Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1907-08-29
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: A WHIM OF THE !
| QUEENS +
By leila NJ. WALTERS
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By leila NJ. WALTERS .


vi
Copyright. by Daily Story Pub. Coz
"a within Of the queens" said John
to himself as he finished reading the
letter again.
He sat and gazed about the old gar
den with long breath of content.
Her letter had babe him meet her
there at three o'clock on Tuesday, the
sixteenth. The missive had come at
time when Johns buoyancy was at
the lowest So many things had gone
wrong that summer. He stood face to
face with the failure of his most cher
ished plans. He wondered bitterly If
he were the same person as that
youth, who, two years ago, had start
ed out so strong and confident to
wrest fame and fortune from a reluct-
ant world.
The queens whiml" He had smil-
ed as he read, but he had arisen at
once, and obeyed her summons.
SO three o'clock on Tuesday found
him waiting in the garden. 1t was a
garden made by bride Of two genera
tons ago. The gate latch clicked. and
his hearts desire came out from
among the roses.
oh, my darling, How lovely you
are!" breathed this denizen from the
world Of strife.
Why cannot 1 take her away, and
give her the things that are the birth
right OF such as she? / ought to wish
for rich lover for her IL 1 weren't
such selfish wretch. But there's no
danger that I'll ever make any such
wish" he finished his reflections as
she stood before him.
I didn't come to meet you because
/ wanted to gaze at you as you came
down the path" he said, as he took
her hand.
The city improves you wonderfully.
John. You're learning to say nice
things, and you know you used to be
80 painfully blunt"
And now, about this mysterious
summons" he said.
Il was 30 afraid you couldn't come"
she said sweetly ignoring his question.
And II you had failed me / should
have been broken hearted"
Why didn't you mention that It
was q matter of such Importance?
But, OF course, you knew that the
merest hint from the queen was
enough to bring me any time"
Il wonder" she said fitting her head
back to watch bird above her, what
lover first called his lady q queen.
They all do 1t now"
You seem quite familiar with the
ways OF lovers, he suggested.
"Oh, / am" was the cheerfully
prompt reply. II think 1 could count
on quite half OF the young men of the
village. There's about q dozen of
them, SO you needn't laugh. And be-
sides, there are the summer boarders.
you know"
Il hope you will never marry-pne
Of that despised race called the sum-
mer hoarder."
Moo. ! don't think ! shall In
deed, none of them have asked me.
You know girl is in a very awkward
situation when she tries to make her
plans. She does not know when these
absurd men will speak But no mat
ter how imperative it is that she have
things settled she must meekly clothe
herself with maiden modesty, and
wait" She was watching a bird on a
distant hush now, and did not look at
him as she spoke. After a moment,
frightened by her holiness and his ST.
lence, she stole quick glance at him.
He, too, had turned his eyes away
and his mouth was set in hard lines.
Before he had left the village there
had been boy and girl betrothal be-
tween them. She knew the security
OF his love. But of late he had ceased
to speak Of marriage. He felt that it
was unfair to bind her when his future
was so uncertain.
John" she half sobbed, putting her
hand on his arm, don't mind it. It's
only nonsense, you know. Don't look
like that"
He took her in his arms, murmuring
soothing words. and voicing his indy
ing love and hope. Even amidst her
exultation at the success of her inno-
cent designing she found time to won
der at this outburst Of passion from
her self-contained lover.
Darling" he said at length; 81
ought not say these things to you.
could scarcely promise you bread and
butter. ! have no right to tell my love
when ! cannot ask you to marry me
until some indefinite time In the fu