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

her sweet, full lips quivered and no sound
came. For a moment she buried her hot
face in the cool softness OF the lilacs to
shield her from the sun-or the duke. When
she looked out at him again her eyes held
a CLEAN of resolution.
Hast heard of the new science, your
grace?" she asked suddenly.
"One every week till my brain whirls.
Which of the many hath the good fortune
to interest your majesty?" the duke asked
This the court caught from a wandering
band of Bohemia. play l call 1t, but
my Lady Matilda will have 1t that II hatn
the hand like horoscope, and all the quail
tiles strength and weakness alike the
past, the present and the future, are plain
as an open book. She began tc spell mine
out before the court, but I babe her finish
in private! Since then she hath instructed
me till / am grown SO wise my very min
listers fear me-"
The duke echoed her laugh and closed his
fists to defy her power. She shook her
head as she held out her hand for his.
NO cowardice, nova queen shouid
know her courtier's secrets Give 1t me.
For. know you not-have you not guessed
that / am come here Solely-for-your-
hand?" Her long roundabout leading up
to this had made it no easier, and she was
white as she said it. Relief fought with dis
appointment when she saw her meaning an
lost upon the too humble duke, and the
color surged back in flood to her
cheeks.
Half wondering at the swift changes in
her. the duke held out one great hand,
trembling as with sudden weakness When
she opened it with both her own
"A strong hand, your grace-and big,
withalr' she began playfully, but with
caress in the words. A brave hand' ready
1 vouch, to defend your country at
need"
cor nv oueenv' cried the duke fervently,
and his tone lulled the half-fear IN her
breast. The queen dropped her eyes-to
scan the lines more closely.
But the heart-line sir, Is in sad state
full of links like a chain Flirtatlons'
all!'' Her eyes challenged him.
''Follies of extreme youth, all long since
scorned. See here, it runs deep, single
blood-red line" he protested.
"Ah, yourself lacks not defense at need!
Now what of the head; the line Is good,
but too straight and steady, head rules
otherwiser Then burning under the duke S
gaze, Nay, it's better so in a man, she
cried, I'VE weak women are too much
swayed by heart Here runs the line OF
life How long!-I fear me they must needs
throttle you on Judgment day! For ro-
nance see what curious figure the lines
form on the right of the palm. 1t looks to
me-think you not, 1t resembles Grover
leaf your grace? But his grace, loath to
look at aught save her fingers as tney
traced the lines in his hand, shook his
head
IF that be a good omen, yes. If bad
It hath no resemblance.
She sent him a look of specious reprooi
as she continued: 1T is plain; four
leayed clover-See here, and here. Ano
mark you it well, for it is token
BE she high. be she low
BY this sign thy true love know.
as it goes in the Halloween play. There
that is all | can read you must go TO Lazy
Matilda for the rest. But the tide is flowing
We must go 49,,
She let him help her to rise. and they
came to the turn that would bring them
in sight of the cOurtiers on the terrace the
queen halted. ~, -,
Il can go no farther, duke, TN rid
me of this pebble in my shoe. Inc deep
sand of the dunes
Permit me- and the duke knelt to assist
her.
'Mayhap it were best to sommon my lady
of the chamber" she faltered, but did mol
stop him from unclasping the brilliant Jew
eled buckle and when he held up her small
low shoe and shook it in his hand only
tiny crumpled bit of green fell out;
"Naught but a leaf, said the DUKE anu
would have thrown it away. ),
"Stay!' cried the queen Give 1t me-
The duke wonderingly laid it in her out
stretched hand and half smiled as she
carefully smoothed it out.
Then at last as it lay outlined unde1
her slender finger tips he saw and under
stood. , ,~d
For a moment he could only stano
snaech1ess devouring her with longing
ewes: and then, with a cry, forgetting aH
save that she was woman ana ne d man
he crushed her to him and pressed ms
Inns to the four-leaf clover, as 1t lay IN the
hollow of the girl-queen's palm