The Jasper news. [volume] (Jasper, Missouri) 1898-1924, 1907-01-31


querade sat In the corner. The Jack
of Hearts strolled by. He was uncon,-
Portable in his clothes but because his
hostess desired 1t he wore the gaudy
costume. "a
why is the queen alone and mo one.
to Worship" he asked lounging over
her chair.
Il have been waiting for the king to
come she said patbetically.
I am sorry" said the man, but !
saw the king sitting on the stairs with
the Milkinaid OF Paris
"The old stories say, that they are
bewitching creatures and 1 fear the
king win forget that the queen Is
here" She shrugged her shoulders
petulantly.
IF the king was wise, he would not
slinger there" he said gallantly. She
was sure now she recognized the voice.
Perhaps ventured the girl, she
has peeped under the mask and stays
because she is a queen in disguise. ~"
That could not be true; the real
queen is here talking to the jack, who
while not king Is always next the
queen" he said with exaggerated ten.
you are not sure.' she mocked
him, "but what am only milkmaid
disguised as queen"
Miikmaid or queen, you are very
bewitching. II could see your face,
would know. You are my queen am
sure, and III the king has gone away,
the queen must, by all the rules of the
game take the jack. He tried to push
the mask back from under her face,
but she held 1t tightly.
You are not going by the rules OF
the game" she chided.
Suppose them said the man seri-
ously, "that we be partners for life
and play the game out to the finish"
Il may be only a miikmaids in dis
guise,g she reminded him. Is,
But II l worship you as queen, then
you will be queen, Let me see your
face l1o begged. e. 80. :.
+ She made a motion as IL to. lift her
mask, hut only turned the corner back
from her chin. He saw an alluring lit
tie dimple.
Il am satisfied now he told her,
that you are not an impoSti1re,; but
the real queen of my heart. Y
Bit how do I. know that you are
the real Jack OF Hearts and that you
stand next the queen? You may be
only a deuce.'
Il will show you my hand" he said
grayely, spreading his broad palm for
her inspection.
"Since I'm the queen, to satisfy my
self, that you are the real jack. 1 must
read what the lines say of your past. i
have even," she said demurely, told
the fortune of my consort, the king"
She studied the lines closely, but
she studied more closely the ring he
wore. you have had a queen before.
You loved her and swore eternal al
legiance.''
"You are reading wrong" he cor.
rected her. you are the only queen !
| have"
She did not stop for his interrup.
tion. "She was tall and her hair was
almost red, her eyes greenish blue
and you knew her year ago."
! He was somewhat uneasy. II did
not know girl with red hair, the girl
| danced with had brown hair with
yellow CLEANS and her eyes were deep
hazel"
The girl laughed. The man tried to
imagine how the dimple looked under
her mask. You did her great In.
| Justice" said the fortune teller SO.
| verely.
q did not wrong the girl" he insist
ed gravely.
! Perhaps" suggested the Queen Of
Hearts, Il know more about that than
you do. You have admitted that there
was another queen"
eyes, = he returned gently, the llii
all out OF his voice. there was q
queen. but after that night at the
dance, could not worship her longer
But, he added with an attempt al
ilghtness, you see I've found the reai
queen and she never leaves hel
throne S.
.'Your hand says." she was still hold
] ing his hand in her own, that 70,
were traitor to your sovereign and
could never trust you
You would not do as the other did, 7
| he said decidedly s s.. 4
4 sYou change your allegiance tct
often for good subject. The line
say she went on with his fortune
rthat you wronged her, but you ar,
i poinp IN see her again aeon and q,