The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-07-08
THE
QUEENS PAGE
ny ~OAACAo OoACA Merrill Company
Copyright 1905. by the Bobbs-
Merrill Company
BY Cornelia Baker
CHAPTER XIII.


~ ETRONILLA, who of course knew nothing of her
r. brothers. departure, peacefully engaged with
q her embroidery frame beside the marquise, who :
was similarly employed =. - 49,: H. ILL., -.
''Her majesty has sent for this girl and you must
account reveal the fact that she is not in your
authority Of who speaks in the Of the queen.
'Pedro is he worse? cried the little girl, rising
hurFiedly and scattering her embroidery silks about
'.Your brother is almost recovered. Gomez ~
Yes, go at once my child, as the queen commands"
said the marquise, and in everything do as you are
Locked within the pages Dona Ysabel threw
off the close the child and loosened her soft
hair; then she unbuttoned the little dress and almost
before she aware of it Petrona stood clothed in
pages suit of pale yellow silk slashed with velvet
'This disguise is to her ma esty from great an
noyance explained the ladyin waiting she finished
the by fastening small dagger to Petronilla 8
side; **and until you permitted to take off this
garb you must pretend to be your brother
EBut my brother,-what has become of HING asked
the little girl with quiverng lips for she could not
derstand this singular proceeding ..r.'*
q He is gone secret errand and you are to take
his place. Now do you underestimate
Eyes madame, and will do my best to be like him
"That is right; and the queen must see you,
for in my life did behold remarkable resem-
blanee.'' i. ~<a~ --.%
1t surely the boy hmself It happy thought,
ISABEL, but the woundwhat of that? Shall we pretend
that it cured by miraclees.' -.+- -
emo, madame such statement would excite so much
commend that it would lead to discovery 1t is great
pity the accident should have occurred just at this tme
it necessary that the girl should resemble the
page; but have thought Of way out of the difficulty
will give the child wound like that of her BROTHER
Petronila stepped back in dismay and the queen
looked startled but ISABEL laughed and taking up
sharp knife piece of plaster similar to the
haG eae Of his sister, And she
claimed triumphanty the resemblance is complete and
perfect!'' T., = <-#.E@ =#@ -.
are called for Let us involve ourselves in tange
of deceit unless it be necessary - ~ -
While royalty sat at supper Brusquet lay under the
table, it sometimes pleased him to do popping his
when struck by brilliant idea Tonight, how
ever he had said nothing and the KING VINO seemed TO
be in unusually good humor, commented upon his
silence.
~ meditating cousin upon the strange ways of
kings returned the fool from under the table.
1'As hows'' asked his master lazily.
Brsquet crept out and sat with his leerng face on
level with the board he repied IL am wondering
cousin why when you have host of messengers of
own, you should have sent little page boy, Cousin
Eleanor s page by the way, with letter to Charles
Francis flashed glance at the queen. She had raised
goblet her lips and altho she had been momently
pecng outburst from Brusquet her nerves were 50
from her trembling hand staining the cloth with red
wine. .-. - -.
to the jester again Those blinking have deceived
you fool. sent no message to the king Of SPAIN
* fool can see well king persisted Brus-
uuet The page, the pretty Spaniard whom pinked
SO dainty with your dagger and who in was
ornamented with dark pasted over his face, this
sped the courtyard mounted his swift
steed and flew away chased by ten thousand devils
And what wonderful STILL he had not yet returned
at nghtfa when all good little boys should be tucked
safely in bed:'' -
efYour joke is stupid' said Francis quietly; 'you
should take something to sharpen your wits. -
Eleanor deep breath of relief, while Brusquet
scowled with disappointment 1t very annoying to
find the kings anger could not be reused It would be
amusing to see him lose his temper at the table where
there were throw and he would have rejoced
II at the discontinue of the queen. ~
But they had returned to the gilded salon Fran
els asked with apparent carelessness: BY the way
how fares the boy wounded yesterday
s.IndiHerently well,'' replied the queen. II hop
there is no danger of fever,-and there not be i
he remains in quiet and seclusion for few days. "
She had said too much; she was not good actress.
tsFie'' replied the king che should not be rolled VI
may see for myself how he fares
Tie ladies gentlemen Of the court, ever quick
suspect realized that something was wrong and awaite
with mpatience the return of the messenger who wa
sent to fetch the wounded page
Thru the doorway small figure with head erect
but with large, frightened and brown mark acros