Rocky Ford enterprise., 1915-06-11
CHAPTER ~.
The Queen Of UranIa.


palace gardens, accompanied by her
ladies-in-waiting. Awhile she paused
to watch the gallants who were play
ing tennis on the courts where the
greensward was as smooth and level
as a ballroom floor. Tiring of this, her
majesty turned away to seek more
sequestered spot. But what was thie?
Who beckoned SO cautiously from be-
hind yonder rose bower? Who would
dare beckon thus familiarly to the
queen, and with beckoning hand meant
for her eye alone? Who but Sancha,
the kings chamberlain? That Sancha
loved her, she well knew. For had
she not permitted Sancha's own tongue
to tell of his love in many meeting
clandestine? And she, the queen
even she was not averse to hearing the
honeyed words that fell from the lips
of the handsome and bold chamber
lain.
The queen, with a scarcely percep-
tible nod, made response to Sancha's
beckonings. With more pronounced
nod of her queenly head, she gave thus
without words an order to her ladies
to remain by the courts and indicated
that 1t was her pleasure that she
should stroll unattended.
To a point beyond the arbor the
queen strolled. And when she was
safely beyond the sight of the tennis
courts and the players and the ladies
who waited there. the queen beckoned
to Sancha to Join her.
Grave news, your majesty" said
sancha. 81 bring you news of the
king, your husband"
Sancha boldly clasped the queens
hand. She returned his pressure with
a smile. For Sancha was man whose
good looks and arts of fascination
could enthrall any woman. and surely
fascinate woman who. like the queen.
was much neglected by her august hus-
band who left her more than he should
to her own devices.
"Prithee. good Sancha," the queen
said. What possible news of the king
can interest his spouse who rarely
sees him?"
News of one who is beautiful. your
majesty" Sancha replied. artfully
knowing that here was a subject that
would awaken the queens interest be-
yond peradventure.
And SO 1t proved. For the queen
drew herself up with mighty hauteur
and jeered at Sancha-but jeered with
dangerous light in her eyes. For
Queen Dulcinea, at mention of the
word beauty" scented a rival in the
kings affections. And she asked:
"And the one who ie beautiful,
Sancha? What interest holds such
news for mef''
Deep interest, your majesty. The
king is pleased to find in the one who
is beautiful a new toy. He is even now
plotting to bring the one who is beau
tiful here to the palace"
Queen Dulcinea drew herself up still
more haughtily.
"Forsooth!" she exclaimed. And
why should not his majesty bring one
who is beautiful here to the palace?
Mightst thou not refer to a horse, or
yet fawn or a new deerhound? All
these. Sancha, are beautiful-some-
times. And the king has a penchant
for such pets.'
NAY, mistress. Not a horse. Nor
yet fawn or hound. But a woman!"
The queen started. Her eyes blazed
with wrath. Queen Dulcinea surely
was wroth at mention of a woman. For
Queen Dulcinea was Jealous queen.
Moreover. she was cruel woman.
That she would brook the presence of
rival in the palace was not In her
nature. For Queen Dulcinea was no
weak female. She had not the unfal-
tering fidelity of her husband, the king,
that was true. But at least his maj
esty knew his queen well enough to
know that even neglect of her would
not result in the queens Indifference
to the presence of rivals within the
palace.
"How know you of the kings plans.
Sancha?" she asked.
81 overheard all, your majesty.
heard the king plotting with the chief
equerry to bring the beautiful one to
the palace. They plan to smuggle the
wench in without the knowledge of
your most gracious self. They plan to
hide the girl in the secret chamber be-
yond the kings own apartments-a
chamber that is now no longer
secret, since I, Sancha, possess knowl-
edge of its existence"
when, perchance, might the king
have idea of putting this plan into exc
cution?" asked the queen.
This evening at the hour Of the
curfew-when the prtestly bells ring
for the evening prayer at the monas-
terry, your majesty"
"The wench!" cried the queen.
What like is she? You say she is
beautiful. Her name! Her station!"
by name Godiva," Sancha said. by
station the daughter of Rivarre. the
shepherd, whose abode stands at the
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