The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-02-06
lncognita
By F. A. Mitchell

land Inherited their kingdoms when
very young Their domains Joined
but they had never met for dnr,n.
their childhood their fathers mad b-r,
at continual warfare. When th..S.
two kings died about the same time.
| the cabinets of both countries de, IL.
ed to make a match between the youi.
king and the young queen.
Queen Bertha would not consent Ia
the match without some nalntaure
with the man she was to marry Sin
therefore insisted on their meeting III
one Of her palaces near the ml,iel
line between the two klngdoms. the
king to be attended BY three men and
the queen by three women To this
the king gladly assentcd.
Before eaving for the rendezvous
the queen said to a maid OF honor.
who was also her bosom friend: -
wish you to exchange places with
me at this meeting. you to personare
me. l to personate you. This viii be
easy. for | have purposeIy limited the
number Of my attendants SO that there
are only two besides ourselves to be
In the secret"
When the king met the substitute
queen. whose name was Catherine.
he was well pleased with her. for not
only the queen herself, but her at
tendants. were beautiful women. Ber.
tina had charged Catherine to treat
her with some severity lest by her ac-
customed Difference she betray the Sc.
cret During the first interview Cath
crime spoke to Bertha somewhat sharp.
~. and the kings notice was turned
from the spurious to the real queen.
who bore the reproof with becoming
meekness. Indeed, King Caspar was
charmed that the maid showed no
temper whatever. while the reproof.
which seemed to be uncalled for, pref.
udiced him against her supposed mis-
tress
Queen Bertha had gone to the meet
ing with no other object than to over
look her future husband inc0gnita. But
from the moment she saw him she was
much smitten with him and resolved
to win him II possible. She directed
Catherine to lose no opportunity to
show her severity while In the kings
presence. Catherine, who was an ex-
cellent actress, played her part remark.
ably well. Did she order the queen to
do her any service. no matter how
speedily the duty was performed, the
spurious queen would reprimand her.
At such times the real queen would
cast down her eyes. bearing the tnjus.
tice with angelic sweetness.
One morning Catherine sent Bertha
to the royal garden for some flowers
and when she returned scolded her for
not getting the kind she wished. New.
ertheless she handed several of the
choicest to King Caspar, whose brows
were knit at the harsh treatment Of
the maid Of honor Taking the gift,
he selected the most beautiful flower.
a rose. and handed 1t to Bertha.
As might have been expected had
the play been reality. Catherine after
this, with the queens concurrence, re-
doubled her,harshnese to Bertha, who
awaited herself or the opportunity to
show herself an angel Of patience
This excited the kings sympathy and
admiration for the poor maid to such
an extent that he resolved to break or
the negotiations.
When Bertha considered the fruit
ripe for plucking she contrived to meet
the king in corridor In the palace as
II by chance He stopped her and.
despite her pretended efforts to get by
him. forced her to chat with him. This
she did with her eyes bent upon the
floor In well affected mOdesty. While
they were together door opened and
Catherine came out into the corridor.
With fire in her eye she ordered Bertha
to her room. then said to the king:
III this is sample Of your males
tvs constancy think we had better
go no further in this matter"
"As your majesty pleases." replied
the king with a formal bow.
Thus was the king turned from one
woman to another. Queen Bertha and
her maids of honor returned to Finger
land and King Caspar to waikaria
But the king did not remain there
long before he took step which he
must take with great care. since his
failure to marry the queen Of Finger.
land had made him unpopular in both
kingdoms. He sent q confidential
friend to Zingeriand to learn II be
could marry one whom he supposed to
be the queens maid Of honor
King Caspar had no hope that he
would be permitted the woman OF bis
choice. The queen had shown herself
insanely jealous OF her maid OF honor
and would doubtless refuse his request
with some harsh accompanying mes
sage During his messengers absence |,
he walked the door impatiently and /,
with anxiety, waiting for his answer
His emissary returned with a sur. |
prise, announcing that the maid was |
the queen and the queen was the maid. |
Without losing q moment the king |
mounted his horse and. summoning his |
escort. rode night and day to the CAPT. |
tai of Zingerland and. appearing before
Queen Bertha bespattered with mud
from his quick ride. knelt before her
and kissed her hand When he looked
up he saw Der faes bent down upon
him 6lled with meFTiment
Turning his eyes to . maid Of honor
standing By the queen. abe saw Cath
crime looking at him With the same
amused expression.
And % II was that The two k1ne6ems /