The San Angelo press. (San Angelo, Tex.) 1897-1907, 1905-05-18
QUEENS
CHOICE
BY CAMPBELL MACLEOD
Copyright, 1906, by d. @. Macleod

reVerently ana Blyly DIT III. Inc queen
laughed behind her fan and beckoned
the clown to her side. He sank on the
steps at her feet.
This is my throne for tonight" no
announced, gayly Jingling his bells. IL
shall surrender II TO no one. For one
night l shall speak only the plain, I'M
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"
"IIa, haw chuckled the king beam
ing Mt the vision Mt his side. "Well
said, my lady. Previous experience,
Sir Fool!"
Age tangled in the voice OF the king;
youth dubbed I'm the laughter Of the
Jester. The queen unconsciously lean.
cd on the arm next to the clown and
closed her eyes for maant to rest
them from the bewildcring sight bn-
fore her. To be queen Of one Of the
most splendid Mardl Gras balls Il
something to turn n girls heart. But
this one, to fudge by her weary eyes
In spite Of the magnificence surround
ing her and in face Of the kings open
devotlon-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-
slcians far overhead. AS he sang he
watched the face of the queen. Sud
denly she turned to him.
"Slr Fool" she said gently, that air
goes not with that get-up. Save your
voice for "Tcll Me- Pretty Maiden"
would she listen If l told her, think
your" he whispered eagerly. There
has never been but one pretty maiden
for me, your majesty"
"a maid Is but n maid" the queen
returned slowly, "and man but a
man, and love Is but
"Evcrythng!" 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 stool waiting to be presented.
Behind them came train of Cuplds,
Lohengrins and monks, each bearing
tray of compliments. The queens eyes
were big and suddenly bright. The
king sat will 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 off.
you were born a queen" the jester
whispered eagerly.
"Ihis splendor shall always be
yours" the king continued In business
tones. Everything shall be yours that
money can buy. But you were fitted
for real throne"
Kind hearts are more than coro-
nets" the lester sang softly to the air
Of "Under the Bamboo Tree" And
the truest throne Is 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 fattered 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 Mt last. What woman
could hold out In such a fight? The
queen sighed and brought him back to
earth. He t'Irned eagerly to her. She
was looking far away. Her thoughts,
even to 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.
"Margot" he whispered eagerly.
"Margotr
The queen ignored the appeal. A
merry crowd Of troubadours were APP
preaching, and she paid for their com
pliments with fire OF smiles and pref
~ 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 palace as
beautiful as even you could desire"
"Margotw entreated the jester. "Love
Is everything" The queen frowned at
him impatiently.
"Marry me-" pleaded the old king
hoarsely. You are not one who can
stand poverty. Your mansion shall be
palace; your jewels shall rival n
queens"
"Marry me-" whispered the Jester,
catching hold of the hand behind the
rose. "Today / bought house, Mar
got. True, there are but four rooms in
it, but no place could be half so dear.
You could transform 1t into home,
Margot, l have no jewels but those Of
my love to give you, Margot, but you
know that is rue
"You shall cruise In yacht on sum
mer seas" continued the deaf old king,
"and all Paris and London shall rave
of your beauty and your splendor."
eve could slip off together to the