Democratic messenger., 1904-10-08
TWO
QUEENS
By KEITH GORDON
Copyright. Ioo.. bp Keith Gordon

art. 1t was equally plain that their
feeling for each other could not be de-
scrlbed as platonic. Bettina, to be
sure. affected unconsciousness as she
sauntered through the lofty rooms
where the marble figures flashed cold
" into view. exciting one to n new love
of mere flesh and blood. but all the
time she knew that to the man ut her
side she was queen of the world: also
1t was evident enough from the look Of
discomfort OH the mans face that her
loyal subject was not altogether happy.
"Your place is right here on n pedes-
tai along with the other statues" was
what he was saying to her. "'rhe trou-
BILE with you is. Betty. that you won't
listen to your heart might as well
plead with this marble figure"
The queen. with well feigned reluc-
tance. brought her glance back from
the headless Victory" that seemed
forever on the point Of flight to the
youth at her side. who was glowering
at her with an odd mixture of rebel
lion and alteration In his face
Really. Steve" she replied at last,
"I'm ashamed Of you. It's not my
heart that's at fault: It's your purse.
You know that perfectly we'll" And.
with her chin at an angle beautifully
eloquent of injured innocence. she pre-
tended to study the sculptured figures
felt him str:.ining ut his chains-with
an exultant sense OF the charm of be-
ing queen.
Her words and glance made him saw
age. 1t was hard enough to bear her
delay In putting their love affair on
that practical basis which points like
an index finger to matrimony. but so
long as 1t had seemed to him an honest
hesitation he had borne 1t with what
grace he could summon.
His lips set In an inflexible line. and
without n word his hand closed firmly
upon her arm. and with more determi-
nation than gentleness he guided her
to n bench near by.
'Well!" she questioned when she had
settled herself In corner of the seat
and he had squared himself beside her.
In truth. though she strove valiantly
to conceal 1t. the queen was trifie
startled.
Her late obedient subject studied her
| for some moments in silence and with
an expression rather too suggestive of
flint to be entirely to the queens taste.
Then he spoke. and his words fell as
crisply as icicles.
''It is about time that you understood
me-" he began ut last. You have play
ell with me long enough. What have
to say now Is just this: You may take
me or leave me. precisely as you
choose. but whichever you do must be
done at once"
He paused moment and then elab-
GRATED:
"I'm tired of playing the devoted
subject. tired of being made to feel
that my love is nothing and my lack
of wealth everything. have twelve
hundred year" He paused for brief
moment. conscious of mad desire to
make the matter rs bad as possible,
then added. And there Is no certainty
that I'll ever have more"
Though lie would have thrashed
cheerfully any man who had dared to
make such an assertion about him, to
say it TO her about himself at this par
ticular moment afforded him a grim
satisfaction.
what ] want-what l will have" he
continued In mufiied voice without
giving her chance to speak. .'is Il def
mite. final answer And then. before
he finished In tone nothing short Of
command. "And want it within five
minutesv'
For one fleeting moment something
like pale dismay showed in the girls
face. She had never counted Oh n mo-
ment like this Then her eyes kindled
royalty. and flush of anger over
spread her face.
Almost unconscio"sly she rose. her
companion following; Ler example. and
her eyes blaZcd their resentment into
the cold determination of his for n full
| second before she addressed him
"You may have your answer this mo-
ment"' she flung 1T him in II tone OF
dangerous cieirness. Il Only wonder
that could ever hive cs;: tel! 1t Is
'No'-a thousand time; No.
She noticed VIII Il crucl delight the
sudten. still wli;c;:e:':' tl:at oycrspread
his face as with ~ irJnic:.l bow. he
turned and wall;el rapidly away. Then
Il new feeling suddenly c!iitcicl ut her
| heait
Had she not ii;cly Lecn Il queen. with
II loyal. faithf,:l SUI. 'cct - whom she
had tnrnel IN ear C:;!.c royalty indif
fcrcnt: IIa,, rot :: re-. alrtion occurred
in her snail domain and :: republic
been proci:incG: Co"Id size not un-
dcrst.:nd now tie Sorrpv-s of Marie
| Antoincttc or II In enc:
And 80 1T list tie est of dcti.roned
queens rc:c!.e! lcT oy.-n door trying to
philos prhi.e ;bout Tie matter as.
doubtless. Lcr predecessors had before
her. After all. it VS. fSr tie best She
WAS poor. and Steve VS. poor-in pos
sessions. But 10y some frc kish opera
tion of the law of com. ems ltion both
were endowed with TASTES of an un.
mistakalle richness
"Yes. it's all for the best" she said