The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1905-12-01


side, duly sympathized with her and
agreed it was absolutely the fault of
Michael that a blight should fall and
ruin the flowers just for this particu-
lar occasion.
Suddenly. the Queen stopped
marching up and down the room, and
stood perfectly still in the centre of
| it.
4 have an ideal" she exclaimed;
IAN excellent idea, tool"
All present nodded their heads
wisely. The Queens brain was
neither large nor strong; therefore it
was quite novelty for her to have
an idea; besides, they wished to
humor her into a better temper, SO
they stood patiently waiting while
| their royal mistress expounded her
| wonderful inspiration.
Il wanted to have my table look
ing very uncommon today, didn't II"
asked the Queen.
You did. your maje:ty; you did, 7"
they replied in chorus.
Then it shall be uncommon. 1t
shall be decorated in manner that
has never been known before, and
will defy copying. 1t shall be a COM
| plete novelty, and shall come as a
surprise to the Duchess of Superior
dom, who prides herself upon her
| taste My table shall be the marvel
of the age, and accounts of the royal
| luncheon shall be handed down from
generation to generation
Michael gave his head little Sc
cret scratch He felt puzzled, and
was anxiously thinking what the
| Queen intended using for the table,
as ne knew well enough there were
no mowers to be had. Her majesty's
next observation enlightened him,
though it came as a severe shock.
| 81 will have the table decorated
with the Black Flowers of Justice;
and as it is all owing to Michael's
| carelessness that l have no flowers
l command him to hasten to the ga--
den and bring me sufficient for my
| use."
| With a groan Michael flung him
self at the Queens feet. To touch
| the plant he knew meant some fear
| full fate for him-his death probably
and he made wild appeal.
Mercy, your majesty, l implore.
1t means death to me if do as you
bid me- 1t is through no fault of
| mine that you lack blossoms today.
| / guarded them carefully, and to
| punish me so harshly would be cruel
and unjust, besides gaining nothing
for yourself. Any punishment but
that, I beg"
The Queen curled her lip scorn-
| fully as she looked at her gardener
wriggling on the floor.
Get up, worm" she said author
itatively, giving him little push
with her foot. you need not tie
| afraid, for l will send one of my
lords in waiting. accompanied by one
| of the ladies, to do as l wish. Now"
| she went on, turning to them, who
is brave enough to prove there is no
truth in this idle tale about these
magical flowers? l command one of
| you instantly to fetch me handful
of them! Go! AT once. say! DO
you hear me? Col"
But nobody stirred
All stood pale and trembling be-
fore the angry Queen, devoutly wish
ing they had remained far away and
had not allowed themselves to be at
tracted by the noise her majesty
| made when she commenced to scold
| Michael The Quen's rage was bad
enough, but none felt inclined to ex-
change it for their own fate. Their
consciences were not sufficiently pure
to allow them to pluck this mystic
flower without dread of the conse-
quences.
For a moment the Queen stood
speechless with establishment and
gasping for breath. She could hardly
believe she was being defied by the
whole Court.
"Cowards. she Missed. well, /,
! at least, am not afraid. Follow me.
and. let me show you that l have the
courage to, do alone what all of you
feared to do together"
And she marched through the long
corridors into the garden, abusing
her retinue terribly all the time.
| One old lady muttered to another
as they hurried after the exasperated
Queen: "My dear. did you ever see
such a woman before?" and the other
replied, under breath: Thank good
ness, never, She deserves to live in
a hut, for it is all she is fit for;
and the whole party fastened on,
| whispering and commenting upon
the Queens behavior among them
| selves.
They all paused incredulously upon
the stone steps leading into the gar
den. Surely the Queen would never
carry out such mad threat! Some
body suggested sending for the King,
but it was decided he would be worse
than useless in any emergency, so
they stood in GREATNESS silence and
gazed at the Queen as she hurried to