Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-05-17
DAILY SHORT STORY
UNCONSCIOUS BEAUTY.

queen died W0en CDe little princess
Henrietta was an infant, and the king
placed her in one of his palaces. where
she was brought up in charge Of the
Duchess Margaret, her aunt. Not
mirror was permitted in the palace,
and the king ordered the water in the
artificial lakes and basins with which
the spacious grounds abounded TO be
drawn OF for fear the princess should
catch the reelection OF her face. From
time 10 time the duchess was required
TO make reports TO the king concerning
her charge.
The princess is growing to be very
beautiful" the duchess reported when
Henrietta was sixteen years old. and
is absolutely unconscious OF her
charms
Tell her," replied the king that
she is very hOmely."
The order was obeyed. The princess,
who up 10 this time had not thought
OF her own appearance, was seized
with d desire to see what she looked
like, and the duchess was obliged to
double the distractions she had thrown
in the way of her doing SO But i'll
time she began to consider that the
sight OF her ugIiness would only dis
tress her, and she made vow never
to see u reflection of her face
When she was twenty ner father
died suddenly, and she became queen.
Those near her at once broke the Sc
cret OF her beauty TO her, but she
would not believe them Now that |
am queen you are all disposed to fiat
ter me-" she said. land, though | he
uglier than Medusa. you would make
me believe I am beautiful rs Venus
Her first edfct was that any one being
instrumental I'm showing her her flea
lures should at once be beheaded.
Many neighboring princes proposed
for the hand Of the queen, but she, be
lieving in her ugliness, feared that
when they came to see her they would
he shocked. and she would listen to
none OF them.
Now, the Queen Henrietta, being
woman with no strong minister to sup
port her in governing her people. soon
became the prey of several small ma
tons. whose rulers planned an alliance
to invade her kingdom, conquer ii and
divide II among them. Queen Henri
eta did the best she could to stem the
tide that set in against her; but. having
no general on whom she could rely. her
forces were beaten, and there was cv
cry prospect that her kingdom would
soon belong to her cOvetOus neighbOrs.
For some time young officer, Thee
dorus, had been rising through merit
alone from one command To another.
and at last the queen decided to APP
point him her general in chief. She
had never seen him. Indeed. she knew
nothing OF him except what he had ac-
cOmplished in her service.
Meanwhile size was so troubled about
her affairs that no one dared risk being
instrumental in showing her that she
was beautiful instead of ugly, for in
her present mood even the discovery
that she had been mistaken might lead
her TO deal numerically with her in
former This as well as the success of
her foreign enemy showed how lacking
in bravery were her own men.
No sooner had the young general
come TO the supreme command than
the tables were turned against the
queens enemies. In a series OF battles
in which he displayed not only great
vigor and generalship, but personal
bravery, he routed the armies OF his
foes, laid waste their countries aud
annexed them to the kingdom OF his
sovereign.
When the war was over great prepa-
rations were made at the capital TO re
ceive the victorious army. Before his
arrival the queen had made TheodOrus
a prince. but this was only the begin
ming OF the honOrs that We're TO he Civ
en him. He marched home with that
portion of his army not needed to con
troll the newly acquired countries and
rode at its head on it's entry into the
capital The queen had directed that a
throne be erected in front Of her pal
ace upon which 10 receive the young
hero. For fear be might break the law
she had issued In regard To showing her
her likeness, she sent him II copy OF the
edict embroidered on velvet. Upon his
arrival at the palace he threw himself
from his horse before the throne and
was about to kneel at the queens feet
when he was startled at sight OF her
transcendcnt beauty. Then instead Of
kneelIng he thrust his polished shield
before her face.
The effect was electrical The queen
gaZed for moment at her features
then. rising from her throne, knelt at
the feet OF the prince
BE thou king" she saids II am no
longer worthy to he queen, for you
have disObeyed my edict and rs your
sovereign. should be obliged to behead
you That cannot do
Theodorus. raising her. led her hack
10 the throne, then knelt before her
Gracious queen" he said, Il am as
ready as ever 10 die in your service. In |
the field I served an unseen sovereign |
and faced death simply from sense OF |
duty. On beholding your exquisite love
illness | am ready TO die grateful for |
having given you a sight Of the bless
ing God has bestowed upon you. ] |
await your majesty's orders"
Then the queen called for another /
throne ia he hroucfsf aud amid tho Il