The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1912-05-16
WEEKLY SHORT STORY
"WHEN 1 AM KING.1
By Virginia Blair.


Ing flakes, thought of that summer
morning, long ago, when Rex had sung
70 her the old nursery song.
baVender's blue, diddle-diddle,
'bavender's green,
When l am king, diddle-diddle,
you shall be queen!"
she unused sadly on that promise.
somewhere far away, Rex was living
IN luxury, but he had forgotten the
playmate of his boyhood's days
when l am king, diddle-diddle,
/ You shall be queen"
She found herself humming the
quaint tune as she prepared her fru-
gal supper. She was too tired to toast
the bread, so she ate it dry, with a
cup OF tea. Then she went to bed and
lay awake in the moonlight, woIfder-
Ing how she should get through the
next day In the weary work-room
Then. sleep mercifully came to her,
and dreams.
She walked to find the world so
white that she seemed in a dream city
and wondered If she still slept.
From the regions below her land
, lady called.
You can't get down town. The
ears aren't running. You Just wait and
have breakfast with me-"
20, l cant, thank YOU" Hester an
swered over the stoir railing, Il must
go, if l have to walk"
Mrs. Adams came putting up some
breakfast. We had griddle cakes this
morningf and Ill bake a plate Of
piping hot ones, and pour out a cup
OF coffee for you, and you may stay
" bed and rest for once in your life"
"YOu are SO good" said Hester,
gratefully, but if don'c get down this
morning l may lose my place, and
then what would l DOR
you know you're welcome to keep
your room. honey" said the good wo-
man, until you get something else to
do"
But ! couldn't let you lose money
like that," cried Hester; '1but II ever
good fortune comes to me I'm going
to remember you, and we'll share"
AS she said it Rex's words again
came back to her, when i am king
you shall be queen"
al had a friend" she said to Mrs.
Adams, who had entered her room
and was sitting on the bed, and he
always used to say that when he made
his fortune he would come and fine
me. And yesterday I heard from an
old school friend, and she says that
Rex is right here in this city, and
that an invention Of his has brought
him half a million, and-and-he's for
Did you love him, dearie?" asked
gotten me-
the old landlady softly.
Eyes, we were engaged when we
went to school. But his father and
mine were ancient enemies and they
broke it of. Then Rex went away to
school, and father failed and died, and
] had to go to work, and ] came to
the city-and found you, dear Mrs.
Adams"
swell, If that Rex OF yours knew
what he was doing" grumbled Mrs.
Adams, he'd be hunting you up. You
are too frail to work in all kinds of
weather. He won't be finding you at
all if he don't look out"
''Oh, I'm not really i'll, Mrs. Adams"
said Hester, cheerfully, and then she
began to dress. 'Oh, i really must
CO." she said, when Mrs. Adams ex-
postualted.
Through the white drifts Hester
plowed her weary way. Her frail
body, breasting the wind, seemed beat
en- back and bruised by the heavy
blasts. Her cheeks, pink at first with
the sharpness of the cold, grew white,
and her lips were blue.
''Pm afraid can't go on" she said
to herself.
A policeman at the corner helped
her over a drift. You'd better go
into a drug store and get something
= hot, miss" he advised. You look as
if you were half frozen"
Hester tried to laugh. 81 shall get
on all right" she said, and was 600
proud to tell him that she dared not
spend ten cents.
She struggled on for a half dozen
blocks, and saw ahead of her only a
weary waste of snow. Far down town
the were probably clearing the side
walks, but OUT in this residential sec
ton no attack was being made on the
q drifts.
4 Hester turned from the side street
into a wide avenue, lined on each side
Nsby brownstone mansions. Here she
DIlTkIA