Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1889-03-22


in their movements, for which their some
what airy and easy-ftting garments offered
every facility, and their sandaled feet were
innocent of hose.
After greeting them gravely and court
eously ian example that Tom and I were
careful to follow, Mr.. Field inquired if
''she" was in.
On receiving an answer in the afirma-
tive from the maiden who seemed to be
most in authority, he requested her to an
nounce him and his companions, and ask
whether IL would please the queen to re-
ceive Us. The maiden bowed compliance,
entered the house by the porch, and in two
minutes came back to Say that her mistress
had been waiting for US all the afternoon
with the greatest 1mpatience, and that we
were to 90 in at once: whereupon our con-
ductors. reckoning Tom and me to follow
them, went in without further ceremony
The porch opened into a wide vestibule,
at the end of which was a door. We crossed
the yestibule together, and on reaching the
door Mr.. Field gave sharp knock with
his knuckles.
"Come inr' answered low and musical,
yet, as l thought, somewhat peremptory
voice
"After you," said Field to me, opening
the door.
| obeyed him without hesitation, though
not without Jrepidation, for my education
in the etiquette of Courts having been
somewhat neglected, l had not the least
idea what was the right thing to do in the
circumstances-wheth I should enter on
Bonded knee kiss the queens hand, speak
first, or wait until was spoken to. Ihad,
moreover, an idea Zone does get strange
ideas sometimes) that her majesty was
likely to be grabbed old woman with a
fat body and sharp tongue. However,
in I went-walked into the middle Of the
room (rather large one) with as much
composure as I could muster-and then
stopped short in mute surprise.
At an open casemate, which commanded
view of the mountain. the lake, and sea,
sat young woman reading a book with
an ancient binding much the worse for
wear. At her feet crouched an animal
which at first sight l took for huge mas
tiff, but when the creature rose to its feet,
showed a row of fierce-looking teeth, and
wagged tail about yard long, saw that
it was wild beast, and, if not lion or q
loness, uncommOnly like one.
Don't be alarmed" said Queen Nab,
pleasantly. at is only my pet puma; he
is not used to strangers. Down, Gator
Whereupon Cato resumed his recumbent
position, greatly to my relief.
"Mr Erie passenger by the DIANA
the ship that anchored in the bay this
morning." announced Mr.. Field.
welcome to Fair Islandp' said the
queen, rising from her chair and offering
me her hand.
took the hand and kissed it-a pro-
ceeding which nobody seemed to expect,
for Mr. Field made a gesture of surprise
and Mr.. Amyas Fame scowled. The queen,
however, seemed in no way displeased.
She smiled, bowed graciously, and then re-
garded me earnestly and curiously. l re-
turned the look with interest; | could not
help it. / should have done the same had
she been ten royal personages rolled into
one.
Never was woman better worth looking
at than Queen Nab. She was within two
inches of my own height beautifully pro-
portioned and faultlessly shaped. A tight
fitting dress Of some dark glossy material
set off her form to the best advantage.
Round her waist was pearl-studded
girdle; she wore necklace to match, and
each of her arms was encircled with a cur
iously wrought bracelet of gold. Her face
was, moreover, white, and her complexion
pure. A mass of black curls rested like
corOnet on a broad and noble brow, and
her flashing, gypsy-like eyes, slightly aqui-
line features, firm mouth, and broad chin,
bespoke at once intelligence, high courage
and strength of will.
Yet, kind as Nature had been to the
island queen, she evidently belonged to the
same queer race as her people. Though
her face was white comparatively for she
was decided brunette) the lower parts
of her neck and throat were hued with
bronze; so also were her arms, and one OF
her feet; for, like the madens in the We
randa, she wore neither sleeves nor stock
ings
But as | had already found out there
was marked difference between the pie
bald of the women and the piebald Of the
men. As touching the latter, the copper
colored spots were, SO to speak, stamped
on a white ground, and clearly defined;
but with the women it was otherwise: the
two shades blended into each other; you
could not say where the one ended and the
other began: and the more obtrusive color
was less prominent and glazing. Itshould
be observed, too, that none of the adjec-
blNCo 1 nav Z bSGN lOI lilC pun DbSc uGSCIlDc
this color exactly. | have called it red"
and ''coppery;" it might with equal accur-
acy be defined as cinnamon" as all three,
in fact; for the piebalds vary as widely in
the color of their epidermis as theSo-called
white races of Europe and North America.
AS for Queen Nab. though she certainly
looked bizarre, thought then, and think
still, that the peculiar tint of her cheek
l,,.,
turesQue. At any rate, it made an admir-
able setting for the brilliant pearl neck
lace which adorned her throat and the
white and crimson orchids which she wore
at her breast.
Excuse me for looking at you so curl
ously," she said, after our mutual inspec-
ton had lasted a couple of minutes, but
you are the first really white man and the
first EnGlishmau | have seen"
1--WE are all English" put in Fame, alb
ruptly-almost rudeIy, indeed.
I'VE are pleased to think so, and we are
of English blood; but you cannot deny that
it is rather mixed. There is good deal
OF difference between you and Mr.. Erie,
for instance"
You are right. He is not quite so tall,
nor, perhaps, quite so strong. He Is near
SiSHIcIl' anu ldINl vi anu 81
winded that it was all he could do to walk
up the hill from the lake"
was deeply stung by this insolence, all
the more so as it was impossible in the cir
cumstances to resent it as it deserved.
80 would you be short-winded if you
had been four months at sea, and gone
through what have gone through" said,
warmly. But wait"
You forgot where you are and to whom
you are speaking. Amyas," interposed the
queen, severely. Remember that Mr..
Erie is our guest and as for shortness of
sIght-well, sharp eyes are quite compad-
BILE with n shallow mind"
MIR. Fame collapsed.
Il infer from what you say, Mr.. Erie,
that your voyage has been an eventful one
that you have undergone great hard
ships l want you to tell me all about it,
and made the passage of the Painted
Rocks No ship ever did it before. Wen
l saw you cast anchor in the bay this
morning, | could hardly believe my ey es"
Willingly, your majesty. 1t is rather
sad story but" Here her majesty
broke into merry laugh, Mr. Field SEEM
ed amused, and Fame smiled sardonically.
why do you say 'msjestys'" asked Nab.
when she had done laughing.
Because in addressing crowned head
1t is the right thing to say. At least. l
have always supposed so, though 1 freely
~ I-,.ay H..