Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1907-07-17
QUEEN OF
QVAGMOND.
BY Epes w. Sargent.
Copyrighted, 1907. by NJ. NJ. Cunningham.

Far out on the blue expanse of water
two black specks turned smaller and
smaller in the distance. Now and then
the early morning sun caught the broad
blades of the oars with a CLINT like the
fash Of diamond, but presently the
boats rounded the point of Indian is.
land, and Nan turned to her aunt
"Well,' she announced briskly, eve
are all alone for the day. Just think
of that, auntie. We can imagine that
we are original settlers and alone in
the trackless waste"
Mrs. Edmond, shivered at the sug-
gestion.
Don't, child" she cried. lis it not
enough that we should be left alone?''
Its the most delicious thing that
has happened this summer" declared
Nan. Just think of having the whole
Of this beautiful lake all to ourselves!
I'm queen of Quagmond lake, and you
are the dowager queen, I guess. Let's
clear away the remains of our royal
banquet"
Suiting the action to the word, Nan
briskly attacked the breakfast things,
washing them in the tiny brook that
went singing over the pebbles to the
waters of the lake. 1t did not take
long to dispose of the soiled things, and
presently the girl turned to her aunt,
her nut brown face glowing from the
exercise.
what do you want to do, dear?' she
demanded.
whatever you wish" Mrs. Edmond
smiled into the radiant face softly
framed in tie masses OF soft hair. Il
suppose that we had better wait until
Mr.. Leland comes over"
| "Wint Leland Is not coming over"
said Nan decidedly. II want to 20
somewhere now. Let's take lunch
and climb the mountain. It's such a
tiny mountain it won't tire you. We
can stop every little while. 1 hate to
have to climb and climb and climb the
way Whit Leland wants to-"
I'VE will do it your way" said Mrs.
| Edmond gently. Shall we start at
Once?'
You're the dearest auntie that ever
was," declared Nan as she planted an
| enthusiastic kiss upon the lady's
withered cheek and danced off to pre-
pare the lunch. Mrs. Edmond noticed
that the girl kept scanning the lake
and guessed the cause. Nan was afraid
| that in spite Of the prohibition Win
throp Leland might come padding
| around the corner, as he had done ev-
cry morning since the Rankin camp
| had been opened.
The rest of the party would never
have gone across the lake had they not
supposed that Leland would be there
to do squire duty. 1t was so like Nan
not to let them know. There must
have been a quarrel last night. She
let her troubled glance wander out
along the shore, but there was no sign
OF the canoe, and presently they tied
the tent flaps and plunged into the soft
green Of the woods.
But even Squaw hill was something
OF climb for Mrs. Edmond, and, as
stops We're frequent, it was we'll past
noon when they at last halted for
lunch, establishing themselves upon a
grassy plateau divided by tiny stream
that later cut past the camp.
Both were hungry, and the sand
Wiches quickly vanished, but neither
made move to go. Below, the lake
glittered like sheet of Furnished sill
yer In the glare Of the SUM-, giant
salver framed in the changing green
Of the tree clad banks. Mrs. Edmond
leaned back against the huge rock and
sighed contentedly. Nan dropped
down beside her and rested her head
against her aunt's knee.
Its lovely up here" she said softly.
Il wish that we didn't have to 20 back
ever"
"You would tire of it," said the elder
woman, with smile. "YOu are too
young and too active to turn recluse,
Nan. Besides" with an allusion to the
girls speech that morning, 1.-THE queen
should not seclude herself from her
subjects"
"Not even when the subjects are un-
ruly?" Nan asked, with a sigh.
"Then least of ALL" counseled Mrs.
Edmond. "She should restore har-,
mony to her subjects and show her
self truly ruler. What was the mat
ter last night, Nan?" )
The girl started and colored at the
directness Of the question. She had
not meant such a literal application Of
| her remark. * "a %&zs. = =. Z. r. l.
: ~
"Wint was horrid last night" she
said slowly, her glance directed toward
the tiny Indian island out in the lake.
He was 80 certain that we. could not
do without him that l told him not to
come 81. ..s 1850