The suburban citizen., 1901-01-12
IFS" And "ANDS."
, By Mauds shapeott.
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LET EFT us argue the case out"
r She spoke with unexpect,
cd ernestness. He laughed
lazily and pulled one or
two long rtrokes on his oars before re-
plying
"very we'll"
"You mean to say" continued she,
that this princess should marry q man
she cares nothing for-whom she has
never seen-because It is for the wei.
fare Of her people and his"
Exactly" replied he in a jestlns
tone.
She sighed family.
"You men think nothing Of won!
ans happinesG--a womans life"
He stopped rowing and let the boat
drift gently down the stream.
"Let us argue the case out" said he,
repeating her words of a few minutes
ago. "As l understand this matter
from the papers, n certain king, who
shall be nameless, desires for his royal
escort a certain grand duchess-who
shall also be nameless. 1t 10 for the
best interests Of both their countries
that these two should wed. This the
king understands, as also do the advis-
ers Of the grand duchess But she,
womanlike, refuses to entertain the
idea, declaring she Will marry only the
man she loves--and who loves her. At
least so the court gossips say. Am l
stating the case correctly"
"Yes?"
"Love is a beautiful dream, but like
most dreams has often n rude awals.
enlng, Perhaps this grand duchess viii
fall in love with n man she cannot
marry. What thenT
She leaned over the side Of the boat
without replying and plucked great
yellow lily which lay rocking idly
to and fro in the centre of the stream.
Besides, duty comes before pleas
ure."
There was no mirth in his face now
1t was grave and little sad.
"True. But this is for life" she
said slowly.
"Granted. And there are many
things in life not pleasant to cOntem-
plate but which nevertheless have TO
be borne. Now II we're the king
think you l should look forward with
pleasure to the thought Of a bride
who hated me-even before she had
seen meT
"He has only himself to thank. WHY
did he not choose some other Pros
erplne? This grand duchess is not
the only princess in the world"
He opened his eyes in astonlshment
at the bitterness in her voice.
zone would think you were the
grand duchess" he said.
"If were," replied she with spirit.
"I would show the wo.ld that a prlu-
cess can still be a woman"
"I believe you would" replied he.
thoughtfully; then. picking up his
oars he rowed with unnecessary vigor
up the river.
The sun had sunk behind n bank of
dark night clouds rising in the west. A
! gentle, moaning wind stole from the
land and waved tenderly the sleeping
grasses and drowsy flowers that lined
the banks. Far in the distance could
be heard the harsh voices Of frogs
chanting their evening hymn, while
from the thickets close at hand canle
the soft twltterirg Of birds settling
themselves for a long nights rest
She turned her head away from him.
and as she did so he saw her eyes were
full of tears. Sweetly from the woods
on the eastern bank rang out the clear
divine note of nightingale Silence
long and deep fell between them.
at has been a happy summer" he
said. The lence was growing op
presslve
ayes" She smiled absently, rs
though her thoughts were far away
from the past and its pleasures.
"But, like all pleasant things, It ends
too SOON"
"For you perhaps, But have stli
more mornings to wander In the woods
more sunsets to watch-more even
Ings TO sit and dream Of"
"Of what%
She did not reply. He cast a swift
questioning glance at her.
'We may meet next yearf' he sab
! Questlonlngly.