Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1904-02-15
CHAPTER XIV.
TIE EPISODE OF THE TnRoNERoo.

M he Princess 1ellNe DduSeu
# before two massive doors. 1t
was the next afternoon. and
she had already shown him the palace
of a queen. the howell of pauper!
Through the afternoon not one word
other than those which might have
passed between good friends escaped
the lips of either. He was all inter-
est, she ell graciousness. Abode, the
sturdy guard. swung open the doors.
drew the curtain and stood aside for
them to pass. Into the quiet hall she
led him. a princess in a gown of gray.
a courtier in tweeds. Inside the doors
he paused.
"And | thought you were Miss GuS-
genslocker." he said. She laughed with
the glee of a child who has charmed
and delighted through surprise.
Am | not Il feeble mite to sit on
that throne and rule all that comes
within it's reach?" She directed his
attention to the throne at the opposite
end of the hall From it's seat l calm
ly instruct gray haired statesmen.
weigh their wisdom and pass upon it
as if | were Demosthenes. challenge
the evils that may drive monarchs
mad and wonder if my crown is on
straight"
"Let me be ambassador from the
| United States and kneel at the throne,
your highness."
~ could not engage in a jest with the
crown my ancestors wore, Mr.. Lorry.
1t is sacred, thou thoughtless Amer
lean Come. we will draw nearer that
you may see the beauty of the work
manship in that great old chair
III stood at the base of the low,
velveted stage on which stood the chair,
with its high back, its massive arms
and legs a-shimmer in the light from
the lofty windows. 1t was of gold, in
laid with precious stones diamonds,
rubies. emeralds. sapphires and other
wondrOus jewels-a relic of ancient
| GrauStark.
| 81 never sit in the center. Always at
one side or the other, usually leaning
my elbow on the arm. You see, the
discussions are generally so long and
dreary that l become fatigued. One
time-I am ashamed to confess it
went to sleep on the throne. That was
| long ago. l manage to keep awake
very we'll of late. Do you like my
throneroom?'
And to think that it is yours!'
at is this room that gives me the
right to be hailed with Long live the
princess Not with campaign yells
and 'Hurrah for Yetive! How does
that sound? 'Hurrah for Yetivev" She
was laughing merrily.
Don't say it! 1t sounds sacrilegious
revoltingr'
For over three years-since l wa:
eighteen-I have been supreme in tina
chair. During the years of my reig1
prior to that time sat there with III.
Uncle Caspar standing beside me. How
often l begged him to sit down will
me! There was so much room, and b
certainly must have grown tired o
standing. One time | cried because h
frowned at me when l persisted in til
presence of a great asSemblage OF DC
bleS from Dawsbergen. 1t seems tina
it was a most important audience tina
| was granting. but | thought more @
my uncle's tired old legs. l remembe
saying through my sObs of morhfic;
ton that l would have him beheadet
You are to guess whether that startlin
threat created CONSERVATION or mirth
What a whimsical little princes
you must have been. weeping and pou
ing and going to Sleep he laughed
: And how sedate and wise you hay
: becomer'
= THANK you. How very nice yo
: are. | have felt all along that son
~ one would discern my effort to be di
nified and sedate. They say am wi;
q and good and gracious. but that is
be expected. They said that of sove
/ eigns as far back as the deluge. L
7 heard. Would you really like to s
i me in that old chair:' she asked.
:, "Ah. you are still woman" he sal
"A smiling at her pretty vanity. Not
ing could impress me more pleasantly
- She stepped carelessly and impulsiN
- ly upon the royal platform, lean
g against the arm of the throne, and wi
The charming blush of consciousne
= turned TO him with the quickness OF
=, guilty conscience, eager to hear
=. praise. but fearful lest he secretly &C
demned her conceit. His eyes We
burning with the admiration ii
! knows no defining. and his brea
came quick and sharp through part
,a lips. He involuntarily placed fl
= upon the bottom step. as if 10 spri
o. 10 her side.
You must not come up here"
"a cried. shrinking back, her hands
: tended in futtering remonstrance.
,os cannot permit that at all.'
oh 81 beg your pardon" he cried. 1T