The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1903-03-12
} HER MAJESTY
] By James Ravenscroft.

lM an apple toddy. HER MAJESTY.
This caustic criticism and the sig
nature are scrawled in large, angular
letters directly cross her portrait.
The words much taste" spoil the
beauty of the dimpled chin, while "her
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 [ suppose you can see it plainly
enough"
The squire is the venerable proprie-
tor of what waseonce a fine old Mary
land n Truxton, it's seat, has
been his home since childhood, and in
its smoking Don and library hangs
the striking portrait in question.
'They go well together, don'tthey?"
he asked. Il 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 eye
those lips, those shoulders. She was
a 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
face. Then he. resumed:
"Yes, she was an English girl. Her
father, who vas George Stiles, came
to this country in---I believe it was
1S47 and bought a tract of 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 soon 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 sub
ject, 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.
1.-THE portrait was done by a mas
ter, as you can see, in England when
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and I 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. I 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 hat 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 form an
attachment for some one unworthy
OF her. l W 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! Tt doesn't seem that long. I was
% then. Yes, Her Majesty was a mad
cap; a.. reckless, heartless madcap.
But that made no difference, for the
madder 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 interferred.
"HoW. was that, you say? Well, I'll
tell you if you care to hear an old
man talk. My breath is a bit short
to-day, buff 1t will interest you I
shall be glad to tell you the tale.
1T was late in November, and Her
Majesty's. father was giving q big
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