Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-10-03
She was Queen and he was only her

She was a Queen and he was only her
husband.
) Il have the courage OF my convic-
tons she declared bui she no longer
mot her husbands eye as she snapped
an offending bracele: viciousiy.
The Prince was possessed OF an over
whelmlng desire to mel-e her yield. and
his mouth took tenser lines:
~ just ruler does not avenge private
wrongs mt the expense OF a nations
honor
II am not moved by an ep!gram. I
have fully made UP my mind that Will
not order mourning for King whose
character l detest; / will not impose
such mockery on my court"
Ills k!ngly Office demands it and
other sovereigns expect 1t of YOU" her
husband argued calmly.
He was not worthy of his Office" shs
rctorted.
God set him IN It."
"He was uukind to my father. and I
will never forgive IT." The Queens lips
Qu!vered as her blue eyes blackened.
Whom Will you hurt-the dead"
There WAS both decision and command
in his voice Us he added You must fol-
low lHe usual custom
The spirit OF defiance flashed into con-
sclous emotion, and her face was as full
OF naughtincss as the sun Is of heat, as
she answered arrogantly: Must is a
lordly word for YOU 10 use to met"
II trust YOU will find IT convincing"
II ddn'; marry you for this" she
nung out.
May ! know why you married me-"
His po!iteness was cold as ice,
Il married you becausc--hccause-
wcll-!t doesn't matter now" she STAN
mered; then she finished hastily, Il
wanted devotion, not dictation or dis
approval"
Her skin-porcelain shot with flame
, Redeemed under his gaze and the
Princes voice softcncd as he said: "lt is
because am devoted TO YOU that want
10 guard you against the shadow OF n
: wrong. am your husband by the la ws
Of man, and" he added gently, by the
favor Of the Queen"
She was quick 10 catch the heart-tone,
and. as It touched her nature like a
. passing shadow in a cloud. 1t chang ed
her inclination so that she was almost
ready TO yield TO him because he wished
II. but her reason was not convinced
Perverseness again possessed her as the
tenderness passed away and suggested
that she did not want counscl-that it
was tho part OF Queen to command
she haughtily announced:
Il VII! do what ] think best"
He had warmed at her impulse
toward him. and the disappointment
made him bitter; nevertheless no plead
ed: DO not be guided by your pretu-
d!cea; they are petty and provincial and
do not become n Queen"
don't Ia no I'll
mcddiing and She could not finish
tho sentence facing him
lie was angry ut last Il resent Your
woy OF speaking to me" H. said, as he
arose with dignity. Il, too, have rights
which must be respected. will with
draw until you are in more gracious
humor Adieu"
He WAS gone before she recovered
herself Heretofore every one had Yield
ed 10 her and she could not understand
how he dared to act in that mnsterful
manner. He had known that she would
rule her kingdom when she selected him
for her husband, and II was unfair for
him TO try to dominate or control her.
, She had never iutcrfered with him
pshaw,
= a sraat many things occurred 20 her
that she might have said-she would
; say them now. She would go to him
and settle, once for all. his attempts at
, dlctation. rs she passed q mirror and
, hHed vaErant curl. she smiled Mt tho
; image sho saw there
Taking golden key from a chain
around her neck. she opened n door
, leading into a corridor which connected
er apartments with those Of the Prince,
ana hurried down It's length.
open your door" She spoke with
aNthority
The Prince we'll knew that no ono bur
the Queen had tho KEY to the corridor.
hut he chose to ask: who 10 th.r.7"
The Queen"
Il do not open my door 10 tho Queen. "
His voice sounded distant as she hard
his retreat!ng Footsteps
For 81 moment-tcc ss:onishod ~
think clearly-she held her breath liko
furious child. and nor impulse wa, 10
peat against tho door. demanding on
: trance, hut her dignity forbade. She
would meet him nj dinner
she inado grand toilet. and. as she
entered tho dining room in state. IN.
, Lord ChamherlaIn came up 20 her:
your Majesty. the Prince hees You
to excuse him from dining with YOU to-
night"
In his apartments the Prince wa, far
rom comfortable. In fact. ne was hav
IHF bad half-hour. and he wished no
had op'n"d thr door TO the Queen. for
afier all--she was that first, He had
1eon harsh with her. hut. when her
4 mouth fu'vcred. he had been very near
! giving up
Wh'' n pretty mouth she had-a rose
6 req lin" just made for kisses! The yery
u radiance Of her beauty made her shas
seem darker He wondered I,
d .he would com" back lie hardly dar.s
. nor" 'h" would, ma he feared he wouId
nave TO retreat from a position he could
ms "'"ri CROPPED for u path ON, o,
: save through the valley OF Lur'ii', ~
= ne decided that women we're al,
y, rniem"a. and. taking those he kn.w