The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1901-10-11


biggest houses in London ball was in
progress. The small hours had come,
and out over the tops of the trees the
moon was shining. In the park man
and a girl were sitting out dance after
dance.
The man was of courtly presence and
splendid physique, with face clean cut
as cameo, red gold hair and pointed
beard, wondrous even there in the half
light, and blue eyes that fell before nei-
Their 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 lifetime Of re-
grets and loneliness should be saved
if 1 did notp'
He caught her in his arms, raining
hot kisses ON her cheeks and lips.
.My love! My life! How can 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-"
81 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 a 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, 1 will never
marry any woman but you! There shall
be lifelong troth 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, "if
in the years to come you repent to-
nights decision, and I 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
peerless woman"
He bent his handsome head and kiss
ed her again.
81 have no jewel to give you back,
Rex" she whispered, "only this little
'Mizpah 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 last
caress, and he kissed the teardrops
from her eyes, too, before he led her
back to the glare of the ballroom and
the scrutiny of a score of pairs of jeal-
Gus eyes and the murmur of score Of
envious feminine tongues, "She has re-
fused him, the little fool"
=
Blanche Drummond sat sewing at the
open window of a gray, ivy grown
house, with the golden sunshine of an
other May, ten years after, showing
up all the finger prints that relentless
time and trouble had placed on her
beautiful face.
Squire Drummond had never possess
ed more wealth than would suffice for
his own requirements and those of a
prodigal son, and it had been a stand
ing grievance to him that his daughter
had so steadily refused every offer of
a rich husband. He did not know the
story of the diamonds on her left hand,
and, moreover, he had no soul for SEN
timent.
Now that he was gone to his long
home and the prodigal far off in for
eign land Blanche lived on at the old
country house with the aunt who ten
years previously had chaperoned her
one London season.
Suddenly that lady looked up from
the newspaper she was reading.
"Do you remember the king of Ster-
via, Blanche" she asked--''the hand
some man with the red beard? He call
ed himself the Count Won Glenchen
that season we met him in London"
Her eyes were DINNER than they had
been ten years ago, and she did not
see the flush on her nieces cheeks as
she murmUred assent, but went on in
blissful unconsciousness.
"Here is news of him. He is going
to be married at last" And she read
aloud:
1T is officially announced that
marriage has been arranged to take
place shortly between his majesty King
Rex Of Steryia and her royal highness
Princess Flavia of Rhodania."
That was all-only bald press par
agraph, but it set the sweet May sun
shine all dazzling before Blanche
Drummond's eyes and brought the
waves of the ocean surging through
her ears.
Before God, Blanche, I will never
marry any woman but you'll"
He had forgotten her, then. Even a
king could forget his vow.
She put away her sewing presently
and went up to her own room. Out
over the woods, yellow green in their
young leaves, and the distant sea,