside the road, journeyed slowly and thoughtfully towardthe Royal City Daybyday, along the way that leads to the Golden GateOpportunity. And while the pretender, Seemsto-Be, was delighting thepeople with great feasts, and amusing them with all manner of festivals, parades and games, Really-Is, very quietly--so quietly that his brotherdid not know--entered the city and took up his abode in a tiny houseunder the walls of a deserted temple once sacred to the godThings-That-Ought-To-Be. And so it was that when Seemsto-Be went forth from the royal palace toride in grand procession, clothed in regal splendors, with the Crownupon his head, and surrounded by gorgeous soldiers of rank and pompousofficials of state, with the royal trumpeters proclaiming his greatnessand power and the multitude shouting loud expressions of their loyalty, Really-Is, the King, stood still beside the way, smiling, smiling sadlyat the pretty show. [Illustration: (see king011. Png)] And never did Really-Is neglect to make his offering every morning inthe temple sacred to the god Things-That-Ought-To-Be; though in secrethe worshiped there because of the decree of Seemsto-Be. And no one toldthe false ruler that his commandment was broken, nor spoke to him thename of his brother Really-Is. But after a while, as time passed by, things went not so gaily with theimpostor on the throne of Allthetime. And it was the Crown that didit--that wonderful Magic Crown. The Court Fool noticed it first and made a jest about it, and Seemsto-Belaughed royally long and loud, and all the Court laughed with him, forthe fool, Thinks-He-Is, is a most famous fool, the greatest that hasever been since the Father of Fools was born. Next, the Lord Chief High Chamberlain noticed, and the Lord Chief HighChamberlain whispered to Seemsto-Be a most portentous whisper. And theportentous whisper of the Lord Chief High Chamberlain reached the earsof the Chief First Officer of State; then passed from Officer of Stateto Officer of State until it reached the Chief Captain of the Guard, andsoon the soldiers of the royal army and even the royal servants of thepalace were whispering, whispering, whispering about the strange affair. Then it was that Seemsto-Be sent throughout the kingdom, commanding inhaste to the palace the most expert workers in gems and the most cunningworkers in gold to be found in the Land of Allthetime. It was true. The priceless jewels of the Magic Crown were losing theirbrilliancy. The precious gold of the Crown was becoming dull. Nor couldall the skill of the workers in gems, all the craft of the workers ingold restore the beauty of the Crown or keep its fading splendor. And so the whispers grew louder and louder until the people began totalk in low tones among themselves, questioning, questioning one anotherof the meaning of this thing. And at last the Royal Officers of Statebegan to look with distrust and fear upon their ruler, who tried so hardto wear bravely his crown of tarnished gold and lusterless gems; and thesoldiers came to look with doubt and fear upon the officers, whowhispered so among themselves; and the people looked with suspicion andfear upon them all. Without understanding, filled with dread and apprehension, worn withwracking worry, poor Seemsto-Be sought with honors, decorations, anddistinguishing titles to hold the fast-failing confidence of his courtand army, and with holidays more frequent, festivals more gay, gamesmore interesting, and parades more gorgeous, tried to keep the waningloyalty of his people. Now all this time, while the poor foolish pretender, Seemsto-Be, waslosing his power even as the beauty of the Magic Crown was fading, KingReally-Is lived very quietly in his little house under the walls of theabandoned temple, and never did he fail to make his daily offering tohis god, the god Things-That-Ought-To-Be. And always when his brotherSeemsto-Be with the fading Crown upon his head, passed in gorgeousprocession of state, surrounded by his distrustful officers, doubtingsoldiers and suspicious people, Really-Is smiled sadly and whispered tohimself: "Poor Seemsto-Be, poor foolish one!" So it was, that in all the Royal City Daybyday, in the Land ofAllthetime, peace and understanding dwelt only in the heart of thisKing. And the people more and more came to love Really-Is, even as they moreand more turned from Seemsto-Be, notwithstanding the holidays, feastsand parades. Little by little, they learned to watch daily for theirKing, and with the children would run to greet him. More and more themultitude pressed about Really-Is when he stood quietly in the street, watching Seemsto-Be pass by in the splendid chariot of state. More andmore the people went daily with Really-Is to worship in the templesacred to the god Things-That-Ought-To-Be. So the time came at last when the Magic Crown, tarnished and dull, seemed but a mockery, fit only for the rubbish heap; when the Officersof State spoke aloud their doubts and fears and the soldiers were openlydisobedient; when the people, as the pretender passed through the citystreets, no longer shouted aloud expressions of their loyalty, but, withdark looks of doubt and anger, stood