The record-union., 1891-01-25
QUEEN LOO'S SUBJECTS.
Written for the SUNDAY UNION by Lynn
Lubin.l

= the cnleI cflarnlS OF MS 1tIle, DrlgnL-eyeu
heroine, Eleanor, that she possessed this
art of sitting absolutely still for any
length of time with the most perfect
grace-a most difficult and rare accom-
plishment, he affirms, and also a most
useful one.
Now Loo-"Queen Loo" her brothers
called her-possessed this, to me, more
provoking than useful faculty. In certain
moods-generally when in trouble or
doubt, or upon the point of a decision
she would seat herself in the large arm
chair and, clasping her white hands
together, remain so for an hour, and some
times longer, in perfect silence.
1t was useless to attempt to arouse her
by comments or auestlonings; brief
nosyllables-usually evasive of the
purpose-were the sole results; argu-
ment and scolding proved equally as use
less.
This morning she had been thus sitting
and meditating for at least three-quarters
of an hour, when she suddenly looked
up and spoke:
"Wynette, dear, Dan and l are going
out this afternoon ON water excursion.
The Vernons and Don TillaS are to be in
the party, and, as we are to start at 4, we
will take supper on the boat. We will
anu nOlic ny y.
could you not have deferred the party
until some evening when father and
mother were at home? | do not like
your going without their permission.
Should anything happen to you, will be
severely blamed for not having objected
more strongly to your going"
'Your objection! Pray what do they
think that would amount to? They are
too much accustomed to my willfulness
to be angry at you, never fear"
Perhaps So" 1 replied, much hurt,
''but think these endless junketings and
water parties are not best for you, nor
Dan either; beside that, you always in
sist on going i'll the Plymouth, and you
know, Loo, the pilot is often too full to
steer the boat safely. / wonder mt the
company entrusting him with so many
precious lives on these excursions"
1.-THE company must know what 1t is
about, certainly"
sit may, but confidence in an unfaith
full man is like broken tooth. or a foot
out Of joint, 1t may prove disastrous IN
the end. Is DR.. Gray to be OF the p2rty?"
''Of course, it's got up for him, to show
him the beauties of our rural life and the
picturesque scenery along the Hudson"
He has had ample time for seeing
them over and over again. | understood
he was to have gone home last week.
Why is he prolonging his stay like
this?''
10 you suppose ALI dIlSWeIdUle lOT
the Doctors movements? He may re-
main month or so for aught | know-or
care" and she hummed gay snatch of
song to herself.
You do know and you do care! What
are his intentions ?'' / asked, determin-
ing, if possible, to draw from her the con-
fidence she should have placed in me I'M
asked.
i suppose to futter, moth-Ike, around
the fame till he gets his wings singed for
his palms," she replied in a defiant man
ner. believed then that her hours of
meditation had been spent trying to de-
eide this one point
''Oh, Loo! I dislike such heartless-
ness on your part. You know DR.. Gray
is worthy of any woman's love. God
stamped indelibly gentleman upon his
brow; wrote it upon his heart, incar-
mated it in his every thought. He stands
before his friends the imperSonation of
all that is manly and Of good report. He
is in every sense an honorable man. Do
you intend to entrap him into a declara-
ton of affection and then refuse him, as
you have done others? Think how you
deceived poor Selorm and Frank
Douanv'
As mentioned Frank Domains name,
whole world of comic humor shown IN
her large, lustrous eyes.
Il despise an effeminate man as much
as l do a masculine woman. Would you
nave me mated TO That effemlnate piece
of humanity who had the GOODNESS to lay
himself and some ninety pounds per an
mum at my feet ?"
mo, but l think you commit a grave
error in encouraging men whom nothing
could induce you TO love-"
Il know all that, Wynn, but what were
Queen Loo without her kingdom and her
subjects; aye, victims, if you are so in
clined to think them? These men adj
mire, court and like me, but not one of
them loves me with the self-denying love
which your husband bore to you-a love
true through life until death-the only
love worthy woman's acceptance. Come,
don't cry, Wynn, 1 did not mean to re-
call memories that wound; but young
Selorme has transferred his allegiance to
Mabel Miller; SO much for his broken
heart; and Frank DOMAIN has joined the
High Church and advocates celibacy
of the clergy. DR.. Gray, I doubt, will
never do me the honor to propose. He is
so cold, so passionless, so faultless-don't
speak of him. 1 don't think, Wynn, i
shall ever marry anybody, because /
shall never love anyone well enough
But | am in no mood for further lectur-
ing, and besides 1t is time to call DAM
and she went upstairs to get her hat and
cloak.
Dan stood in the hall whistling softly to
himself, and as l passed through he
caught me gently by the arm. 81 say,
Wynn,it such an awful bore these water
parties. / don't want to go this after
noon, though L can't to save me tell any
reason why. | would much rather stay
at home with you and Dot, but Queen
Loo wants to go, and can't let. her go
without me. But some premonition of
evil clings to every thought of going, try
to ward it off as best / may"
The evening seemed very quiet. NV
bachelor brother, Henry, sat reading
aloud to me the daily news. My time
was occupied finishing a garment for my
little wee Dot, sleeping so sweetly in the
big arm chair beside me. My thoughts
were busy and time passed unheeded un-
I'll l was aroused with start by the old
clock in the mantle Ginning out the hour
OF nine; surely it must be wrong-no-
my watch and the Ginning of the old
church clock corroborated the fact.
Hank! Surely that was not Dams step
on the walk; his was quick, sharp
tread; this was tagging as if the bearer Of
unpleasant news.
Do you know, reader, what it is to sit
quietly by your fireside, with content
ment just settling quietly over all your.
being, and then to lift your head at the
sound OF an opening door and your ewes
meet the pale face of some bearer of i'll
news?
"oh, Henryr' exclaimed, "what has
happened ?'' for my brother had answered
the door-bell and was returning, standing
white as death in the middle of the room.
moving his dry lips without sound, and
with such look in his eyes. .sOh.
Henry! do tell me what has happened ~
think the sight of my anxiety restored
him, and in another moment he had re-
covered himself and told me of the
drunken pilot, the sudden shipwreck
and that our brother Dan had lost his
life. Dan who had so recently left us.
full of life and health but with a premo