Smyrna times., 1901-11-06
MISPAH.
The Story OF King Who Loved
a Commoner.
,ocoCoCooococ0o0o0oooOo

|
and out over the tops of the trees the
moon was shining. In the park q man
and a girl were sitting out dance after
dance.
The man was of courtly presence and
splendid physique, with face clean cut
as a cameo, red gold hair and pointed
beard, wondrous even there in the half
light, and blue eyes that fell before ne-
ther man nor woman.
In low, passionate tones he was
pleading with the girl at his side
pleading as strong men only plead for
life or love- But to all the fervor of his
wOOing she was adamant.
"You do not love me, Blanche" he |
cried at length You have Only been |
playing with me-"
"Ah, Rex! What a lifetime of re-
grets and loneliness 1 should be saved |
if did nOtr'
He caught her in his arms, raining
hot kisses on her cheeks and lips.
MY love! My life! How can 1 per-
suade you to forget everything but our
love for each other and marry me?"
"Why do yOu tempt me? Why do you
love me? Why have we ever metz"
She half freed herself from his en-
brace and Stood her hands on his
shoulders, scanning his face.
Heaven only knows, since you in
sist on parting again." he answered
"And yet you say you love me-"
Il do love you with all my heart and
soul, Rex, my prince of men, my king.
But how can l marry you? Would you
have your people say you had brought
them a country girl, cOmmOner, no
body, from over the sea? In what dis
aster would the royal marriage end?
No, no, my Rex. Our dream is over
tonight. We have come to the parting
of the ways. Go back to your throne
and wed woman fit to be your mate
a princess. And 1.-THE memory of this
May madness shall go with me to the
grave, and no man shall call me wife"
Before God, Blanche, l will never
marry any woman but you! There shall
be a lifelong trOrh between us if you
will have nothing else"
He drew a ring set with blazing dia-
monds from his own finger and slipped
| it on hers.
"Send it to me, darling" he said, eff
in the years to come you repent to-
nights decision, and l will be at your
side as fast as rail and boat can bring
me. And send it to me if the great
summons come first to you, and it
shall be buried with me, for love of a
peerless woman"
He bent his handsome head and kiss
ed her again.
II have no jewel to give you back,
Rex" she whispered, 'Only this little
'AIizpah' ring-'The Lord judge be-
tween me and thee when we are absent
the one from the other
She raised her lips to his for Il last
caress, and he kissed the teardropS
from her eyes, too, before he led hel
back to the glare of the ballroom ant
the scrutiny of a score of pairs of jeal
Gus eyes and the murmur of a score Of
envious feminine tongues, "She has re
fused him. the little fool"
Blanche Drummond sat sewing at tht
open window of a gray, ivy growI
house, with the golden sunshine of an
other May, ten years after, showing
up all the finger prints that relentles
time and trouble had placed on he
beautiful face.
Squire Drummond had never possess
ed more wealth than would suffice TO
his own requirements and those of ;
/ prodigal son. and it had been a stand
ing grievance to him that his daughte
had so steadily refused every offer o
a rich husband. He did not know tn
story of the diamonds on her left hand
and, moreover. he had no soul for ser
timent.
!, Now that he was gone to his Ion
= home and the prodigal far off in a fol
: eign land blanche lived on at the oil
country house with the aunt who te
years previously had chaperoned he
one London season.
Suddenly that lady looked up froI
T the newspaper she was reading.
a do you remember the king of Ste
70 via, Blanche" she asked-'the hanC
d some man with the red beard? He cal
ed himself the Count Won Glenche
that season we met him in London
% Her eyes were DINNER than they ha
u been ten years ago, and she did NJ
{. see the flush on her niece's cheeks 9
+, she murmured assent, but went on
ss blissful unconsciousness.
"a "Here is news of him. He is goin
, to be married at last" And she rea
aloud:
10 ''It Is officially announced that
" marriage has been arranged to tai
lg place shortly between his majesty Kir
I'd Rex of Stervia and her royal highnei
I'd Princess Flavia of Rhodania."
,t That was all-only bald press pa
~ agraph, but it set the sweet May SUI
- shine all dazzling before Blancl
y Drummond's eyes and brought Il