The Somerset reporter., 1904-09-29
TWO
QUEENS
By KEITH GORDON
COPYRIGHT, 1901, by Keith Gordon
COPYRIGHT, 1901, by Keith Gordon

Cop,frfoht 1901, by Keith Gordon II
1t was apparent that their visit to
the art museum had nothing to do with
art. 1t was equally plain that their
feeling for each other could not be de
scribed as platonic. Bettina, to be
sure, affected unconsciousness as she
sauntered through the lofty rooms
where the marbie figures flushed cold
ly into view, exciting one to new love
of mere flesh and blood, but all the
time she knew that to the man at her
1t 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 a 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. l might as we'll
plead with this marble fgurer'
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 nt her side, who was glowering
at her with an odd mixture OF rebel
lion and alteration In his fuce
Really. Steve" she replied at last,
Pm ashamed of you. It's not my
heart that's at fault; It's your purse.
You know that perfectly well" 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 30
long as II had seemed to him an honest
hesitation he had borne 1t with what
grace he could summon.
His lips set In an inhexibbe line, and
without a word his hand closed firmly
upon her arm, and with more determL
nation than gentleness be guided her
to 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 a tritie
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 rs
crisply as icicles.
at 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 ut once"
He paused d 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 I have twelve
hundred 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 a grim
satisfaction
What I want-what viii have" he
continued In n mufiled voice without
giving her chance to speak is def
mite. final answerw And then before
the queen had really caught her breath,
he finished In tone nothing short OF
command, And / want 1t within five
minutes!'
For one deeting 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 flush Of anger over
spread her face.
Almost unconsciously she rose, her
companion following her example, and
HeI W rs Dlub&u Illtn INStllluchb AhtO
the cold determination of his for full
second before she addressed him.
You may have your answer this no
ment" she flung at him in tone OF
dangerous clearnees. Il only wonder
that l could ever have hesitated! 1t Is
'No'-a Thousand times Nor"
She noticed with cruel delight the
sudden, still whiteness that overspread
his face as with an ironical bow, he
turned and walked rapidly away. Then
q new feeling suddenly clutched at her
heart.
Had she not lately been d queen, with
loyal, faithful subject to whom she
had turned an ear quite royalty indif-
ferent? Had not q revolution occurred
In her small domain and republic
been proclaimed? Could she not un-
derstand now the sorrows of Marie
Antoinette or a Eugenie1
And so at last the latest OF dethroned
queens reached her own door trying to
philosophize about the matter as,