silent, or laughed in mocking glee. And Seemsto-Be grew afraid. Then in secret the false prince went alone to the house of his brotherthe King and prostrated himself humbly. "What is your wish, my brother?" asked Really-Is, kindly, "make known tome your request. " And Seemsto-Be taking heart at the gentleness of Really-Is answered:"This is my wish, O King--my brother, this is my request; that you cometo dwell with me in the royal palace, that you share with me the throne. Twins we are, sons of our royal father, of the royal family Everyone. Therefore let us rule together the Land of Allthetime. " Answered Really-Is. "By your coming to me, Seemsto-Be, I know that you, too, at last have learned the Secret of the Magic of the Crown. What ofthe Crown, brother?" And the pretender replied: "No one can tell us one from the other. Youonly shall wear the Crown; then for us both will its glory come againand remain, then will all be well. " But King Really-Is answered sadly: "O my brother, that which you askcannot be. In the Law of the Ages it is written that a King ofAllthetime cannot, if he would, share his throne and power with one whois false, else would he himself be held unworthy I have seen yourwretchedness, my brother; I have seen and I have pitied. " Then Seemsto-Be went sadly out from the presence of his brother, theKing, and the next morning they found him dead on the steps of thetemple sacred to the god Things-Are-Good-Enough. And now with great tumult and shouting the people gathered to do homageto Really-Is. And never was there seen in Daybyday such a multitude. From the uttermost parts of Allthetime they came, for the word of hislife had gone far, far abroad and all the world that is, gathered to dohim honor. And it happened, when all was ready for Really-Is to ascend the throne, and the royal trumpeters had lifted their trumpets ready to proclaim himKing of Allthetime, with the vast multitude breathless, ready at thesignal of the trumpets to break forth in a great, glad shout, "Long livethe king, " and the Lord Chief High Chamberlain turned to take the MagicCrown from the hands of the High Priest of Things-That-Ought-To-Be, thateven as he turned the Crown vanished, and lo! there was in the hands ofthe priest, nothing. In consternation the Lord Chief High Chamberlain whispered to the royalhigh officials about him, asking what should be done. In consternation, the royal high officials whispered among themselves. In consternationthey whispered back to the Chamberlain. And this was their whisper: "Ask the King. " Really-Is, when he was asked what should be done, answered with a smile:"_The Crown is not the kingdom, nor is one King because he wears aCrown_. " And the people, when the trumpets made it known that there was no crownand declared the word of Really-Is, with one voice cried loudly:"Really-Is is King! Really-Is needs no Crown! Long live Really-Is, ourKing!" Thus the True King ascended the throne of Allthetime, and the trumpeterstrumpeted loudly many times: "Long live the king who needs no crown!"and with a great shout the people answered again many times: "Long liveour Uncrowned King! Long live our Uncrowned King!" "And this, O Hadji, " said the glad Voice of the New Day, "is how it cameto be that in the days that now are, there is, in this Royal CityDaybyday, in the wonderful Land of Allthetime, no crown. " And this also you must know, that in the reign of Really-Is the peopleof Daybyday have more and more turned from their many gods to worshiponly the god of their King, until there is left now of the many desertedtemples only ruins, and of the many gods of the many people of manyraces, languages and names only one, the god of Really-Is, Things-That-Ought-To-Be. The mighty Wall that was built, they thought, on the foundations of the world, when there was no longer a crown tokeep, of its own great weight fell. And the Royal City Daybyday, in thereign of Really-Is, is extending its borders more and more, until thereare those who think that with the City Sometime it will soon be one, andthen they say that the promises made by Really-Is and the Princess ofYettocome will be fulfilled and that the glory and splendor of theirreign will fill the world. "But of that, O Hadji, " said the glad Voice of the New Day, "I cannottell you now. I have finished The Tale of The Uncrowned King. " The Voice that was in the Morning ceased. The Quiet Room was filled withlight. Quickly the Pilgrim arose and going to the window saw in all itsglory the New Day. Every leaf of the tall trees, every blade and every inwoven flower inthe velvet carpet of green, wore beads of shining crystal that sparkledand glittered in radiant splendor. Every tiny ripple that ran on theBeautiful Sea was a line of silver flame. And in the overhead ocean ofpearly light, floated glowing banks of orange, and scarlet and gold, while, to the Pilgrim, bird and tree and plant and flower and wave andcloud seemed to join in one glad triumphant shout: "Long live Really-Is!Long live The Uncrowned King!" Then the Pilgrim who had paid The Price, who had fulfilled The Law ofthe Pilgrimage, who had asked of Thyself, the Keeper of the