The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-09-09
Ten Minutes
WITH THE
Short-Story
Writers
THE LAND or
SPOILED BACHELORS
tBy Koloman Mikg2athl

OnCe, IN q laf-OW country, Il Dfaull'
ful queen ruled, who took 1t into her
head that all men are wicked So
She made a strict law that a man
who had gotten a woman into his
tolls might be forced by tle woman
TO marry her, or, If she wanted 20
punish him even more severely, she
might ask him to have PUT to death
by the haadsman
AS 4 result the women led a very
comfortable existence, One marriage
after another occurred in the king
dom, and Queen Myrta was very
proud Of her law
One morning two women appeared
III the queens audience chamber
Over the door OF the chamber hung
a bloody sword, and on the table lal
a number of bridal wreahs
Each OF the complainants was a re
lnarkably beautiful fresh young girl
THE one WAS a brunette, with clear
eagle eyes: theg other, golden-aair
ed blonde. who looked mildly out
upon the world
What complaint have you t'
make?" asked queen Myta
"a knight made false promises C
me, said the brunette, and her eye!
flashed
''The same thing happened 10 me,
Whispered tse blonde, casting he
eyes to the ground.
what is your Nance the queer
asked the brunette.
a am Arota, daughter OF the ricl
merchant,
And what is the name Of the MAJ
who got you into his tolls?
Sir Bolus. captain OF the guards
r Tae blonde shuddered.
4 And who are you?'
My name Is Delma am th'
daughter of the ship owner Karigan
Against whom do you lodge you
complaint
4 Sir Bolus, captain Of the guards.
How, Bolus? Captain of IN
4 guards?' exclaimed the queen, he
lips quiyering with wrath. Two a
the same time! Why, ! never befor
had sueh a wicked man in my king
dom! Headsman."
/ At the call the executioner steppe
( in. On such occasions as the presen
I he always stood IN the antechambel
clothed in his red garb comfortabL
! chatting with the priests, who wer
waiting to pronounce the last bless
ing,
"Executioner, lead in Bolus, captain
OF tae guards
In a few minutes Bolus stepped IN
/ He was an understood well-fed fe
low. with prominent cheek bones an
I q bald head so his appearance wa
not exactly seductive.
DO you know why complaints hay
been brought against you?'
Il do, your majesty.
Are they just?'
= said / know why, then they mus
be just
The queen was beside herself wit
indignation. Turning to the two girl
She said:
You are probably aware OF th
law that prevails in my realm, b
which you are entitled to one OF tw
WAYS OF obtaining satisfaction. Whic
do YOU choose?
He should marry me- said De
ma.
Let him die by the sword Of tn
/ executioner." cried Arota
The queen was alarmed She say
what complications might arise. Ta
famous womans bull this was IN
name of the law which all the ru
crs OF the earth eyiolled the grea
queen, threatened to dwiadle into a
Iabsurdity
Maidens," she said utterly bewi
dered. this incident IS bringing IN
10 the point OF despair Sucl a thin
f las never happened. You, Delm9
wish TO become his wife, and YOU
Arota, ask to have him beheaded
and you are each equally entitled Z
Your desire
III | have him killed, ! can no
llef Delma take him as her husband
and if | give him to Delma. | ca
nor do tie legal thing by Aro,a
There's only one way cut OF the di
lemma that will preserve the honor o
The law-if you both agree on th
same punishment This is mos
Unusual, most remai kable case"
NO / want his head taken of
replied Alota decidedly
Queen Myrta began 10 plead
Take Delma as an example Sc
what gentle. magnanimous. cove
like heart sfe has Il is becoming II
woman o be forgiving. Besides
Won must consider me. You woul'
make me unhappy if you were TO pu
me into The position OF not bein.
able to carry ont the law beg ?
Won. Arota, be mprciful.'
Arota struggled with herself a lon
time. bat finally she said;
well then 50 be II. | agree Z
the same punishment as Delma."
Oneen Mvrta drew breath Of re
,ief. Immediately. however her fae'
clouaed over and she observed dis
contentedly,
But here we have a'fresh compli
cation. ] didn't think Of t. Eolu'
can not marry two women
After ponderng a long time she
turned TO Bolus
q think the only means Of extri
eating ourselves from the difficulty
is 10 leave the choice OF whom you
win marry 70 YOU
Bolns surreptitiously observed the
two girls. There stood naughty
Arota proud and defiant, and there
stood slender Delma. offering herself
TO him, yet impassiye IN her demean
~