The Press., 1905-07-19
QUEENS
CHOICE
BY CAMPBELL MACLEOD
Copyright, 1905, by D. @. Macleod


jeweled hand. The Jester bent over II
reverently and slyly bit 1t. The queen
laughed behind her fam and beckoned
the clown to her side. He sank ON the
steps at her feet.
"This Is my throne for tonight" he
announced. gayly jingling his bells. II
shall surrender It to NO one. For one
night shall speak only the plain, un-
vanished truth, your majesty"
Zone who would speak the truth, Sir
Cap and Bells" replied the queen sage
ly, must needs have some previous
experience"
"Ha, hap chuckled the king, beam
ing at the vision at his side. "Well
said, my lady. Previous experience,
Sir Fooly'
Age tangled In the voice Of the king;
youth dubbed In the laughter Of the
jester The queen unconsciously lean
ed on the arm next to the clown and
closed her eyes for q moment to rest
them from the bewilderlng sight be-
fore her. To be queen Of one Of the
most splendid Mardi Gras balls is
something to turn a girls heart. But
this one, to Judge by her weary eyes
in spite Of the magniAcence surround
ing her and in face Of the kings open
devotion-was bored. And the even
ing was only beginning.
The jester at her feet played with
his bells and hummed IF Ever
Cease to Love" in time with the mu-
sicians far overhead. As he sang he
watched the face Of the queen. Sud-
denly she turned to him.
"Sir Fool" she said gently, that air
goes not with that get-up. Save your
voice for ''Tell Me. Pretty Maiden"
would she listen II told her. think
your he whispered eagerly. There
has never been but one pretty maiden
for me, your majesty"
"a maid Is but a maid" the queen
returned slowly, and a man but a
man, and love Ia but
"Everything!' the jester interrupted
seriously. Love Is all"
The king called the second time, then
had to touch the arm Of the queen be-
fore she heard him. Two strange
princes stood waiting to be presented.
Behind them came q train Of Cupids,
Lohengrins and monks, each bearing a
tray Of compliments. The queens eyes
were big and suddenly bright. The
king sat with his fat hand ON his heart
and listened to her bandying repartee
with each in turn. The TESTERS bells
were silent He was attentively study
ing the queens pink nails on the hand
resting on the vase Of magnificent
roses near the throne.
"You should have been a queen" the
king announced ponderOusly as the last
troubadOur moved of.
"You were born a queen" the Jester
whispered eagerly.
'"This splendor shall always be
yours" the king continued in business
tones. Everything shall be yours that
money can buy. But you were fitted
for a real throne"
"'Kind hearts are more than coro-
nets,'" the Jester sang softly to the air
Of Under the Bamboo Tree" "And
the truest throne Is a thrObbing heart,
lady" The queen frowned at him i'm
patiently and turned to the king, who
was presenting two foreign generals,
ablaze with decorations. No, she was
not dancing, she told them. The king
couldn't dance, and 1t hattered him
that she was SO well content ON the
throne beside him. The incident was
full Of Significance. He had wealth, So
cial position, everything but her, and
now 1t seemed that his patience was to
be rewarded at last. What woman
could hold out in such a fight? The
queen sighed and brought him back to
earth. He turned eagerly to her. She
was looking far away. Her thoughts,
even to a casual observer, were far re-
moved from this crowded ballroom.
You sighed, your majesty" he
begged humbly "You share my throne.
Let me share your trouble, whatever 1t
is"
The queen laughed merrily. The jest
er touched his bells.
"Margotr' he whispered eagerly.
''Margotv'
The queen ignored the appeal. A
merry crowd Of troubadours were ap-
preaching, and she paid for their COM
pliments with a fire Of smiles and pref
ty speeches.
'If you would marry me-" resumed
the old king suddenly when the crowd
departed with backward bows and
obeisance and they were alone save
for the jester, whom he did not see,
you shall be queen In q palace as
beautiful as even you could desire"
"Margot" entreated the jester. "Love
Ia npp hn =
him impatiently.
Marry me-" pleaded the old king
hoarsely. "You are not one who can
stand poverty. Your mansion shall be
q palace; your jewels shall rival
queens"
MARRY me-" whispered the jester,
catching hold Of the hand behind the
rose. To-day bought house, Mar
got. True, there are but four rooms in
1t, but no place could be half so dear.
You could transform It into q home,
MarGot. have no jewels but those Of
my love to give you. MargOt, but you
know that = true
you shall cruise In q yacht on sum-
mer seas" continued the deaf old king, |
land all Paris and London shall rave
Of your beauty and your splendor."
I'VE could slip OF together to the |
park" whispered the Jester, ito listen |
to the band ON Sunday evenings. Don't |
you remember what you told me under |
those moss draped trees that night p |
The queen toyed with her fan and
sighed. II love you! l love you! II
love your chanted the Jester passion
ately.
"As my wife," resumed the king,
you will always be the queen Of
scenes like this" The eyes Of the
queen swept the house before her-tier
upon tier Of beautiful women In gor-
geous gowns and jewels, men whose
and preference counted for
, great deal. and, above all else, the at