Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1906-09-27

her throne. ut means prison for thee
If thou dost not succeed
Majesty he said, II can do naught
but try, and l am most willing to do
that!' and, having bowed low, he
struck few chords on his Lutte
The Queen rose from her throne,
and, opening her ruby lips, she uttered
one long, piercing note. The poor min
strel staggered back and dropped his
lutte in horror.
"Ah," cried the Queen. in anger,
what is the meaning of that? Thou
hast not ever the grace of the other
fifty-nine OF to prison with him!"
and two sturdy warders grasped the
poor minstrel. one on either side.
Your most gracious majesty" he
gasped. give me but leave to ex-
plain, and of surety thou wilt not be
harsh.
Speak, then,' scowled the Queen.
'Oh, gracious sovereign" he began:
Il staggered In wonder at such volume
| and richness of tone. l dropped my
| lutte, as worthless thing, when l
heard thy voice, and il thou wouldst
but grant me leave to compose song
| suited to thy wondrOus genius and
ability, not only would I be the most
| grateful creature in all the world, but
| thou wouldst enable me to hand down
to posterity work which no one else
ever could or ever will be able to sing"
| The Queens face once more assum-
| ed it's benign expression.
| Il grant thy request, Sir Minstrel,
but remember, if this vaunted work
does not please our fancy, further
more. is not finished in twenty-four
hours, thou and the other fifty-nine
instructors now languishing in Jail,
shall die! I am weary unto death of
you all. Go!" and with a wave of her
lily hand, she sank back on her gor-
! geous throne.
The two sturdy warders conducted
the minstrel to narrow tower room,
where the bats and the spiders had
long been the only occupants. There
| they left him, with nothing but cup
of water to cheer him, and the mem
ory Of the sound of the key turning
in the lock for inspiration. He lost
no time in examining his quarters, but
!. spent the rest of the day and part of
the night arranging song, which
! sounded like nothing so much as the
hoarse notes screamed by the Queen
when she had attempted to sing.
Over and over again he twanged the
notes on his lutte. Over and over again
he tried to sing them. At last, tired
out. and satisfied with his effort, he
lay down and slept.
When at last he awoke, the sun was
| high in the heavens, and the gaoler
was pounding at his door.
What no, there!" he called, undo
ing the lock. ''Sir Minstrel, art awake ?
The Queen awaits thee"
Hastily swinging his lutte across his
shoulder, he followed the gaoler into
the royal presence.
How now, Sir Minstrel" said the
Queen, as he bowed low before her,
"hast succeeded with thy song?" And
all the Court leaned forward eagerly.
"Most beauteous Queen" he an
swered, "harken to my song; and only
a voice such as yours can sing it, and
| Will q OOW WAACh OOA| A4AAA 0OuDAS1 IL
struck the opening chords upon .his
lutte, and began to sing.
So like the Queens own voice did
it sound, that all the Court gazed
open-mouthed at one another, and she
herself leaned forward in amaze
''Sir Minstrel said she. "that SONG
can | surely sing, and rising to hel
feet, she opened wide her lips, and
poured forth note on note just as the
minstrel had. but SO like, and in such
harmony did he accompany her upon
his lutte, that before the day was over
every man, woman and child in the
kingdom had applied to him for les
sons.
The Queen was beside herself fo1
joy.
"Sir Minstrel said she, thou nas'
made me most happy, for there IS nc
one so miserable as woman VINO can
not do what she wishes. Stay ano
share the Peacock kingdom with me-
Majesty, thou hast done me lnoeso
great honor, and gladly Will | stay
with SO lovely Queen. But one favor
must I ask"