Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-25

The old counselor heaved a deep sigh I'M
ber cover of an asthmatic wheeze. The IN
terview with her youthful majesty had
reen irving to a nature not renowned Tor
patience.
Your majesty hath misconstrued my hum
BILE wish to advise as a desire to control
he demonstrated Il wish | might assure
you-why, the whole court doth speak or
my devotion; It has become jest that
am tied to your majesty's apron strings'
YES. and do lead me about by them!
cried the queen with wrathful eyes. i h"e
better a longer tether, my lord. 1t pleased
me that you should call me my child; II
soothed the heavy aching for my father
But it hath an empty sound, now l know 1t
is used to make me feel the more the weak
ness of my youth. You are beloved by my
people-they know the power behind the
weak girls throne-and me they accord
the worship of pretty toy. l y!eld me 10
your long head in affairs of state as be-
comes one of my ignorance, | nave at hedrt
more my cOuntry's welfare than to execute
my own will. But this is my case. sir,
and by my sceptcr | will do in it as pleases
me- The slight figure of the girl queen
was drawn up to its greatest height, ana
the small, proud head was held erect in
fashion inherited from line of kings.
And is not the queens marriage an al
fair of state?
mo, by the saints. no." retOrted the
queen Though you would make it so M
deed. You would have me make an alll-
ance with house an estate. some mill
ions. l, m ylord. desire to wed man.!
THE half score or more of princes now
awaiting your royal pleasure are seXess
creatures. them the counselor asked with
unconscious insolenCe, in last desperate
effort at self-cOntTol
Puppets cried her majesty, furiously.
mo more manhood among the lot than in
the pack at my kennels though they are
as keen after their prey as any hounds.
They are hot in the chase for a throne.
They would dcCoy with sugar plums-ofer
bait of honeyed words-for the queen! To
the maid they give no thought.
Your majesty undertakes your own
charm; your beauty alone
''Ah, then | am beautiful, my lord?' The
queen was transformed. \ merry, eXult2nt
laugh escaped her; childish mischief danced
In her blue eyes. She caught the old war
ror by his gold epaulets and pulled him
down until his griZZled head was on level
with her bright locks.
odd dry-as-dust,' She cried. gaily. 1T
came out ere you knew it, And you would
rather die than hatter-oh. l have coaXed
and you have never told me so much. 10
the coNCombs at my heels | am a star a
flower, fairy. goddess, a-what-not, TIL
l doubt how | should depOrt meas planet
or vegetable, i'm sOoth. But yoU-not Il
CULVER of an eyelash till now has ever told
me | had charm. Did you fear to spoil me,
and so did make your sour looks the anti
dute for all the sweet poison of the court?
Too late-I am drunk on it! Counselor,
he worships beauty: think you not that he
must needs admire me?' A deep blush
begged pardon for the vanity of the ques-
ton. and a playful grlishness tried 10
hide her eager hanging on his answer
The old counselor screwed up his keen
little eyes until they were quite lost under
his great tufts of white eyebrows. and re-
spectfully tried to withdraw from the grasp
of those two slender, strong hands. To Lo
avail: woven about the gold fringe, they
held him prisoner. Thus caught, he urged
half huskily: Il beseech your majesty
give up this fancy, Four of the greatest
reigning houses offer you alliances. GU"
little land is beset with dangers, but could
stand if any one of the four were behind
it. This one duke whom you favor-with
a perseverance | must lay to your sex and
youths pennless, the last of his line.
oh, your majesty, consider
Her hands fell from his shoulders. My