The morning call., 1891-05-04
QUEEN EDITH.

Queen Edith they called her, and GER
tainly never did a sovereign rule her sub
jectS so cruelty as the fair-haired girl her
lovers. Squire Rathburns son, it was said,
had wandered away to Florida and died
there because he could not win her for his
wife.
Three years passed away when hand
some stranger became the guest of Rdth-
burn manor. Queen Edith, ever on the
lookout for fresh c0nqueStS, laid her Snares
for him. They became Intimate friends and
Edith was at last forced to acknowledge
that she had lost her heart. Suddenly,
however, the young man grew cold in his
attentions and was inclined to favor Queen
Edith's rival.
One night at party she heard excited
voices in the conservatory:
'YOu may talk of vengeance, father, for
her jilting me three years ago, but l tell you
that | love her"
"Are you a fOol?" retorted the squire-and
Edith heard him nova fool who can
learn nothing from experience? | thought
your Southern tour had cured you of Your
boyish penchant, and that you would try 10
make her suffer as you suffered when you
went away. Does not your Rathburn pride
rise in rebellion against another capitula-
ton and refuSal!"
81 think she now returns my love-"
"Oh, she does, does sheP' exclaimed the
squire, still angrer. "She loves you now,
the vixenl She who sent you off to
florida to die. and would have danced
upon your grave if her atrOcious actions
could have killed you And she hrts
to-day with tie same utter recklessnesS
of the pain she canseS others, as when you
we've enSnared before And she would he q
coquette after you had married her
know it. just the same. How can you,
ChaTley?"
Trembling Queen Edith listened for the
\. L. -.
send the lifeOioOd back upon her heart and
brain in searching tides of fire. The words
were simply these:
Father, 1 see the force of your warning,
and must yield the point a fiirt | cannot
marry, and l shall live and die a bachelor"
How she succeeded in escaping from the
conservatory Queen Edith never knew; bat
she did escape in sople way, aud, pleading
illness, begged to be taken home. And
there for days and weeks she tossed
and mOaned in the wild delirium. of
fever. Alter the fever left her
she was quite weak and helpless, and
daIkened room seemed quite a matter of
course. She mtryeled greatly, though,
after she grew stronger, way not a ray of
light was ever suffered TO enter, and at last
she asked her mother.
"No light" exclaimed her mother, in
SUPP ressed excitement mo light! Why,
cannot you see ne?"
How can l, in this darkness?" cried
Queen Edith.
The groah that burst involuntarily from
that mothers heart told her the truth. For
her the sun would shine no more forever. /
think she rrayed for death.
Squire Rathburn and Charley heard of her
misfortune speedily. There was one stormy
scene in the old Rathburn mansion, but
Charley conquered and over he went 10 see
Queen Edith.
They took him to her room and placed
her hand in his, whispering his name. For
one instant her pale features lighted with
joyous smile and a faint pink dyed her
cheeks; then she grew paler than before.
They softly left the room, those who had
brought him thther.
''OA, Edith" he murmured, sinking on
his knees beside the couch of suffering, Il
love you! VIII you let me care for you
through all the years of darkness this side
of heaven?
Queen Edth's cheek grew pink again and
again the enlor faded.
II am blind" was all she said.
81 know it, darling. but l do not care for
that, only for your sake l will be eyes for
both"
''But 1 am firtl Dare you venture to
marry me"
Neither do l care for that" he said. ST
love yon-I lay my heart once more before
you; tranple on it again if you Will l can
not help il"
OF course she did not OF course Queen
Edith yielded to his opportunity, and as
soon as the roses returned TO her cheeks
once more they were married. The regally
beautiful woman who now preSdeS over the
happy household at the Rathburn mansion is
Queen Edith; but her eyes are sightless no
longer. She sees her husband and children
ever before her. And he has never had
cause To sorrow that she was once firt