St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1904-11-23
Two Queens.

scribed 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 a new love
of mere flesh and blood, but all the
time she knew that to the man at her
side she was queen of the world; also
it was evident enough from the look Of
discomfort on the mans face that her
loyal subject was not altogether happy.
"Your place is right here on pedes-
tai along with the other statues" was
what he was saying to her. "The trou-
BILE with you is, Betty, that you won't
listen to your heart. I might as well
plead with this marble figure!'
The queen, with well feigned reluc-
lance, brought her glance back from
the headless Victory that seemed
forever on the point of fight 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,
sTm 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
about her. In reality she watched him
felt him straining at 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 it had seemed to him an honest
hesitation he had borne it with what
grace he could summon.
His lips set in an infexible line, and
without word his hand closed firmly
upon her arm, and with more determi-
nation than gentleness he guided her
to bench near by.
"Well?" she questioned when she had
settled herself in a corner Of the seat
and he had squared himself beside her.
In truth, though she strove valiantly
to conceal it, the queen was a 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.
cit is about time that you understood
me-" he began at last. "You have play
ed 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 a moment and then elab-
GRATED:
''L'm tired of playing the devoted
subject, tired of being made to feel
that my love is nothing and my lack
of wealth everything. 1 have twelve
hundred a year." He paused for brief
moment, conscious of a mad desire to
make the matter as bad as possible,
then added, And there is no certainty
that I'll ever have more"
Though he 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 grim
satisfaction.
''What want-what I will have" he
continued in a muff1ed voice without
giving her chance to speak, sis def
mite, final answer!' And then, before
the queen had really caught her breath,
he finished in a tone nothing short of
command, "And I want it within five
minutes!'
For one fleeing moment something
like pale dismay showed in the girls
face. She had never counted on mo-
ment like this. Then her eyes kindled
royalty, and a flush of anger over
spread her face.
Almost unconsciously she rose, her
companion following her example, and
her eyes blazed their resentment into
the cold determination of his for full
second before she addressed him.
''You may have your answer this mo-
ment!' she flung at him in tone of
dangerous clearness. II only wonder
that could ever have hesitated! 1t is
'No-a thousand times Nor"
She noticed with a cruel delight the
sudden, still whiteness that overspread
his face as. with an ironical bow, he
turned and walked rapidly away Then
a new feeling suddenly clutched at her
heart.
Had she not lately been queen, with !,
a loyal, faithful subject to whom she
had turned an ear quite royalty indif
ferent? Had not revolution occurred
in her small domain and a republic
been proclaimed? Could she not I'M
derstand now the sorrows of Marie
Antoinette or a Eugene?
And SO at last the latest of dethroned
queens reached her, own door trying to
philosophiZe about the matter as,
doubtless, her predecessors had before
her. After all, it was for the best. She
was poor, and Steve was poor-in pos
sessions. But by some freakish opera
ton of the law of compensation both
were endowed with tastes of an un-
mistakable richness.
Eyes, it's all for the BEST" she said
aloud as she closed the door of her
room behind her. tits alp
The rest was lost in the pillow, for
the ex-queen had thrown herself face