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

How now? Who speaks Of
Vashti ?" he asks trife frowningly.
81, my lord, answered Memucan.
"What ofher2 Speak, man Out
with ii"
81 beg your lordship's pardon, "
answered Memucan, bending his knee
to the king, but Hamish here wanted
to know if the queen is as beautiful
as she is reported to be. l told him
yes, your majesty, but he still looks
doubtful"
you shall see for yourself" re-
piled the king, quickly; and calling
the seven chamberlains to him bade
them bring the queen, Vashti, at
once to his presence, SO they could
all admire her wondrous beauty.
The lords remained silent and a
little abashed at their own temerlty,
but awaited with eagerDess the ar
rival of the far-famed beautiful wo-
man, whom few had ever seen, as
she remained constantly yelled while
before the eyes of the public.
When Memucan, the chief cham
berlain, had made known to the queen
the kings command, she turned as
white as the alabaster at her feet.
"Does the king mean that l shall
uncover my face before the lords of
Media and Persia ?" she asked family.
80 the king hath commanded, "
answered Memucan sorrowfully, for
he knew what an order like this
meant to pure sensitive woman.
Vashti drew herself to her full
height and verify looked the queen
she was.
"Then, goI" she pointed command
ingly, land tell my lord, the king,
that 1 refuse-hark ye, refuse to act
as show to being sparkle to his
wine. If he has forgotten that there
is such a thing as honor in the world,
have not. Go tell him T. and her
eyes flashed Indignantly.
Memucan looked at the queen in
astonishment mingled with admira-
tion-and fear for her.
"What shall we do IN such csse?"
he asked Carcas, who stood near
him. Surely such message was
never sent to the king before"
1--WE can do naught but return
without the queen" answered Car
Gus, "for we had no command to
bring her by force"
So the chamberlains departed, anx-
ious in their hearts as to how King
Ahasuerus would receive their mes
sage.
The king and mobiles were impa-
tiently waiting for a sight of the
beautiful queen, so when the cham
berlains entered with worried faces
and without her the king angrily
exclaimed: "How now? Seven of
you and none able to bring me what
l sent you for?" Then with sudden
alarm, speak, is the queen ill2"
ooh, king, she did refuse to come,
answered Memucan bending to the
ground.
"Refuse-refuse my command and
desire2" exclaimed the king excit-
edly, while the mobiles reused them
selves in astonishment. All thoughts
of revelry disappeared, and feasting
and drinking were forgotten for the
moment.
Memucan delivered Vashti's mes
sage, word for word, and when he
had finished there was a great 81.
lence.
The king sat buried in thought
for a few minutes, then turned his
face to those Of his wise men who
eat near him and said: "What shall
be done unto this rebellious queen2
Mehuman rose and answered for
the others. "Vashti, the queen,
hath not only done wrong to the
king, but to the mobiles of his realm.
If this mutiny goeth unrebuked, all
the women in the land will follow the
queens example and desplss their
husbands commands. If it find
pleasure in the kings sight, let there
go forth royal commandment into
all the provinces, in all the languages
thereof, that the Queen Vashti shall
come no more before King Ahasuerus,
and let it be written in the laws Of
the Medes and the Persians. Thus
when the wives have read the king g
decree, they will give to their hus-
bands all honor" Mehuman then
resumed his seat.
The king was well pleased with
the words he had heard, Tor be was