Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1903-02-26
HER MAJESTY
By James Ravenscroft.
OSOcOcOcOcOcO

MEN haven't half as much taste as
M an apple today. HER MAJESTY.
This caustic criticism and the sig
nature are scrawled in large, angular
letters directly across her portrait.
The words much taste" spoil the
beauty Of the dimpled chin, while cher
Majesty" partly covers the perfect
throat.
Eyes, she wrote that" said the
squire, peering upward through his
glasses and vainly trying to straight.
en- his bent back so he could get a bet
ter view of the painting. Its been
over so years, and the ink has faded,
but I suppose you can see it plainly
enough"
The squire is the venerable proprie.
tor of what was once a fine old Mary,
land manor. Truxton, it's seat, has
been his home since childhood, and in
its smoking room and library hangs
the striking portrait in question.
"They go well together, don'tthey?"
he asked. II mean the expression OF
her face and what is expressed in
the writing. One is as full of caprice
as the other. Look at those eyes,
those lips, those shoulders. She was
& beauty, and the greatest madcap
that ever came out of England"
The squire was silent for a moment
as he wiped and readjusted his glasses
and looked again longingly at the
foca Tban he rasunaI.
"Yes, she was an English girl. Her
father, who was George Stiles, came
to this country in-I believe it was
1s47 and bought a tract eff land adj
joining my fathers estate. The fine
old colonial mansion on it was thrown
open with lavish hospitality and dur
ing winters merriment reigned under
its roof. Her Majesty 500 captured
the heart of every gallant in the coun'
ty, and gallants they were, too, in
those days before the war wasted
their wealth.
"Why was she called Her Majesty?
1t was a pet name given her by her
father, who, being a good British SUBJ
iect, found very early in her life that
he had two queens to serve. The
name chung to her, and while in this
country she was known by no other.
Maybe she didn't play the queen, too!
She was the only child, and her will
being all but supreme at home she
naturally extended it's supremacy
elsewhere. Oh, she was exacting on
her admirers, and I presume the
homage she received was a source Of
much amusement to her.
"The portrait was done by a mas
ter, as you can see, in England when
she was 1s. 1t cost her father 81, 200,
and 1 have heard that he was deeply
grieved when he discovered that the
master painting of his daughter had
been thus labeled with his daughters
master thought. 1t was not the cost
he was counting, oh! no, for he was
rich; he was particularly fond of this
portrait of her. / have also heard
that his anger subsidized quickly when
Her Majesty excused her action, as It
was said she did, by declaring that
men were always bothering her about
love and insisting on marrying her
whether she wished or no. She said
she only aimed to inscribe her opinion
of the sex where it would most likely
be seen, with the hope that it would
benefit present and future blockheads
who could think of nothing but court
ing. 1t is more than probable that
she was justified. His greatest worry
in life was that she might fotm an
attachment for some one unworthy
Of her. I owe my possession of the
painting to the Disagreement, for,
when the family returned to England
1t was left behind as rubbish. I Sc
cured it as a souvenir"
The squire sank feebly into a chair
opposite the portrait.
my" he said, "it makes me nervous
to recall those days! Fifty years
ago! 1t doesn't seem that long. I was
2s then. Yes, Her Majesty was a mad
cap n reckless, heartless madcap.
But that made no difference, for the
madden she was the more she was
loved. There was handsome Robert
Griswold. He fought a duel because of
,her-that is, he was all ready with
pistol in hand to shoot down his boy
hoods friend, if the friend didn't
shoot him down first, when an %unfore-
seen event in~terferred.
slow was that, you say? Well, Ill
tell you if you care to hear an old
man talk. My breath is a bit short
to-day, but if 1t win interest you I
shall be glad to tell you the tale.
"It was late in November, and Her
Majesty's father was giving a big
hunt and ball. The hunt took place
during the morning and afternoon,
and was followed by a sumptuous sup
per, after which came the ball. Rob-
ert Griswold was present, as was his
boyhood's friend, whom we will call
The Rival, for the two were unrelent-
ing in their efforts to win the love Of
the naughty young English girl. Girls
void and The Rival played together
when children, went to school to-
gether and had always been boon
companions; but when two years be-
fore at a reception they both bowed
for the first time over Her Majcsty's
little white hand q GOODNESS spranG