Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1905-10-12

received the new decree was Queen
Vashti.
AS she read the paper spread be-
fore her and the full meaning of the
words dawned upon her, it seemed
as though her heart would break.
She stood as though turned to stone,
but waved aside her maids, who
rushed towards hen as she reeled
and nearly tainted.
The words were brief, but the
more effective. Her love was washed
aside like a shell on the seashore.
"Is this all the love that he has
for me2" she moaned, wringing her
hands in anguish. "He never loved
me, she exclaimed bitterly, "or he
would have known l could not do
what he wanted. If he had not been
drinking heavily he never would
have issued such a command. Oh,
my love, my love, why did you do
this thing?" and sobbiug heart
brokenly, the woman overcome the
queen, and she sunk on a couch,
while Zetesh, her favorite maid, ran
to her assistance.
While Zetesh bathed the poor
queens throbbing head, she sank
into deep, but troubled sleep.
The kings wrath was appessed,
his pride had been satisfied, vet be
did not rest content. In a moment
of maudlin anger at the advice Of his
willy courtiers who had only waited
for a moment like this to have the
king in their power, he had signed
a decree divorcing Vashti from him.
Now in his calm senses he realized
that she had refused to obey through
sense of womanly modesty and
delicacy, and not to defy him. His
oath had been recorded among the
laws of the Medes, and the king must
suffer his own punishment. More
over, he was lonely. Usually when
he sat at his wine, Vashti reclined
on couch by his side. Now there
was no one to caress the frowns,
caused by troubles Of state, away
from his brow. No musical voice
he loved to hear, to sing his cares
away. No dear arms to clasp around
his neck. So the king, too, paced
up and down and grieved for the
love he had cast aside. And because
he was king, his oath was more to
him than his love. Though his heart
bled, he could not recall Vashti.
The people wished another queen.
So day after day the king, with
smileless eyes, gazed dreamily on fair
maidens as they passed in review,
looking but not seeing, as his thoughts
were all the time on his beautiful
former queen.
This same drama was enacted day
after day, until the king saw that the
mobiles were growing impatient at his
lack Of interest. He reused himself
and his eyes fell on Esther, niece of a
certain Mordecai, a Jew. He chose
her for his queen and tried to put
Vashti out Of his heart.
When Vashti found that at last the
king had selected Esther to reign IN
her stead, her heart grew cold within
her. But what could she do2
"How can l live day after day,
knowing that another, usurper, has
my place at the kings side-her arms
around his neck whispering words Of
love into his earl shall go mad lie
is miue-I am his-he has sworn that
he loves none but me. l will see him
and speak to him once more, if death
awaits me at the end"
Vashti was woman of resource as
we'll as beauty. The next morning
.he might have been seen creeping
from the woman's palace, her face
closely yelled, going to her last tryst.
Vashti knew just where the king
would walk and just the spot where
he would stop and rest 80 taking up
her position behind stone arch where
she could see and not be seen, with a
heart beating painfully, patiently she
waited.
When at last the well remembered
1tep was heard and the dearly loved
.orm came in view she tore the veil
rom her face as though she we're suf-
locating. With one hand on her heart
10 still its tumultuous beating, she ad-
yanced a step, then threw herself
PROSTATE at the kings feet, saying,
my lord !"
In amazement, King Ahasuerns
started back, then murmured my
lueenl" the words wrung from him IN
.onao;ouslv-a world of WARMING IN