Temple ofTruth, "Why, " went to lay his offering on the altar to the godThat-Never-Can Change. And his offering was Himself. THE END * * * * * THAT PRINTER OF UDELL'S "Altogether an estimable story. "--_New York Sun_. "Done to the life. "--_Chicago Tribune_. "Well written and decidedly interesting. "--_New York Times_. "A thoroughly good novel. "--_Boston Globe_. "Wrings tears and laughter. "--_Record-Herald, Chicago_. "Absorbing, thoughtful novel. "--_Kansas City Journal_. "Full of movement and passion. "--_Standard, Chicago_. "It is human to the very core. "--_Nashville American_. "Excellent character creation. "--_St. Louis Republic_. "Wholesome and strengthening. "--_Albany Press_. "Rich in humor and good sense. "--_Philadelphia Telegraph_. "Full of thrilling interest and moral heroism. "--_Pittsburg Dispatch_. "Many well drawn characters. "--_Washington Post_. "Has not a peer in English fiction. "--_Providence Telegram_. "It is strong and wholesome. "--_Chicago Post_. "Not a chapter that is not interesting. "--_St. Paul News_. "Is a fascinating story. "--_Portland Telegram_. "It should be read to be understood. "--_Grand Rapids Herald_. "The reader's interest is stirred to its very depths. "--_OmahaWorld-Herald. _ "Many strong situations and some delicate ones. "--_San FranciscoChronicle_. "The Ralph Connor of Kansas. "--_Brooklyn Eagle_. "Most clever, stirring and original. "--_Birmingham News. _ "A tale of exalted ideals. "--_Denver Times_. * * * * * THE SHEPHERD OF THE HILLS "There are many bits of excellent description in the course of thestory, and an atmosphere as fresh and sweet and free from modern grimeas one would breathe on the Ozark trails themselves. "--_New York Times. _ "Amidst all the ordinary literature of the day, it is as a pure, whitestone set up along a dreary road of unending monotony. "--_BuffaloCourier_. "It is filled with laughs and tears, this beautiful story, and no onecan help laughing or crying in turn, if his heart is right. "--_PuebloChieftain_. "It is a heart-stirring story. A tale to bring laughter and tears; astory to be read and read again. "--_Grand Rapids Herald_. "The people who move within it are so human that the reader of theirstory will pick them out for like and dislike, as if he had really knownthem in the flesh, rather than in the pages of a book. "--_ChicagoJournal_. "One of the best novels written in the English language for over adecade. * * * Good luck to the man who can put upon paper so fine anovel of American life. "--_Pittsburg Press_. "One of the really good books of the year. * * * A powerful andanalytical study of character. "--_Cleveland Plain Dealer_. * * * * * THE CALLING OF DAN MATTHEWS "Mr. Wright has written other novels, but this one is so strong andwholesome, so attractive as literature, so interesting as a story, soartistic in preparation, that it wins increasing favor as one gets intoit. "--_Buffalo Evening News_. "Mr. Wright has the gift of knowing people well and of being able to setout their characteristics so clearly that his reader also knows themwell. "--_Chicago Journal_. "It is a privilege to meet the people whom the author allows you toknow. They are worth while; and to cry and feel with them, get into thefresh, sweet atmosphere with which the writer surrounds them--and aboveall, to understand Dan Matthews and to go with him in hisunfoldment--these will repay you. "--_Portland Spectator_. "Harold Bell Wright has done a fine big piece of work. * * * One mightquote at length from the old doctor's homely philosophy. The book cannot be read without the keenest enjoyment and at the end of the storyone feels that the people are old friends, real flesh and bloodcharacters, so human are they all. "--_San Francisco Call_. "A skillfully mapped battle-field of human souls, relieved, it is true, by humor, but, for the most part, pathetic and, at times, brooded overby the mystery of spirit-strength, life's close, never-endingtragedy. "--_Chicago Examiner_. "Mr. Wright's books are wholesome in the best sense. They express afaith which lies in practical deeds. This latest of them shouldmaterially extend the author's favor in a field which he has made hisown. "--_New York World_. * * * * * THE UNCROWNED KING "The Crown is not the kingdom, nor is one King because he wears aCrown. " _--From "The Uncrowned King"_. "It embodies the aspiration, civic and moral, of the present day. "--_NewYork Tribune_. "Beautiful both in language and in sentiment. "--_Chicago News. _ "It represents dreams of artistic magnificence. "--_Buffalo EveningNews_. "The secret of his power is the same God-given secret that inspiredShakespeare and upheld Dickens. "--_Philadelphia Sunday Dispatch_. "It is the greatest story since Bunyan's 'Pilgrim's Progress. '"--_GrandRapids Herald_. "It is a classic in nature and spirit and rendering. "--_OmahaWorld-Herald. _ "The language throughout is exquisite--such as one might expect of HenryVan Dyke. "--_Richmond Journal_. "It is an insight into the temple of truth to be found in every man'slife if he looks for it. "--_Wilmington News. _ "It is beautiful in its wording, almost poetry. "--_Birmingham Ledger. _ "Harold Bell