The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-07-28

sky.
Her delicately stenciIed brows
drew quizzically to Interrogation,
though she said nothing. From a
gold-wrought box beside her on the
divan she pinched what seemed q
powder between a fragile and al
most transparent thumb and fore
ringer, AID her thin beautiful lips
curved to gentle moekery a. she
casually tossed the powder into the
great tripod. A sheen OF smoke
arose and iP a moment was lost to
sight
"Look"' she commanded.
And Torres. approaching the
great bowl, gazed into it. What he
saw the rest Of his party never
learned But the Queen. herself
leaned forward and gazing down
from above. saw with him. her
face a beautiful advertisement of
gentle and plying mockery. And
what Torres himself saw was a
bedroom and ,Sbirth in the second
story Of the Bocas del Toro house
he had inherited. PitifuI IL va.
with its last secrecy exposed, as
4
Queens face And, in that flashing
glimpse Of magic vision Torres saw
confirmed about himself what he
had always guessed and suspected.
would you see more?" the
Queen softly Knocked. Il have
shown you the beginning of YOU.
Look now, and behold your end
ing"
But Torres, too deeply impressed
by what he had alretdy seen, shud-
dered away in recoiI.
Forgive me. Beautiful Woman
ne pleaded. And let me pass. For
get, as 1 shall hope ever to forget"
1t Is gone" she said. with a care
less wave Of her hand over the
DoWL But cannot forget. The
record will persist always in nv
mind. But you, o Man. so young
OF life, so ancient OF helmet, have
1 beheld before this day, there is
my Mirror OF the World. You have
vexed me much OF late with your
portending. Yet not with the he'll
met"
She smiled with quiet wisdom.
Always, it seems to me, 1 saw
a chamber of the dead. of the long
dead, upright on their unmoving
legs and guarding through eternity
mysteries alien to their faith and
race. And in that dolorous COM
pany did it seem that I saw one
who wore your ancient helmet. "ss
Shall l speak further?"
mo, nor Torres impIored.
She bowed and nodded him back.
Next her scrutiny conferred on
Francis, whom she nodded forward.
She stood up upon the dais as il to
greet him, and, as If troubled bv
the fact that she must gaze down
on him, stepped from the dais to the
floor so that she might gaze up into
his face as she extended her hand
Hesitatingly he took her hand in
his, then knew not what next to do
Almost did ii appear that she read
his thought, for she said:
Her First Kiss
DO it. 1 have never had IL done
to me before. 1 have never seen il
done, save in my dreams and in the
visions shown me in my Mirror OF
the World"
And Francis bent and kissed her
hand. And. because she did not
signify to withdraw it, he continu-
ed to hold it. while, against his
palm, he felt the faint but steady
pulse of her pink fnger-tips. And
so they stood in pose, neither
speaking, Francis embarrassed, the
Queen signing family. while the sex
anger of woman tore at Leoncia's
heart, until Henry blurted out in
gleeful English:
DO it again, Francis. She likes
The Sun Priest Kissed siIencing
command at him. But the Queen,
half Withdrawing her hand with a
startle like a maiden's, returned il
as deeply as before into Francis's
clasp. and addressed herself to
Henry.
Il. too. know the language you
speak," she admonished, yet am I
unashamed. !, who have never
known a man, do admit that I like
it. 1t is the first kiss that l have
had. Francis-for such your friend
calls you-obey your friend. l like
it. l do like it. Once again kiss
my hand"
Francis obeyed.. waited while
her hand still fingered in his, and
while she. oblivious to all else. as
il toying with some beautiful
thought. gazed Iingeringly up into
his eyes. BY a visible effort she
pulled herself together. released
his hand abruptly, gestured him
back to the others. and addressed
the Sur Priest
We'll, Priest" she said with a
return OF the sharpness in her
voice, You have brought these cap