St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-01-25
QUEENS MISTAKE.
A Conversation That Was Misun-
derstOod by One of the Par
ties Interested.
HE WAS HER KING AT LAST.


| splash of the water about the old bridge
| piers and its rhythmical sweep to the
| sea.
| The moon flung belt of light across
| the water, but its very brilliancy served
| to render the surroundings blacker. and
! at intervals, when the shifting clouds
| shut this one window into heaven, there
was indeed ''outer darkness"
! In one of the spells OF light woman,
slight and graceful. and half breathless
| with her hurried walk, came down the
castle path, and pausing with one foot
on the bridge plank, looked eagerly
about. She drew little bare hand i'm
| pulsively from the shadows on the other
! SIDE He took the hand firmly in his
own and led her into patch OF light.
| Framed in hair of the most perfect
| Titan hue, which strayed about her
| at the will of the wind, it was a lovely
face uplif5ed to him; but the light kim
| died in cheek and eye was of something
more than wind battle, and her breast
| auivered with broken SObs. The hand
| that he held trembled and was cold as
| death.
"Speak!'
His voice was hoarse with emotion.
| There was kind of horror in the keen
| eyes bent on her face.
| II have left him." she said.
Releasing ner hand he went little
way across the bridge. and, coming slowly
back. stood looking down OH her with
| half smile on his strong, handsome face.
Child" he said, "in that unhappy
little note that summoned me here, you
| appealed to your old friend; but L was
| something more than friend in those
days, you know. loved YOU"
He spoke quietly and grayely, and
| paused at the crimson flush that came in
| her face. She raised frightened, be-
seeching eyes to him.
"Ah, surely. you have not mistaken
me?" she cried. "You know him. l
| love him: he is my kingn'
Her voice died full of sobs, and she
hid her face in her hands.
WELL" gently, II knew all this, and
even l. madly jealous as | was, cannot
say Jack makes all unkingly king"
"Would you think, "she cried passion
school girl? Win her to laugh at her?
Not for the poor heart she gave him.
not at all. because he wanted such a
little simpeton for wife, but because
he was in debt and she was ri cb!'
Her companion gave an impatient
gesture.
"Where is Jack?"
81 suppose on his way home from the
city,"
''You must be there to meet him, Mrs.
EggleUon, and coax forgiveness for your
escapade."
"Never! You may refuse to help me-.
Very we'll. | can find my way to the
station alone"
She passed with slight bow, but he
walked beside her.
"How was [ to serve you?" he asked.
See me on my train and go away
YOURSELF"
George Seyton flushed family.
And you do not object in placing
yourself, not to mention your humble
servant, before your husband and
friends in so false positions"
Cannot you see," she cried in wild,
broken tones. HE shall suffer some
thing as he has made me suffer. 1t will
not break his heart to believe the worst
of me: never touched his heart. but
his pride | can touch. He will not laugh
at me again."
land you think it will ease that wild
little heart OF yours to see Jacks hand
some head in the dust? To see the lips
that met yours this morning cold in
death?''
She raised her clasped hands sud
denly, irresolutely to her face.
sit would not"
She stopped with choking breath.
"Oh, yes. it would" said SeytOn,
coolly; "kill HIM as dead as a door
nail"
She stood still. Seyton drew her
hand through his arm and turned her
toward the castle.
But" she gasped, very white. and
trembling violently, ut is too late! He
knows! | left note for him!"
"Queen, if had not known you fir ON
a baby, if | did not entirely believe IN
YOUR love for Jack, if l did not know
that you were going to weep your heart
out in bitter grief for this mad freak, l
would say you are the most heartless
mite of woman invented since Eve
ate the pippin without paring.' Come
hOmen'
The wind lulled and they left the
water. The moon lent them her I'M
Swallowed light for while. Through
vistaS among the oak branches the man
sion windows flashed at intervals, brill
liantly lighted. 1t was the night Of Mrs.
EggiestOn's masquerade ball.
81 shall take you in by this side en-
trance" said SeytOn, as they neared
the house. Jack will have had no
time to be anxious; he will think you
are among the mosques. Run and don
your costume and put this into good,
big fire." and he slipped paper into
her hand.
She shot an eagerly questioning
glance from it to him, and he nodded
Smilinglv in answer.
''Mine made me fancy storm in the
air." he said, $50 | kidnapped Jacks
from his desk to await development.
Thank God for the lnstinct!'
Two trembling little hands went out
to him, and pale, tear-Wet face looked
up.
~ can never be happy again." she
sobbed, "but, Mr.. Seyton. l shall love
| you always and thank you with my
whole heart"
In the act of answering her motion
Seyton felt the clasp of cold, firm
hand on his wrist. He was put aside
and Jack stood in the narrow path be-
fore his wife, looking down at her
keenly and in utter amaZement. Her
hands had fallen ia her sides, letting the
paper escape forgotten. She leaned
helplessly against one of the great oaks
of the lawn.
The light streaming out from a Win
| dow near. showed him how pale, how
pftifully frightened and guilty she
| looked.
The dead silence was broken finally
by Jack, In voice strained and stern.
''It is time you were among your
| guests, Mrs. Eggleston."
But Mrs. Eggleston seemed incapable
of speech or motion until he stopped to
raise the fallen paper, when she flung
herself upon his arm and caught his
hands wildly in both her own.
"Ah, my husband. spare mef' she
sobbed out. II meant to hurt you,
was mad enough to hnrs you, but never
TO see that look on your facew
He looked at her silently, white and
stern.
For the bitter knowledge that came
to me to-day! For the love that you