Wright has given to the world a literary gem that willlive. "--_Oregon Journal_. * * * * * THE WINNING OF BARBARA WORTH "It is a novel with 'body, ' with a large and timely idea back of it, with sound principles under it, and with a good crescendo of dramaticthrills. "--_Chicago Record-Herald_. "To the reader the characters will appear as real as friends theyknow--all of their aims, and likes, and hatreds being portrayed as trueto life as snapshots caught by moving-picture cameras. "--_Boston Globe_. "The characters take the reader with them wherever they go, and they arecharacters that seem to have temporarily stepped from real life into thepages of the book. "--_Pittsburg Chronicle-Telegraph_. "The romance of the novel is told in a very charming love story whichhas 'Barbara Worth' for its inspiration. With her winning the author hasdeftly interwoven an epic of national reclamation work and present-daygood business. "--_Richmond Times-Dispatch_. "With a vividness that assumes reality Mr. Wright shows how capital maybe used to gain its end and at the same time save the community andstill be 'good business'. "--_Omaha Bee_. "'The Calling of Dan Matthews' was a fine tale; 'The Shepherd of theHills' was an inspiration. And now he sends us 'The Winning of BarbaraWorth'--the best thing he has done so far * * * a twentieth centuryepic. "--_Cleveland Plain Dealer_. * * * * * THEIR YESTERDAYS "It is a book embodying high ideals for men and women, and one that willstimulate young men and women toward pure and noble love. "--_BaltimoreSun_. "'Their Yesterdays, ' by Harold Bell Wright, is a really great book. Youfeel better, you feel refreshed, and you feel a desire to drop to yourknees and thank Almighty God for such a book and for permitting you toread it. "--_Memphis News Scimitar_. "This is the gentle story of the love of a man and a woman in which thevigor of 'That Printer of Udell's, ' the kindliness of 'The Shepherd ofthe Hills, ' the power of 'Dan Matthews' and the grace of 'Barbara Worth'are all woven into a strain more delicate and more beautiful than thisgreat writer has ever before penned. Through this medium has Mr. Wrighttold more plainly than before the inmost secrets and joys of his bigheart. "--_Boston Globe_. "Some one has called Harold Bell Wright 'the apostle of the wholesome'in fiction, and his latest volume, 'Their Yesterdays, ' certainly bearsout his claim to the title. Also it shows the man's remarkable genius. We may liken the perusal of the book to listening to some magnificentorgan played soft and low by a master hand. And, as one never wearies ofgazing upon great paintings nor of listening to the uplifting strains offine music so one reads this volume with deep appreciation and pays thetribute of regret when it is ended. "--_Nashville Tennessean_. * * * * * THE EYES OF THE WORLD "Tense situations, clear-cut, strong characters, the struggle of rightover advancement, and cleanliness against wealth are all pictured in'The Eyes of the World' with all the vigor for which the author hasbecome known. "--_Spokane Chronicle_. "Harold Bell Wright has always stood for clean, pure, wholesome fiction, and helped the cause by that quality in his books, but in 'The Eyes ofthe World' he has made the most profound appeal of all, and who canforetell the far-reaching influence of such a book!"--_Raleigh Times_. "When the author produced 'The Winning of Barbara Worth, ' the readingpublic believed he had written his masterpiece of fiction but thisliterary genius, the wizard of American novelists, has surprised theliterators in 'The Eyes of the World. ' * * * the most intense anddramatic novel of today. "--_Grand Rapids Herald_. "The Eyes of the World' is an unusual novel. It is that rare event, apure love story. It deals sledgehammer blows at animalism andsensualism, and is as a strong white light on a rock illumining the darkvalley below. "--_Portland Oregonian_. "It is a protest of a prophet against modern society and a strong storyof the triumph of high ideals. "--_Baptist Standard_. "Harold Bell Wright has told his story in a way to honor purity andloveliness and to depict in their real colors theiropposites. "--_Worcester Gazette_. "The description is poetic and rich in literary merit, while the storyis full of action and purpose. "--_Sacramento Bee_. * * * * * WHEN A MAN'S A MAN Illustrations and Decorations by the Author When a Man's a Man is a fine, big, wholesome novel of simple sweetnessand virile strength. While the pages are crowded with the thrillingincidents that belong to the adventurous life of the unfenced landdepicted--Northern Arizona--one feels, always, beneath the surface ofthe stirring scenes the great, primitive and enduring life forces thatthe men and women of this story portray. In the Dean, Philip Acton, Patches, Little Billy, Curly Elson, Kitty Reid and Helen Manning theauthor has created real living, breathing men and women, and we are madeto feel and understand that there come to everyone those times when inspite of all, above all and at any cost, a man _must_ be a man. NOTE: Harold Bell Wright's books appear in these advertising pages intheir order of publication