The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-07-21
TIE EVENING STORY
Queen Luriine's wishes-and Mine.

AT the fancy dress ball the profile Of
Queen Lurline pleased me greatly. A
beautiful line from the gold-banded,
gem decked forehead to the piquant
chin where I remembered, years be-
fore, dimple had lurked.
Your chin is charmingly the same, -
1 murmured, bowling low before her.
And your cheek. Gordon Bell
laughed Slang from the lips OF
royalty is delightful Also I was
pleased that she had recognized me.
looked with distaste at the crowds.
DO you know bank wherein the
wild thyme grows?" I asked, seduc-
lively
81 do; let's md it."
It was down by the lake, and over
and around was moolight, caressing
Lurline's face. and making her eyes
glow like the gems in her dark hair.
TT has been nine years." she said.
presently.
Mine years. two months and day .
I corrected. Have you received your
moneys worth %
Il suppose So she answered. color
lessly. II used to think If could have
a gold watch and piano I should be
perfectly happy; but when they came
so many other things came with them
that I felt like the child who has too
many gifts at Christmas. I didn't
know which one to play with first, and
SO I got tired of them ALL
Her dark eyes held a look that had
no right IN the eyes of three-and-
twenty
IF youth. beauty and riches can not
bring you contentment, you must be
hard to please" I said.
She gave an impatient shrug. And
royalty-you forget that, or perhaps
you didn't know. I suppose I am to
be the Princess Casimir.''
"Lurlinei" exclaimed you
wouldn't. Why, he is a degenerate, a
beast! His name isn't ut to be men
toned in woman's presence
80 I've heard she answered,
calmly. but he's a prince. Shouldn't
reward my benefactress by making
her a mother-in-royalty so to speak?
I think 1 shall tell him yes
The queen leaned toward me and
touched my arm. why don't you tell
me of yourself, Gordie?'' she asked,
wistfully And the old home, and the
school house. Are they still there
And the wintergreens, and the old oak
tree ?"
Il have brought you a picture of the
school house; the tree is gone. tt e
wintergreen patch is there, but berries
and leaves seem to have lost their
flavor. l wonder why?"
She bent over the picture. which
showed dimly in the moonlight.
DO you remember when we used to
sit on the school house step after the
others had gone and play three wishes,
Gordie? If you could have three
wishes, what would you ask for?"
Power, position and pelf," I an
swered promptly.
She sighed You are foolish. Gordie,
land I am surprised. Your letters these
nine years haven't sounded that way. .
Her voice, mellow and full, needed
just this note of sadness to make me
welI-nigh forget that / was only a vii
lage doctor, and she an heiress. She
mustn't marry the prince, but I must
remember my place. I had no right to
explain to her just what my three
wishes really meant.
.Lurline,'' I said, 1.-The old school
master, crippled Dick Gregg, still lives
in the village. When he knew I was
coming to see you he said You'll not
find her changed, boy, except perhaps
taller and more winsome. The good
heart of little Lurline Holland could
not be- tarnish ed by Paris, or London,
or the Courts of the Wicked
Dear, blessed old mani I was sure
I could detect tears in her voice, but
she added lightly, TOO bad you'll
have to go back and tell him his mis-
take, isn't it? Take your queen in,
Gordie. It must be nearly time for me
to dance a stupid polka with the
wicked prince
1 saw her the next day, and the
next, and the day after. We reveled in
"reminiscences of the time when we
were boy and girl together, before the
eccentric and rich Mrs. Van Houter,
struck by the orphans great promise
fairly carried away with Lurlines
charms, but 1 prided myself on my
strong will. and she did not know how
my arms ached to hold her.
When we were together she was not
at home to the prince, for which I was
duly thankful; but I exerted all my
energies toward making her realize the
horror of a union with him She
would not argue. neither would she
promise to refuse him. At last I APP
pealed to Mrs. Van Houter.
TT is not right of you to let the
child sacrifice herself" blazed-
Mrs. Van Houter regarded me lazily.
would you mind telling me why you
don't want Lurline to marry the
prince -
He IS a wreck, physical and moral"
I answered trying to keep cool. HE
is a blasphemer of woman, and a
drunkard. I should think these are
sufficient reasons.
Have you told them to Lurline?"
s'Yes; but she is blinded by her
gratitude to you. A young girl can not
realize what it means, anyway"
Have you no other reason, Cor
don ?"
felt my face grow hot ct think
you know there is. If it weren't for
your wretched money, Mrs. Van Hou-
ter, I would marry Lurline Holland, If
she would let me-,
sAnd what have you to offer her.
boy ?"
1.-TWO clean hands. and a tongue that
has never spoken evil of woman, and
the munifcent resources OF a village
I added bitterly.
Good. I should advise you to tell the
child So
1 stared at her: then I took up my
hat That is impossible. Mrs. Van