The morning call., 1891-02-16
LITTLE QUEEN.
BY II. HUDSON.

Little Queen" said the handsomest old
lady alive to her granddaughter, whose pet
name seemed the most appropriate that
could have been given her, 81 have dis
missed Patrick He has been rObbing the
dairy, ungIateful wretch. Dolmer dscov-
cred it, and beg5 that he shall go to-day. Is
it not DREADFUL"
at is indeed, grandma. Patrick is as
honest as man can be-"
But Dolmer. child, Dolmar says
1--WE have had no peace since that man
was engaged" cried Queen, in a temper.
GU are deceived by him. He is horrible
and wicked creature, l am sure. Look at
his spotted face, his tiger-like eyes. The
hideOus wretch is, | have no doubt, an es-
capped convict. l hate himr'
"What coarse language. dear Dolmer is
a very well-m annered man-servant, and SO
eager for my interests. You think too much
of beauty"
Pat is not beautiful" laughed Queen.
but look at his honest, gray eyes and big
mouth, grandma. Dismiss Dolmer and keep
Patrick"
The two sat in lovely room in one of the
handsOmest villas on the Hudson. Behind
the sofa on which they had placed them
selves tall Indian screen of rare beauty
had been placed to ward off the draughts,
which the old lady feared, as most old ladies
do
On this occasion it answered double pur-
pose, for behind it crouched a slender, ark
skinned man in a servants jacket, who was
listening inteptly 10 the conversation OF the
two ladies.
'Dolmer is good man. He prays and
reads his Bible great DEAL" said the old
lady.
always in public" said the girl.
And the Benevolent Society speaks so
highly Of him, said the grandmother.
What do. they know of him?" asked
Queen. Guilt is stamped on his face He
wants honest Patrick out of the way. He is
a member of the dangerous cluss, | am sure.
Grandma, l am afraid for you. Send him
away"
The Old lady tossed her head.
" am more competent to judge than you
are at your age, little Queen" she said.
Suppose he has sinned and is repPntant,
shall we net be mercful to him? | believe
he is truly good, poor thing, and so atten-
tive. Besides, manage my own home, lit
tie Queen. l am not quite childish"
VERY well, grandma" sighed the girl.
She passed out into the hall. Patrick
stood there, with his face flushed and his
hair tOuseled.
The diyil savIn' your grisence, is ayes
dropping to your remarks" he said
mo doubt Pat" said Queen. Had |
my way, he should go and you should stay"
THANK ye, miss" said Pat. You'd
never behave Patrick would rob the dairy,
miss, an stale butther an eggs an things
Pat that is'sO grateful he'd die for the 0uld
lady and both of yez?"
Indeed, do not, said the gill. Il have
tried TO get grandma to alter her decision.
However, L know where to fad you, Pat;
and think you will come back before long.
l will expose DOlmer, if | cam
Pat bowed, and went sadly and slowly
toward his garnet TO get his little blue chest,
and Bertha moved away. AS she did so a
cruel face peeped from behind pantry
door. and two dark brOws met in scowl
over eyes that were hardly human. The
man who had listened behind the screen
listened again. 1t was Dolmer.
so you are my enemy?" he said. Every
well, young lady. All is fair in war"
There was little supper party at the
villa that night. A dozen OF the most ele-
CANT people of the neighbOrhoOd had been
invited Bertha, in her pale pink silk
dress, with rosebuds in her black hair. was
beautiful enough, but at the last moment
the eiu lady, anxious to atone for her pass
ing ill-temper, added touch to her toilet.
Come here, child she said. You shall
have my long promised diamonds tonight
l have taken them from the safe on pur-
pose. Yon know | never put them on now.
on are just thu style for diamonds"
She placed the stars in her hair, drew the
golden drops from her ears ana substituted
little cascades Of diamonds, fastened a neck
lace around her neck and bracelets on her
arms. The girl looked like an Empress
with all this wonderful splendor added to
her beauty
81 shall really be ashamed of myself am
| too fine" she said.
Nobody can be that nowadays" said the
old lady. " Simplicity is out of fashion, and
the idea that girls must wear only white and
rosebuds. shall tell them | have gwen
you your birthday present and made you
wear 1t. Why should L wait until l am
dead to give the things to yOup You would
not enjoy them so much, and you are one
and-twenty. Bertha"
Dear grandma" cried Bertha, 'how good
| you are! 1t is more than L deserve. unIess
Indeed, loving you is some claim. When |
argue with you it is because | know you are
being imposed upon. L There, will try
to believe as you do about Dolmer, az
course you have had more experience. and /
am silly about Patrick, who has been here
My dear. I've cried about Patrick If
you want the truth" said the old ladv
I've really been his benefactress. But
they tell me that persons of his class. are
always turning out badly and have no graft
tude. Systematic plumber, good Dolmer
S Ty;, mas oeen going on from first to last.
Wen, now go and look your prettiest and
feel your happiest, little queen" And
kissing the lovely girl the beautiful old lady
swept into her drawing-room, where the
guests soon assembled.
IL was an evening TO remember, and Queen
The truth was she made an effort unusual
to her, for somehow her heart was heavy,
Dolmer with his strange, cruel face. dis.
figured by its yellow scars. had drilled the
walters thoroughly, and, in his fauItless
black coat aud white tie, seemed to her like
Satan playing man-servant. Many, how.
ever, congratulated Mrs. Ashford on her
possession of treasure.
These Europeans" they said. "under-
stand all this sort Of thing so much better
than other people,"
a great tenor from the Italian opera sang
Tor them that night Brilliant men talked
their best; girls looked lovelier than ever in
the light OF the myriad wax candles. The
scent of many blossoms filed the house.
When good-nights were said the protesta-
lions OF having had "a very pleasant even
ing were heartfelt; and, surely, il admi-
ration from men and friendly speech from
women could content one Queen should have
been happy. Alas! her heart felt heavy as
lead She seemed to feel strange premoni-
ton of evil. That night, for the first time.
she remembered that her grandmother. so
handsome yet ana full of life and spirit, was
really old; that in all probability She must
soon lose her. Perhaps it was this she
thought. 1t was enough,
She fnllOV ed Tho old iadv 70 bar ,o,... =. !,