Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1916-01-10

mentarily deyoured me at the begin
ing of her scrntinizing inventory of
my dainty figure,
Rossalee led me into the royal pal
ace. There was evidence of luxuriant
richness on every hand. The drap-
ings and furnishings revealed the very
acme of taste and nicely OF discern
ment. The color schemes we're un-
marred by a single flaw. She led me
up a great stairway inO a vast domed
corridor, where the rays Of the semi
tropical sun filtered cool and subdued
through artilicially stained glass
Potted plants exhaled their essence
into the air we breathed and beauti-
full fountains of richest coral spouted
jets Of sparkling water and myriads
Of tiny fishes flashed and cleaned
in their native element. Everything
blended, harmony prevailed We en-
tered a room, furnished and draped
in richest crimson, She studied me
and the surroundings a moment and
little wrinkle cut diagonally across
a deep furrow on her forehead,
yes, you are a brunette, your COM
pleXion blends with the color scheme.
This will be your room. | presume
you would like rest and a little soli-
tude"
She turned as if to leave, then
came back and bent over me. Her
eyes shone with a light for which my
ardent soul had always yearned, and
her breath was quickened by the
rapid beating of her heart. She
pissed a kiss upon my forehead
with trembling lips. | was smothered
for moment in her bosom.
glance up timidly into her face and
the aged features were suffused with
a maiden blush. l Immediately
dropped my gaze to the figure of the
oriental rug and also blushed,
couldn't help it. She reached for
me again and modestly avoided her
embrace. She spoke and there was a
huskiness in her voice.
'Why do you shrink from ME? I
love you, offer you all that your
sweet little soul can crave. ! will one
day be queen of this beautiful island
and want you at my side. You have
no conception of the vast power
welded by this throne l feel that
you are different from other men and
are capeble Of grasping the simpler
ideas of government. can offer you
a fraction Of that power. am young
er than you by some years, the Queen
mother tells me | am beautiful, and
you will ever find me loving and gem
tie with you. Why do you shrink
from me?"
1T is all so sudden" l namely
quavered in my most ladylike accents,
Love is always sudden with us,
the strener sex," she answered. at
completely engulfs our beings. 1t is
the foundation of the strength OF
woman's nature. | feel that / could
lay down my life for you. Won't you
kiss me, darling little one?"
I stepped back from her with dig
nifty "These lips have never yet been
pressed by those Of any woman save
mother" | lied. 81 beg of you to
remember that you are trespassing
on my masculine privacy, am un-
welded and you are compromising
the rarest treasure That possess, my
unsullied name. Leave me,
For a moment she stared at me,
! frozen with wonder, then a great
scarlet wave engulfed her and she
fled from my presence. I caught the
echo of a sob as she closed the door
of my bed chamber behind her
At last | was alone. I flung my
self upon q council and sank into a
reverie. My situation so far as it
was revealed to me was surely most
extraordinary. l had always thirsted