Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1904-11-12

eentered In the pOstman and such mes
scnger boys as appeared from time
to time In the street in which she
lived.
Not that she repented that ringing
"No" that she had given Steven on the
day Of their quarrel-by no means. Her
heart, she told herself, was dead. She
could not be poor. She would not!
She would marry some good old soul
to whom she could render the respect
of daughter-and the bills Of wife.
That was all that a girl in her position
could do. 1t was the fault Of modern
ideas.
1t was after she heard about his at
tentions to the Folsom girl that she
wept no more and became mark ehly in
different to the coming of the post
man. From this time, too. she con-
scientiously tried to tolerate old Mr..
Fullerton and his flowers. the two ever
arriving with an alternate regularity
that was full Of meaning.
She pictured herself as n queen again,
and this time with all the outward
semblance Of one. But, pervcrscly
enough, she could not keep Steven
Converse out Of the scene If she saw
herself rolling down Fifth avenue in
the Fullerton vehicle she as instantly
evoked the image Of Steve doffing his
hat with cold politeness, while she
nodded with the naughty nOnchalance
Of a great lady.
nd 0Gc In RI
months, and the ex-queen assured her
self that she was forgetting.
mot going out, my dear?" protestc
her mother as she appeared in the 10.
one gloomy Sunday with macintosh
and umbrella.
"Yes, mother mine. It's Il fine day
for the art museum. No crowd. you
knOw!'
She had never entered the place
since that fateful afternoon. but now
she was all a-tremble with ea ac"rncss to
get there. Some inward barrier of
pride had gone down, and she knew
that she wanted to visit the scene once
more just because there she could feel
a little nearer to him.
The turnstile admitted her, with a
click, not SO much, 1t seemed to her,
into the museum as into the atmos-
phere OF that distant afternoon. Be
fore the "VictOry" she stopped for a
mournful dedicatory moment. 1t was
here that he had accused her of being
no more than a statue herself. and
then-then he had gripped her arm and
made her sit down and listen.
With a little gulp. she turned away
and wandered blindly onward. When
the mist cleared from her vision she
found herself in the Egyptian room,
Great carved figures glarcd at her with
stolid faces, and ripple Of interest
stirred within her With mournful eyes
she read the inscriptions beside the
mummy cases.
SO this brown and moldering bun
die had once been queen, Through
the raised lid of the case she could just
catch glimpse of the object now so
dried and terrible. but once SO splen-
didly human.
Poor queen" she murmurcd softly,
as with her chin restin: on her hand
she gazed down at the gorgrUusry or
namcnted mummy case. Poor Queen"
And before she realized it tear had
splashed down OH the glass
Having been queen, something Of
the sadness and futility of it all wrung
her spirit. Somehow being rich or poor
did not now seem to matter. Being
happy seemed the greatest thing.
She was too absorbed in her thoughts
to notice young man who had been
making his way nearer and nearer to
her in somewhat furtive manner
Suddenly, as If he could not longer re-
sist the temptation, few quick steps
brought him to her side.
The ex-Queen looked up in surprise
and then put out both hands impul-
sively. But the proud. high look Of
mastery had not yet vanished from
his face.
"Did you really mean it," he de-
manded.
For an answer she lifted her eyes to
his for one brief, full moment. Even
queens must learn their lesson. She
had had hers.
Outside the steady drip. drip. drip.
Of the rain was only interrupted by
the wailing Of the wind, and the Egyp-
tian room was very quiet and deserted.
AS the newly enthroned queen turn
ed to leave she looked down with n
flushed, wistful face at the royal num-
my. Then she murmured something
softly.
whats thatT asked her lover. But
ut her reply he looked slightly mysti.
fed.
There's no use in telling you," she
laughed. Being only man, you'll new
er understand, but was saying good
by to the other queen"
The Mask of n Phrase.
The dIrectness Of the appeal in liter