The Democratic advocate., 1896-12-05
ANNE'S KINGDOM.
TcoyrrNrED FROM FIRST PAGE.

swear | do not
you need not be afraid; never shall.
Il am pleased that you do not like me,
he reiterated. REGARDLESS Of her interpola-
ton.
'Only let me advise you in this: If
you like Douglas Rockwell, rise no higher
in the scale of preference. To love him
would be fatal to your peace. 1t is your
peace. 1t is your carelessness that has
fascinated him. Love him and he will
leave you.
.How dare YOU suggest such a posi-
bility. | would not love-any man.
She turned her flashing eyes upon him.
ANY man! Do your hear?
..You have made me twice glad to-
night. laughing sardonically. Now
make me twice sorry by: telling me why
you hate me- 1t is only justice.
Il will not be just then. Yes, | will,
a food Of courage rushing over her soul
'.You know you saw that hole in my shoe,
and YOU know that somebody sent US each
a pair-that we were objects of charity!
Paupers. And you read that note? On,
if there is anybody in all the wide world
that | hate more than you, fingns out
denunciatory hands, lit is the sender OF
these boots-even though have had such
a splendid time in them, for without them,
for without them, should never have
known-Douglass Rockwell.
There was something fendish, all things
considered, in Anne malice.
Douglas Rockwell How hotly you
saw it. see you are as truthful as the
average woman. By the utterance OF that
one word, | know you are on the verge OF
loving him, so nothing may say can now
make difference Let me have my due.
| sent those boots. Hate me more. if you
can. As if he gloried in his fate.
Speech was crushed oat of Anne by
waring sensations. She clutched the man
tel for support. He grasped the other
end, his pale features working.
Il was looking for No. 40, and happen
ing to take this side of the street, ;fancied
this was the house | sought, for the pOr
tco hid the number. As | approached
the door through broken frame | heard
you say. My kingdom for pair of boots.
Looking in saw the trio of pretty maids.
Perhaps (I don t know if nothing further
had been said, would have gone away,
and forgotten you. but Margaret asked.
what is your kingdom, Anne, and you
replied My true. untried and tender
heart pledge you my life, Anne, till
that moment my heart had never been
stirred up by woman voice. but then
| knew | loved you as well as | know it
now That you should have your boots
and | should meet you, were resolves that
were born simultaneously. ! went i'm
and ordered the boots, and wrote
the message thinking they would be sent
at once and your mind be at ease Ispent
all the Christmas eve plotting how to bring
about a meeting. The only lucid idea that
came was that | should apply for board,
pretending this was No. 10. acted on
it, but the 30 stared me in the face so
boldly that after ringing the bell, priced it
off. Here it Is. Another-symbol of man $
folly" drawing it from his pocket and
finging it on the hearth.
when the boots arrived, as they did.
| could not help feeling fate had something
TO do with it-and | wanted to see your
face, when you read my message. You
hid it and it has been inscrutable ever
since thought to tell you this when |
came into my kingdom, which | fondly,
but fatuously, hoped would be that vaunted
heart. But since less worthy man suf
fees you, and | am all unworthy so be it.
He turned on his heel and left the room.
Poor Anne The avalanche of disclos-
ures, personal and impersonal, did not in
crease her bliss in her boots, or in her
bluntness; and she dare not confde in Al
ice, Or Margaret, or Jasper; they were so
wrapped up in Fred Marshall that they
cared nothing for her she thought. bit
terly She dissimulated and was elabo-
rately gay, riding more frequently with
Rockwell, yet she joyed no longer in her
kingdom; it was growing vast crop Of
thorns that pricked her horribly. Mar
shall she met at breakfast, luncheon, din
ner, and he invariably mounted guard
whenever Rockwell came To Anne this
behavior was incomprehensible In books
men suffering from unrequited love sys-
tematically rushed out of the presence of
the beloved object and departed to foreign
l., 90, IT, IL a. 90
beseech the obdurate lady of their choice
to change her mind. As Marshall did
not 90 away Anne could not cherish hope
that he would do the last Perhaps he
would marry Margaret in the end.
When summer came Mrs. Rockwell in
sisted the sisters should be her guests for
an indefinite period. She was going to
make western tour and wished to enlarge
and beautify her party. 1T is useless to
ask you to 90, Jasper, she said, kindly,
'.you will not leave your beloved books.
But will take care of the girls and in
crease their happiness-may be. Will
YOU come with us, Frederick p to Mar
shall, who sat at Jasper's elbow; Mar
shall, too, declined
AS chaperon of a dozen young people.
with one exception, all willing to WOO or
to be won, Mrs Rockwell was in her ele-
ment, matchmaking and sightseeing went
hand in hand and long before their return
Margaret and Alice had pledged their
troth to Volney and Latrobe The isolated
exception, however, had convinced Rock
well, whose ardent avowals she always
contrived to bluff, that Anne, dowerless,
was more to his liking than any other
women whose ducats were countless.
They reached Baltimore December %,
driving at once to the Rockwell residence,
where servant shortly handed his mis-
tress a letter 1t was from Jasper, asking
her to continue her kindness by bringing
the girls and any other friends she wished
out to Portland Manor as soon as she re-
turned.
How exasperatingly terse Jasper is.
Our expectations must be realized And
still l have seen no demand for my where
n n 4