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BRAVE AND BOLD. i 3
content came over him, and he settled back upon the divan
and gazed into the face of the lovely creature before him
with a listless smile upon his countenance.
"Do you think you will ever want to leave this land?"
asked Queen Olive, as she took a seat before him.
“No,” returned Dick; “never-as long as you remain
here."
lnstead of becoming offended at this speech. a look of
pleasure came over her face.
“Why? Am I more beautiful than the ladies of your
own country .7’ she asked.
“Yes--a thousand times yes I”
“Do you like me?”
This question staggered the boy, and he involuntarily
half arose to his feet.
Did he like her! lVhat a question for such a beautiful
creature to ask him! And she a queen. too!
“VVliy, what do you mean he stannnered, in reply.
“I mean just this; I have selected you as the man to
be my future husband. It was decreed long ago that 110
queen who ruled the land of IIe7. should ever marry, un-
less her husband be a man who was not a native of the
place. Tlnis far such has liappciied regularly, there al-
avays being a strainzer to arrive here at about the right
time. But this time more than one came, and out of the
number I have chosen you."
“llut,” interposed Dick, who had settled back upon
the divan again, and returned to his half-listless coiidi-
tioii, "why should you choose me-a complete stranger,
and entirely unknown to you ?"
‘:Because I love you 1" ’
VVell, you see, oh, queen, while you have long con-
sidered the question of marria,s:'e, I have never givcll the
subject a thought until now. You must give me time to
study over the question.” ,
“You may have as much time as you desire’. she :<Z11(l’;
“that is, if you answer one question to my Sat1Sf2lCt1011-
‘‘“'hat is that question. oh, queen ?"' . H
“Don't address me by that titlescall me Olive, She
exclaimed, rising and laying her hand upon lns shoul-
der. “The question I would ask is, Do you love me?
For the space of a mintite a deep silence Ttilgncda and
then Dick Vincey spoke:
“I (10. Olive." ,
He stretched forth his arms as if to fold her to his
bosom, but she waved him back with a pleased lailtllh
“I am glad,” was all she said. And then she motioned
him to retire to the companionship of his friends.
Much mystified, Dick obeyed.
He was half angrv at being turned aside just as he had
made his declaration of love; but then he did not knoyv
that the queen was but putting him to the tCSt t0 509’ ll
he was sincere.
“What's the matter, old fellow ?" asked Leo. as Dick 31?‘
proached the house that had been given to the swamp ex-
plorers. “You look as though you were worried over
something." ,
‘T711, I am all right,” was the reply; and then he took
the weapons belonging to him, strappiiig the belt about
his waist and thrusting the pair of revolvers and hunting
linife into it.
"llow did vou make out with ther gzlle-([1lL‘Cll.T' said
llgypole, who stood in the doorway perfectly contented,
now that he had had a good meal, and was in the company
of Prof. Easy and the rest.
!
“That reminds me," exclaimed Dick, suddcnl'-'. “I left
something in the palace; I'll go and get if. I guess.”
Then. before he could be questioned any further, he
started back to the house of Queen Olive.
Arriving there, he did not hesitate, but boldly walked in.
The liandsome queen was waiting for him, it seemed,
for she met him in the hallway, and coiidtzcted him agaiii
to the room he had before been led into.
“I knew you would come back," said she, quietly.
"W'liy?”' he asked, in a petulant manner.
“Because you really love me."
“I told you I did before you dismissed me a few mo-
ments ago.”
"Ah! but this proves it. And now, let me say. I shall
consider myself engaged to you. But our marriage can-
not talic place under two years from the time of our
first meetingsthat is one of the laws of this country,"
“Laws be blowed!" exclaimed Dick. “If l was it ill-
ing to marry you now I might change my mind before
that time."
“ hit you will not, though. Two years hence we will be
man and wife, and you will be the happiest man in the
Land of flex, and I will be the happiest woman 2"
Then there was a pause. after which Olive, as she de-
sired Dick to call her. poured out some more of the wine
and handed it to her lover.
As soon as the boy had drunk it. the same feeling of
content, as on former occasions, came over him, and he
grew talkative.
“Tell me about this wonderful country, Olive,” said he,
taking her by the hand.
“That I will gladly do, Dick,” replied she, with equal
familiarity, and she proceeded to relate the same largeiiil
as told by Andrew Jones a short time before.
“Do you believe that story, Olive ?" he asked.
“I hardly know whether I do or not. It seems so
strange and unnatural. Yet Roderique de ;‘xmilo was as
he is now as long ago as the oldest of our people can re-
member.” ‘
“How is it that he does not rule the Land of Hez hinis
self .7"
"llecause, the legend states, that he agreed with his
beautiful wife that it should forever be ruled by woman.
It was for that reason that she plunged into the pool,
thinking it- would prove a perpetual life to her."
“Has anybody else ever bathed in the pool?"
“Oh, yes; a dozen or more. But not until a few
years ago: none of our people would ever believe the
story before.”
“Then some do believe it now ?"
“Yes, a few, and there must be something wonderful
about the crystal waters of the fountain, for those who
have bathed in it have never visibly <,;i'own older."
"I think I shall have to take a bath in it some day
myself," said Dick, with a smile.
“Ami I, too," replied Olive. thinkiiig he nieant it. "lt
would be so nice, when we are married. to go on living‘
and never grow old. with no fear of dying, unless tlirougn
some accident. Could anyone ask for anything‘ more than
tlizit ?"
Dick was (‘.l.l<‘1Il to make a reply. when the reprrt of
a rille rang out close by.
llastily excusing liiniself, he daslied from the rnoni
outside.
Ile beheld the man known as Reginald l.acy fleeing
across the level country beneath the opening in the roof,