The Somerset reporter., 1904-10-20
Queen Cophetva
And the Besgar
Man By KEITH GORDON
Copyright, 1901, BY Kssth Gordon

100, no." concluded Asksw, regard
ing his hostess intently with just that
touch OF cool mastery In his glance
which always made her wonder II the
telltale blood were rising in her cheeks
and which, at the present moment,
caused her somewhat naughty eyes to
avoid him, like quivering, cornersd ami
mails. "A mans manhood 10 a greater
thing even than his lovs And the
poor man who asks a rich woman to
marry him is like the chap who sold
his birthright for a mess of pottage."
you place high value upon love-"
she murmured, and despite her efforts
there was a little catch In her breath.
Yes, l think | do" he resumed I'm
perturbably, 80 high a value, in fact,
that l would place 1t above all sus-
picion-aboye even the suspicion Of
Suspicion he ended In an emphatic
tone.
Considering that the TIVE were pla-
tonic friends of several years stand
ing, the air Of the drawing room seem
ed curiously surcharged with meaning.
eyes fixed upon the open IRE for some
time after Askew's last remark, each
was fully aware of the others
thoughts, and each listened to the reg
ular ticking of the clock with a vague
impression that the sound was ON
nous with love and heartbreak.
Askew was a man OF thirty, with a
square jaw. strongly cut features ami
that pronounced mir of Insecurity that
caused Miss Vance to realize with II
thrill that Ia such Il man his manhood.
as lie had said, must be first, 1t could
not possibly be otherwise. Deep down
in his heart of hearts a woman might
rcign-loved with the passion that only
such natures can feel. but never really
dominating his He.
Always he would be complete master
Of himself-and OF her! He would love
her with tenderness atronE md deep
In her own domain she would be SUI
Dreme, but that domain would mover
he coextensive with his own larger
life. And yet. to tho tips Of her fin.
gers. she felt that she would rather be
loved by him than by any other MAIL
in the world.
Moreover, she WAS loved by him.
She knew 1t, though he had never by
so much as word admitted It, She
WAS as sure of it as she WAS Of Ler
own love for him. and at the mere
thought the blood danced riotously
through her veins and her head invol-
unfairly went up No queen could be
prouder. no mere woman more hum
bile. than that thought made her.
Few of her associates would have
recognized the expression that soften-
ed and glorfied the face OF the "hauEh.
~ Miss Vance" as sic WAS called be
hind her back rs she turned more full
ly toward Donald Askew and demand
ed softly:
DO you mean to say tlat II you hnp-
pened TO fall in love with a rich won.
an-anG-and"-
"AndE' he lntcrrogHted.
"And she loved you or you had rea
son to think that she did
For the second time size paused with
confused impression that tho air sf
the room was suddenly exhausted snf
that breathing was by no mems ths
simple, natural matter it had Away
seemed.
"Do you mem 10 Soy" she blurt@.
out, with schoolalrllsh inpstuoS
that you would not tel her that you
loved herr
2Al
crate reply Never" Then he added
coolly. But | should he careful act to
do anything 30 nsinine ga to fall In
love with a rich girl in the frst place.
knowing, as l do. that the money max,
Ing talent is not ono to which l can
lay claim"
For a moment her heart turned 20
ice. Then the blood flowed back warm
and strong, and she understood He
was taking this stand In the hopo Of
throwing her Of the track, becausc his
fantastic sense Of honor put him cut Of
the running. AID hs wished to aivsst
himself even Of the interest that an
uadeclared leve might arouse In her.
She could have laughed fer very icy at
kIs assembling.
What would ysu DO asssMinx that
in spite Of yourself ysu Should fall In
love with an heiressY' she persisted.
He fenced manfully. well. / think
] should clear cut. 1t wsuld be the
beat thing TO do In a case like tAat."
aiiss vance. the naughty Miss Vance.
the heiress Of the Vance millisns. re-
gardcd him demurely. She was
person who was accustomed to having
her wishes complied with. She won
dered vaguely what It was about the
man Lef0re her that made her ready.
enger even. 10 step down from the re-
tal position she had always occupied
md sue for his favsr: why In her eyes
10 Should seem the king! And when
Mt last she spoke Ler vsice was almost
wistful.
But what about the wsman-tho
poor rich woman? Perhaps-psrhaps
che wight hats her rixhss-shs nixht